Hiking the Jungles of Periyar

April 28, 2011 • Spiritual Adventures

Hiking the Jungles of Periyar

Our day started early and by 7am we were in Periyar National Park ready to begin our 3-hour hike through this jungle. We were all eager to see wild life.

Vedic Odyssey takes a group on a meditation retreat to Kerala, South India

Our first encounters were the Nilgiri Langur monkeys.
Vedic Odyssey takes a group on a meditation retreat to Kerala, South India

Then across the lake we spotted families of wild boar plus a few bison.
Vedic Odyssey takes a group on a meditation retreat to Kerala, South India

Our guide pulls a bamboo raft to shore so we can cross the lake.
Vedic Odyssey takes a group on a meditation retreat to Kerala, South India

The first team heads off across the lake…
Vedic Odyssey takes a group on a meditation retreat to Kerala, South India

…and into the jungle.
Vedic Odyssey takes a group on a meditation retreat to Kerala, South India

82-year-old Anne and Dandapani make up team number 2 and it is our turn now to cross the lake. Anne is truly an inspiration. In our 3-hour hike she only took a 5-min break and kept up with the guide and me the entire time.
Vedic Odyssey takes a group on a meditation retreat to Kerala, South India

Our guide spots a tiger paw print which he says was made the previous night.
Vedic Odyssey takes a group on a meditation retreat to Kerala, South India

We come across our first team in our hike.
Vedic Odyssey takes a group on a meditation retreat to Kerala, South India

A colorful ginger flower.
Vedic Odyssey takes a group on a meditation retreat to Kerala, South India

The absolutely beautiful Giant Malabar Squirrels. At 3-feet long they are the world largest squirrels. They are maroonish in color with some baige around the bottom neck region. We also spotted Samba Deer (which were too fast for the camera), hornbills and many varieties of other birds.

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