The Periyar Game Sanctuary, also known as the Periyar Tiger Reserve at Thekkady, is located in which Indian state?

Introduction / Context:
Periyar Game Sanctuary, now widely known as Periyar Tiger Reserve, is one of the most famous wildlife reserves in India. Situated near Thekkady, it is an important destination for ecology, tourism, and tiger conservation. This question checks whether you can correctly identify the Indian state in which this sanctuary is located, a common item in geography and environment related general knowledge.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sanctuary is called Periyar Game Sanctuary or Periyar Tiger Reserve.
• It is located at or near Thekkady.
• The options list several states: Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh.
• We assume a basic knowledge of popular wildlife reserves in different Indian states.

Concept / Approach:
The Periyar River and Periyar Tiger Reserve are closely associated with the state of Kerala. The reserve lies in the Western Ghats, primarily in the Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts of Kerala. Thekkady, a well known tourist town, is also in Kerala. Although the Western Ghats stretch across multiple states, this specific sanctuary is administratively part of Kerala, not Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, or Andhra Pradesh.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that Thekkady is a popular hill and wildlife tourism destination in Kerala. Step 2: Recall that Periyar Tiger Reserve surrounds the artificial Periyar Lake created by the Mullaperiyar Dam. Step 3: Note that these geographic and administrative details place the sanctuary firmly inside Kerala's boundaries. Step 4: Compare the options and see that Kerala is the only state that matches the known location of Periyar Game Sanctuary. Step 5: Select “Kerala” as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, remember that many tourism brochures and official forest department websites describe Periyar Tiger Reserve as located in Idukki district of Kerala. The nearest town, Kumily, and the well known route from Kochi or Kottayam to Thekkady further reinforce this association. No authoritative source places Periyar Game Sanctuary in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, or Andhra Pradesh, so the answer remains clear.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Karnataka: Home to other reserves like Bandipur and Nagarhole, but Periyar is not in this state.
Tamil Nadu: Shares the Western Ghats and benefits from the Mullaperiyar Dam water, yet the sanctuary itself lies on the Kerala side of the border.
Goa: Has wildlife sanctuaries but does not host the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
Andhra Pradesh: Located on the eastern side of India and not part of the Western Ghats in which Periyar is situated.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates mistakenly link Periyar to Tamil Nadu because of the Mullaperiyar Dam controversy, or they simply see Western Ghats and guess Karnataka. To avoid confusion, clearly associate Periyar Game Sanctuary and Thekkady with Kerala in your mental map of Indian wildlife reserves.

Final Answer:
The Periyar Game Sanctuary at Thekkady is located in the state of Kerala.