अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न (FAQs)
Q1: What is the primary ecological purpose of Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary?
Peppara Sanctuary was created to safeguard the pristine forested catchment of the Karamana River and Peppara Dam, which supplies drinking water to the entire city of Thiruvananthapuram.
Q2: What is the popular trek to Vazhvanthol Waterfalls?
Vazhvanthol is a stunning two-tiered waterfall inside Peppara Sanctuary, reached via a 4 km guided forest trek through eucalyptus plantations and dense evergreen jungle starting near Vithura.
Q3: Can visitors spot the Nilgiri Tahr in Peppara?
Yes, small herds of the endangered mountain ungulate Nilgiri Tahr inhabit the high-altitude rocky crags and grassy cliffs near the sanctuary's highest point, Chemmunjimottai (1,717 m).
Q4: How far is Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary from Thiruvananthapuram?
Peppara Dam and sanctuary entrance are located approximately 45 km northeast of Thiruvananthapuram city center, easily reached in about 1.5 hours via Nedumangad and Vithura.
Q5: What tribal community lives in Peppara Sanctuary?
The sanctuary is home to 13 indigenous Kani tribal settlements, whose deep traditional knowledge of forest herbs and sustainable honey collection aids forest management.