Thekkady - God is the most beautiful, and beauty is the expression of God.

 Thekkady

Thekkady a perfect destination for all type of travelers in south India. If you are a nature lover and are looking for a place to cool yourself off of the hustle and bustle of day to day life, Thekkady would be a great choice for you.  Look forward to days of relaxation, gorgeous views, spice plantations, and a lot of thrill and adventure to your Kerala trip with Thekkady on your travel route. With its breathtaking beauty, cozy climate, and diverse wildlife, greenery, beautiful land the place would calm your mind and purify your being. The evergreen and semi-evergreen forest which is bordered by the Western Ghats offers so many places to visit in Thekkady with varied terrain and diverse vegetation. The soothing effect that these places can bring is unparalleled. Hence it is considered one of the best tourist locations in Kerala. 

Information About Thekkady

Thekkady is also called Periyar and sometimes known as Kumily too. Kumily is the place where we normally stay and Thekkady is where Wildlife Sanctuary is located, both are just within 2 -3 km apart.

Thekkady is situated 190 km from Cochin Airport and it takes approximately 4 hours to reach Thekkady. Mostly tourist like to travel in package tour, go to Thekkady after Munnar which is 110 km away or from Alleppey which is about 140 km away. The route is a combination of hills as well as normal roads.

Thekkady Famous For

Thekkady is famous for the wildlife sanctuary. There is boating facility at Thekkady where the boat will take you around the Wildlife Sanctuary through the Periyar Lake. One can see wild animals during this boat ride but need to be very quiet. Mullapperiyar dam can also be seen during this boat ride. This wildlife sanctuary and dam both can be seen by boat only. 

Boating Booking Procedure in Periyar Lake 

Ticket availability depends on the rush on that particular day. Advance booking is possible through KTDC where they charge Rs. 500/- instead of 150/- which is the cost for for normal booking. To do advance booking for boating at Thekkady, you may contact KTDC Lake Palace on 04869 222014 or send an email to lakepalacethekkady@ktdc.com. They will respond back with their bank account details and you can proceed with booking. To take normal ticket, you need to be in queue and need to produce ID card and your personal details.

Periyar National Park

Periyar National park may be the first location that comes up on your search for the best places to visit in Thekkady. The dense evergreen forest of Periyar National Park with its deciduous trees and lush green flora can enchant anyone. The preserved area devoid of human intervention pulsates with the innate beauty of nature. You will be thrilled when you see the wildlife-filled with elephants, deers, Nilgiri langurs, monkey, tiger, leopard and sambar and many more living peacefully in their natural habitat. The exciting safari gets you very close to their unperturbed life in the wildlife sanctuary in Thekkady. Periyar National Park also houses a tiger reserve which presents a trekking opportunity for adventure lovers. The prospect of seeing an Indian tiger up close makes the trip much exciting.

Elephant Walk | Bath | Feeding

After finish the boating then take experience with elephant myriad of extra activities awaits you at Thekkady. You can go for an elephant ride, bath & feeding, give elephant bath or even get an elephant shower which is quite thrilling. 

Spice Plantation Walks

Take a walk through the beautiful landscapes and spice plantations gardens of Thekkady. During your spice plantation walks you will learn how these species are cultivated, harvested, and processed which is extremely interesting. It is not only informative but also very calming as you walk through the plantations. You can check with your hotel and they will assist you with the bookings of these walks. 

Timing: 0700 AM - 0600 PM  |  Duration: Half Day

Nature Trails

If you are intrested in hiking or nature lover or no when in Thekkady make sure to hike up the mountains to get your dose of peace, and calm. On the way up you even get to spot a different species of birds. Thekkady has numerous trekking trails that lead you to stretches of lush green landscapes and the most stunning views of nature. You can check with your hotel and they will assist you with the bookings of this guided nature walk.

Timing: 0700 AM - 0600 PM  |  Duration: Half Day

Ayurvedic Spa | Massage Center

You can go for an Ayurvedic massage from any of the massage centers at Thekkady. Kerala has some of the best Ayurvedic massages. Not only is this relaxing but these massages have healing properties, balancing the body and mind.

