Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary

About Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary is established in 1958.It is located 30 kilometers away from Thiruvanathapuram, the capital city. The Neyyar sanctuary is the drainage basin of the Neyyar river and its tributaries-Mullayar and Kallar. The Neyyar river and its tributaries flow along the entire stretch of the preserve. The irrigation dam at Neyyar receives water from the Neyyar river which originates from Agasthyakoodam hill . Tourists can visit the Lion Safari Park, Crocodile Farm and take a ride in the lake.. The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation arranges conducted tours to the Neyyar sanctuary. The Agasthyakoodam peak region supports a wide variety of plant species including medicinal plants. Nestled in the southeast corner of the towering Western Ghats, the Neyyar wildlife sanctuary a beautiful and picturesque wildlife sanctuary in Kerala, India. Spread over and area of over 128 sq km, the Neyyar wildlife sanctuary is a treasure trove of rich and diverse flora and fauna. Neyyar was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958, but not much was done for protection of its wildlife conservation till 1985 when a separate wildlife wing was set up to conserve its unique flora and fauna. The enchanting Agasthyakoodam Peak at an elevation of 1,890 meters and the beautiful Neyyar Reservoir extending over an area of 9.06 sq. km add more charm to this sanctuary. Neyyar Reservoir also offers excellent conditions for pleasure navigations.

The Neyyar wildlife sanctuary is home to a rich and diverse flora and fauna, promising a memorable experience for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. On your visit to the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary with Kerala Backwaters, you can see a wide variety of wildlife, including Elephants, Sloth Bears, Nilgiri Tahrs, Gaur, Sambars, Barking Deer, Indian Porcupines, Malabar Squirrels, Tigers, Lion-tailed Macaques, Jungle Cats, Wild Boars and Nilgiri Langurs to name a few. The sanctuary is also rich in its birds and reptiles population. Among reptiles Cobras, Vipers, Pythons, Rat Snakes, Flying Snakes and Lizards are commonly found in the sanctuary. The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary also attracts a wide variety of exotic birds including King Fishers, White-breasted Water Hen, Little Green Heron, Woodpeckers, Indian Cuckoos, Gray Jungle Fowl, Common Mynas, Indian Hill Mynas, Darters, Little Cormorants, Little Egrets and Brahminy Kites etc.On your Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala tour, explore the Crocodile Farm, Lion Safari Park and Deer Farm. Visitors can indulge in boat riding on the Neyyar Lake. Adventure enthusiasts can enjoy trekking to Agastiar Peak on your Kerala wildlife sanctuary tour with Kerala travel Tourism. The best time to travel to Neyyar Dam and Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala is in between the months of October to March.
The south east corner of the Western Ghats is the place where the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary is located. The area of the sanctuary is actually the drainage basin of Neyyar River and its tributaries.

Initially the conservation efforts did not show much improvement on the ground and therefore a wildlife wing was set up in 1985. As a result, the efforts began to show the positive consequences on the ground at Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The forests of the sanctuary are of the tropical wet evergreen and grasslands type. The animals that you can spot here are elephants, gaur, Nilgiri tahr, bonnet macaque, sloth bear etc.

Interesting things to Visit

Neyyar dam:

Neyyar dam is a dam in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, South India, located on the foot of the Western Ghats about 30km from Trivandrum[1]. It was established in 1958 and is a popular picnic spot. Lying against the southern low hills of the Western Ghats, Neyyar Dam has a beautiful lake.

Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre:

A crocodile farm was set up in 1977. It also includes a habitat for otters near the administrative complex. The Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre in Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary was named by the Kerala government after late Steve Irwin as Steve Irwin National Park.

Napier Museum :

A great architectural creation, the Napier Museum best represents the combination of the traditional Kerala style with the Mughal and the Chinese Influence. An English architect by the name of Chisholm designed the mansion in 19 th century. In present times it houses a rare collection of archaeological and historical artifacts.

Sree Chitra Art Gallery :

Sree Chitra Art Gallery is Established in 1935,The art gallery has a 100 years old world famous paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, the pioneering Indian patron of art in oil painting, who was born and brought up at Kilimanoor Palace in Kerala. The Artistic grandeur of Bengal school of Arts is best exemplified here.

Padmanabhaswamy temple :

The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu who is seen reclining on the Anantha serpent. The temple consists of a tower built of seven stories with rising pillars and intricate carvings decorated with mural paintings. Only peoples from the Hindu religion are allowed inside the temple premises places to the eastern side of the old fort ruins.

