Thekkady

Located amidst South India’s most popular wildlife reserve, Periyar, Thekkady lies inland, along Kerala’s easternmost borders. With a total area of 777 sq km, including the Periyar Lake, built by the British in 1895. In 1978 it became India’s first tiger sanctuary, and today it supports almost 40 tigers. If you don’t manage to spot one, you may still see wild elephants, wild boar, sambar deer, langurs, and the gargantuan Indian bison. The best time to travel is between November and February, though remember to bring some warm clothing for those chilly morning safari drives.