Periyar National Park is located near the Nilgiri range, the “Blue Mountains”. Periyar is the most famous wildlife reserve in southern India. The park includes a 26 km² man-made lake, created by the British in 1895 to supply Madurai with drinking water. The reserve is home to gaur, antelope, sambar deer, wild boar, monkeys, langurs, a wide variety of birds and some 750 elephants.