The Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary, one of India's biggest wild life sanctuaries covering 777 sq.km is a Tiger Reserve, is the main attraction in Thekkady. Its centre piece, the man-made Periyar Lake at the height of 2000 Ft, covers 26 sq.km. British engineer, Colonel.J.Pennycuick conceived a design to dam the Periyar river which runs through the forests of the western ghats in Kerals. The dam was created in 1895 to divert the water to TamilNadu for irrigation. The Lake is an important source of water for the many wild animals.