The Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, 48 km south of Palakkad, stretches around the Parambikulam, Thunakadavu and Peruvaripallam dams, and covers an area of 285 sq km adjacent to the Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. It's home to elephants, bison, gaur, sloth bears, wild bears, sambars, chital, crocodiles and a fewtigers and panthers. The sanctuary is open all year, but is best avoided from June to August due tothe monsoon.