The Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is an ornithologist’s paradise. Home to various species of rare birds, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is also copiously wooded with bamboo, sandalwood, rosewood, teak, some marshy land and sprinkled patches of grassland. Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary has earned reputation for nurturing some of south India's finest produce of teak. The original teak forests have now been replaced by teak plantations other than the famous Kannimari teak tree, the largest in Asia. Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary possesses one of the largest populations of gaur (bison). It is also domicile to elephants, sloth bears, wild boars, sambhars, chital tigers, panthers, crocodiles, bonnet macaques, spectacled cobras, kraits, vipers, turtles, darters, little cormorants and black eagles.

The Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is open to visitors all round the year. But is better to avoid visiting it during monsoon. Between June and August, the monsoon rains yank the hillside making it unstable and causing sludge. The Parambikulam Reservoir is ideal for boat cruises. The nearest airport is at Coimbatore in Tamilnadu (100 km away) while the nearest railhead is at Pollachi (60 km away).