Nearest Visiting places

Pallippuram Fort :

Pallippuram fort was built by the Portuguese in 1503. It is one of the oldest existing European monuments in India. The Dutch captured the fort in 1661 and sold it to the State of Travancore in 1789. This fort is situated in the northern extremity of the Vyppin Island at Pallippuram. The catholic church at Pallippuram is an important pilgrim centre of the Christians.

Ponmudi:

An idyllic hill resort with narrow, winding pathways and cool, green, wooded environs, Ponmudi is located 913 met~s above sea level. Along with a variety of beautiful mountain flowers, exotic butterflies, small rivulets, springs and the deer park nearby, this hill station also has excellent trekking trails. Food: KTDC restaurant.

The Pareekshit Thampuran Museum :

Its archeological museum adjacent to the Shiva temple in Durbar Hall Road,Ernakulam. This museum features collections of the 19th century paintings , Pre-historic monuments , Old coins in a numismatic gallery, Scriptures in stone & Plaster of Paris, Copies of mural paintings etc & the collection from the Cochin royal family. In the earlier days the museum was the Durbar Hall of Cochin Rajas where guests were welcomed, and where official ceremonies and meetings were held. Now under the State Archaeological Department.

Agasthyakoodam:

Lying at an altitude of 1,890 m, Agasthyakoodam is the highest peak in southern Kerala. It forms part of Western Ghats and the Agasthyavanam forest, The hill is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. For Buddhists, it is the abode of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara; for Hindus it is the abode of sage Agastya, a disciple of Lord Shiva.The hills are rich in medicinal plants, herbs and many species of birds and wild animals. Trekking to the top takes two days and is only permitted between December and April.

Paripally Gajamela:

Paripally, 48 km north of Trivandrum is noted for its Gajamela or Elephant pageant. Over 50 elephants are taken out on a ritual procession on the tenth day of the festival in the month of February-March.

Kanyakumari:

This is the land`s end of India and is only 87 km from Trivandrum. This is also known as Cape Comorin. This beautiful spot is located in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu state. This place has got international recognition because of Vivekananda who started his journey from this place.

Koyikkal Palace, Nedumangad:

Located on the way to the Ponmudi Hill Station and the Courtallam waterfalls, this ancient palace dates back to the 13th century. Here you can see a double storeyed traditional Nalukettu building with slanting gabled roofs, an inner courtyard and museums of folklore and numismatics set up by the Department of Archaeology.

Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave Temple:

There are rock cut sculptures of the 18th century in the cave temple at Vizhinjam. The granite cave here encloses a one-celled shrine with a loose sculpture ofVinandhara Dakshinamurthi. The outer wall of the cave depicts half complete reliefs of the Hindu God Shiva with Goddess Parvathi

Chacha Nehru Children`s Museum:

Children of all age groups will enjoy the vast collection of nearly 2000 dolls, stamps and masks displayed here. Observatory: Located at the highest point in the city, near the Museum complex 60 metres above sea level, one can have a bird`s eye view of the city from here.

Anivikkara Dam:

This picturesque picnic spot is on the banks of the Karamana River. Near the Durga Temple here is a stream full offish that fearlessly come close to the shore to be fed by the visitors.

Santa Cruz Basilica Church :

This Roman Catholic church is situated near the St. Francis church and is worth a visit. It is a specimen of Portuguese architecture built in 1503. ‘Frescoes’ and mural paintings decorate the ceiling and interior parts of the church. The gothic architecture and the lofty spires gives it a unique grandeur
Bolghatty Island : Bolghatty palace built by the Dutch in 1744. Later it became the seat of the British Resident of Cochin. Today it is a hotel run by K.T.D.C. The grounds have a small golf course & several vantage points for lovely views of the harbour & the sea.

Willington Island :

Connected to the mainland by road-cum-railway Venduruthy Bridge, Willington Island is named after the former Viceroy of India, Lord Willington. It is a manmade Island created from the materials dredged while deepening Cochin Port. Willington Island sites some of the district’s best hotels, Trading and industrial offices. Besides the airport, ship building yard, wharf, the Southern Naval Command Head Quarters, the customs house and the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industries, the government of India

Chinese Fishing Nets :

A legacy of the trading connections between China and India many centuries ago. The long rows of Chinese Nets silhouetted against the sunset present a spectacular sight of Cochin’s waterfront. These are large nets which hang from bamboo or teak posts, still to be in use by the local fisher folk of Fort Cochin.