After full day sightseeing spending an evening at the spa is an ideal thing for you. One of the best places you can get this done is at Santhigiri Ayurveda Spa. They offer the best massages and are one of the authentic Ayurvedic spa. Most of the spas even offer a longer course of 07 - 14 days or so. Hence, depending on the package the cost would vary.

Visiting Hours: 0900 - 2100 Hrs.  |  Spa Duration: 02 - 03 Hrs. | Cost: INR 1000 - 2000/- 

Bamboo Rafting in Thekkady

Bamboo Rafting is one of the exciting program in Thekkady, Periyar Lake. It is a  splendid eco-friendly, entertainment program for the nature-lovers who visit Thekkady. This activity is organized in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, on the Periyar Lake, and is a part of a nature walk. On a tour to excursion bamboo rafting in Periyar National Park, you will accompanied by four guides. There is also an armed guard on the boat for everyone’s safety.

The area being one of the richest and most diverse bio-diversity spots in the Western Ghats, one can get a  panoramic view of forest-clad hills reflected on the lake. Animals like elephant, gaur and sambar can be sighted keeping close to the edges of the lake.The travellers will be provided breakfast comprising bread, jam, and fruits. Tea, snacks and packed lunch will also be served en route.

Full Day Bamboo Rafting

• Guided, full-day trekking and rafting program including meal snacks & lunch
• Time slots: Full day program, from 0800 AM to 0500 PM
• Group size minimum 02 pax or maximum 10 pax @ Rs. 2800/- per person
• Only children of 12 years and above are allowed to participate in the above activity.

Half Day Bamboo Rafting

A dawn to afternoon range hiking and rafting program through some of the richest forest tracts of Periyar Tiger Reserve, a mosaic of habitats will be traversed before the party gets into rafts made of bamboos. By rafting you will get a panoramic view of forest-clad hills. Animals like elephant, gaur and sambar are sighted keeping close to the edges of the lake. This program works at two slots of 07:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 09:30 AM to 02:30 PM. You will be provided with packed food. 

Price : Rs 2000/- per person. Minimum 02 pax require 

Booking can be done by calling Eco tourism centre, Thekkady at 04869 224571 and payment should be made in advance.

Spice Shops in Thekkady

Thekkady is very well known for its large variety of tea, cardamom, pepper, clove, vanilla and many more such flavorful spices. There are number of shops selling organic garden fresh spices in this region at reasonable rates.These shops at the local market are indeed a treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds. Along with this you can also get to get a little knowledge of the spices here on asking the local sellers and farmers. Purchase from there best quality of spices as souvenirs.

Best Time To Visit Thekkady

Winter Season (October to February): Winter is the best season in Thekkady. The weather at the time will be cool and pleasant. The highest temperature will not be more than 15-16 degrees Celsius. So if you are someone who loves morning chills this is the best time for you.  Moreover, October to February is the time when most festivals take place in Thekkady. 

Summer Season (March to May): The temperature starts to rise from the mid of March, marking the beginning of summer in Thekkady.  The temperatures can rise up to 35-degree Celsius during afternoons making it the hottest season in Thekkady. If you love the warm climate, this is the best time for you. 

Monsoon Season (June to September): Monsoon is a great time in Kerala to watch greenery. The beauty of pouring rain is incomparable to any other season in India. You have the option to get the first-hand experience of the season if you visit Thekkady between the months of June and September. The pouring rain drenching the trees and filling the backwaters of Thekkady is a refreshing sight.

How To Reach Thekkady

By Air: Madurai Airport which is located at a distance of 136 kilometres is the nearest one from Thekkady. Cochin International Airport is the closest international Airport. But it is located almost 190 kilometres from the destination. Nevertheless, you can hire a cab from the airport and reach the hill station within 04 hours. 

By Road: If you have an option to drive to the location, you should definitely prefer that. The ride through the quaint countryside with tea plantations and the green forest is an exciting experience. You can easily get a bus from nearby places like Kottayam and Kochi. There are state-run buses from long distances like Thiruvananthapuram. Private buses and cabs are also available options to reach Thekkady.

By Rail: Kottayam railway station is the closest to Thekkady. It is almost 115 kilometres away.