Enchanting Kerala

Book Review- Parambikulam Tiger Reserve

When one picks up a coffee table book on wildlife to read, what does one expect?

Information?  A glimpse into the wilderness?

 The book ‘Parambikulam Tiger Reserve’, a part of the series ‘Sanctuary for the Soul’ offers all that and much more. The series comprises four books dealing with the four major wildlife sanctuaries in God’s Own Country.

The Parambikulam Tiger Reserve (285sqkm) located in Palakkad district in Kerala is home to over 36 species of mammals, 250 species of birds and about a thousand kinds of insects.

The book divided into distinct sections explores the Tiger Reserve not just in terms of factual details but also in terms of raw, first hand experiences of the writer, Mr. Manu Remakant.

Printed and published by Stark World on behalf of the Department of Tourism, the book is replete with exemplary photographs by the renowned wildlife photographer, Mr. Balan Madhavan. Each click captures within its frame the soul, spirit and essence of the Tiger Reserve.

A highlight of the book apart from the visual splendor is the captivating, intense manner in which the writer takes his reader though his adventure that led to sighting of the tiger in the wild.

The tribes, their rituals and habits are also well explored. The book also tells us the poignant tale of how mankind’s avarice nearly destroyed a paradise and how Nature fought back. It is the dedicated sincerity of a very efficient forest management system that now protects and nurtures the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve.

Parambikulam doesn’t just embrace you. It storms your senses, overpowers your ego and wins your love with every step you take.