Vyppin light house :

The biggest Island, situated between the sea and the backwaters of Cochin. It is 24 km long and 2 1/2 km wide. There is a light house at Ochanthuruthu which is open to tourists from 3 pm to 5 pm. The Island can be reached only by water transport provided by boat services and Junkar. There are bus services on the Island.

Nearest Petrol Pump

Petrol Pump
Chalai, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala.

Vellar Petrol Pump
Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala.

Karamana Petrol Pump
Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala.

Indian Oil Petrol Pump
NH 47, Karamana
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

IOC Petrol Pump
Thirumala
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation

Fortune Hotel The South Park
M. G. Road, Trivandrum
Kerala 69503
0471 2333333.

Comfort Inn grand
MG Road Trivandrum
Kerala 695001
0471 2471286.

Shirleysbeach Hotels and Tour operators
Behind Coconut Groove restaurant
kovalam Beach, trivandrum
Kerala 69552
0471 2317303.

Serviced Apartments Accommodation Rental
Jawahar Nagar, Trivandrum
Kerala 695003
098 95112230.

Keralagreenery
Tutors Ln, Palayam
Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala 695001
Tel:0471 2573011.

Help Line/Phone Number

Police Station:

Vizhinjam Police Station
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Police Station
Parassala Vellarada Road
Parassala, Kerala
Tel: 0471 22020230

Pothencode Police Station
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Vizhinjam Police Station
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Nedumangad Police Station
Nedumangad
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Mangalapuram Police Station
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Nearest Hospital:

Al Arif Hospital
Trivandrum Vizhinjam Road
Manacaud, Trivandrum
Kerala
Tel:0471 2381715.

Divya Prabha Eye Hospital
Kumarapuram, Trivandrum,
Kerala 695011
Tel:0471 2442050.

JDRC
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Tel:0471 2356200.

ROY MEDICAL CENTRE
Thycaud Hospital Road
Opp. Amritha Hotel,Trivandrum,
Kerala 695014
Tel:09387809779.

Sree Ramakrishna Mission Hospital
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Tel: 0471 2722125.

Medical College Hospital
TrivandrumKerala-
Tel: 0471 2444270.

KIMS Hospital
Trivandrum, Kerala
Tel: 0471 2447575.

Link:

http://neyyarwildlife.blogspot.com/2008/11/story-on-neyyar-wild-life.html
http://hallosushant.blogspot.com/2009/03/crocodile-park-at-neyyar-kerala.html
http://seekerala.blogspot.com/2008/10/kerala-wild-life-sancturies.html
http://silentvaley.blogspot.com/2007/10/wildlife-sanctuaries-national-parks-in.html
http://aneesh-jstar.blogspot.com/2007/11/wildlife-in-kerala.html

Location info

• **Address:**32km from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

• District: Thiruvananthapuram district

• Nearest City: Kanyakumari, Madurai, Kochi , Nedumangad, veli, valiyachala, Kollam, Trivendrum.

• Best time to visit: Ocotober to May.

Climate & weather

The climate is of tropical humid type with an oppressive summer and The temperature normally ranges between 27º and 32º C.

Things to do at Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Trekking, Lion Safari, Boating and he trekking and boating combo which starts from Neyyar and goes up to Meenmutty via Kombai is the most exciting part of your vacations in the Neyyar Wildlife sanctuary. It requires one whole day in which you’ll get to do boating for about 9 km after which you’d continue guided trekking for about 6 km.

Mobile network coverage

Airtel, Jio, BSNL, and Vi all provide coverage across Kerala. 4G is reliable in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and along the coastal belt. Coverage may be weaker in remote sections of the Western Ghats, deep forest reserves, and certain backwater stretches. Most hotels, houseboats, and cafes in tourist areas offer free Wi-Fi.

Food & restaurants nearby

Food options are available in the nearest town. Kerala cuisine — fish curry, appam with stew, puttu, and Kerala sadhya — is widely available and famously delicious.

Accessibility

Accessibility information is not currently available for this site. Contact the venue directly or check with your accommodation for the latest accessibility details.

Rules & restrictions

Standard visitor rules apply. Check locally for any specific restrictions at this site.

Best photography spots

The best photography spots are typically during the golden hours (early morning and late afternoon). Scout the location first to identify the best angles, and consider the direction of light at different times of day.