One night in Jungle Watch Tower

Visited in April 2026

We drove from Thrissur to Thekkady and our plan was to stay one night in the Edapalayam Watch Tower, situated inside Periyar Tiger Reserve.

We booked our stay online on the Periyar Tiger Reserve website. The watch tower can accommodate only 2 people, and the package includes food, trek and stay. We were accompanied by a forest officer who carried a gun for protection from wild animals, a guide and a cook.

After parking our car, we walked to the lounge of the tiger reserve. After showing our booking details, the accompanying staff took us to the Thekkady reservoir where we waited for our boat.

We got down from the boat at the Lake View Resort and we were able to sight elephants nearby. We walked through the jungle for about 15-20 minutes to reach the Edapalayam Watch tower, where we would spend rest of the evening and stay at night. Trenches were dug around the watch tower to protect the property from wild animals. Climbing up the stairs, there is a lovely balcony and a small bedroom inside the watch tower. Dining, toilet and bathroom facilities are below.

Evening tea was served with light snacks and then the forest officer and guide took us for a walk around the nearby areas for some beautiful evening views.

We arrived back around 6 pm. After freshening up, we sat peacefully on the balcony, enjoying the views and the chirping birds. There was no mobile network or WiFi, so we simply gazed into the wilderness and enjoyed the jungle around us. Dinner was being prepared and we were loving the full moon views of the jungle. The minimal lighting in the watch tower was all solar powered.

Dining inside the jungle was a fantastic experience. We could see herds of Indian wild bison, deer and wild boars grazing around, coming closer to the watchtower.

After dinner, we settled on our balcony and watched the wildlife below the watchtower. Fireflies and porcupines occasionally appeared. The bright moonlight cast a beautiful glow over the jungle. It was a cool night, so a fan was unnecessary.

The next morning, we awoke early to enjoy the misty views of the surroundings. We spotted an elephant grazing a little way from our tower. It was a pleasant sight to enjoy while sipping a cup of hot ginger tea.

We set off on our trek into the jungle, waiting patiently for the mist to clear until 8 am. The forest officer and guide led the way, and we followed closely. After an hour of trekking, we reached a rocky hill where we finally got mobile network. We spent some time enjoying the views before heading back to the watch tower for a delicious breakfast.

We took some rest, had our lunch and returned to catch our boat. We saw more elephants drinking water from the reservoir during the boat ride. Finally we reached back to the lounge and travelled back with a bunch of good memories. Also, we bought a few souvenirs and honey from the tiger reserve souvenirs shop.

For those who love the jungle, trekking and crave a night of solitude away from the hustle and bustle, this is the perfect getaway.