Lions and herbs - Getting wild at Neyyar Dam

With a beautiful, blue lake and the misty ranges of the Western Ghats, it is not a surprise that the Neyyar Dam is a famous picnic spot. Situated in the suburbs of Thiruvananthapuram, the gravity dam was established in 1958. It is a great location for boating and trekking. The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary is home to over a hundred species including the Asian Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Slender Loris and reptiles like King Cobra, Travancore Tortoise.

A crocodile breeding centre and a lion safari park are also located in the dam site. Visitors to the famous Shivananda yoga ashram, often do their sessions to the backdrop of roaring lions. The area is also a repository of various rare medicinal herbs.

Getting there:
There is a motorable road to the dam site which is well connected by regular bus services from Thiruvananthapuram city.
Nearest rail: Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station is about 32 km away.
Nearest air: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is about 38 km away.