Home to the country's largest Tiger Reserve- Periyar, Thekkady is an important tourist destination in Kerala.
There are many resorts near the national park and an early boat safari within the sanctuary is amust to be able to spot wild elephants, bisons, wild boars, various kinds of birds, etc.
Periyar National Park, being a major attraction, is one place where you can enjoy bamboo rafting in the catchment area of Mullaiperiyar Dam. Travellers can also experience night trek in the wilderness of Periyar.
Anakarra is also located nearby which is a great place to enjoy nature. Murikaddy is located around 5 km from the city and is famous for coffee and spices plantations.
Chellar Kovil is another area located nearby with a lot of picturesque waterfalls and cascades. Mangala Devi Temple, located at an altitude of 1337 m and at a distance of around 15km from Thekkady opens only on the Chitra Pournami Festival.
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Thekkady Packages
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5 Days / 4 Nights
Majestic Kerala Wildlife Tour Package with Optional Houseboat Stay
Thekkady boasts an amazing and diverse range of unique wildlife, with mountains glistering over boundless waters the picturesque habitat is known worldwide as home to a wide population of Indian Elephants. It also owns what is often referred as ‘the pride of Kerala’ - The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary which has been rooted as one of the largest and most visited wildlife reserves in India. The sanctuary is spread across an area of 777 square kilometres, and with a tiger reserve within its perimeters, it nurtures a splendid habitat for the fauna. A highly protective elephant and tiger reserve have recorded 53 tigers and more than 900 elephants along with over 62 species of mammals thriving in the lush greens. Deer, mouse deer, dholes (Indian wild dogs) mongoose, foxes, and leopards are some commonly found mammals in Thekkady. It also has 300+ species of birds, 45 species of reptiles, 40+ varieties of fish and 160 types of insects. Situated on the bank of Periyar lake, the place has developed a wide variety of flora in its lush forests. Approximately 75 percent of the entire area is covered with evergreen or semi-evergreen rain forest with trees of bacteria indicia, Cullen exarillata, hope parviflora, canarium strictum, Artocarpus 104 hirsutus and bischofite javanica. It has over 2000 species of flowering plants, 170 species of ferns and 145 types of orchids recorded that are often studied and used as resources by locals. With activities like tiger trails and bamboo rafting, one can explore the greens of this place with ease.
Restaurants and Local Food in Thekkady
Thekkady has a bite for everyone from local snacks and cuisine cooked in fresh coconut oil to a number of keralan delicacies representing the rich and exotic food culture of Kerala. A variety of fish preaparations can also be indulged in here. View Top Restaurants in Thekkady
Suggested Itinerary for Thekkady
Day 1 - Go on the famous Nature Walk, a guided tour through the forests in the morning. After that, go boating on the Periyar lake. Try the elephant rides that are offered. Wander around the town area and check out the plantations. In the evening, be sure to catch a Kathakali performance held near Periyar Meadows. Day2 - Visit the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. If possible check out the Periyar Tiger Trail. Also, check out the Kalari Payattu performance that takes place at the kadathanadan Kalari Center at Kumily.
The top places near to Thekkady are Munnar which is 54 km from Thekkady, Idukki which is located 16 km from Thekkady, Vagamon which is located 30 km from Thekkady, Alleppey which is located 81 km from Thekkady, Peermede which is located 19 km from Thekkady
What are the things to do in Thekkady?
The top things to do in Thekkady are Periyar National Park, Periyar Tiger Trail, Bamboo Rafting, Thekkady Lake, Border Hiking, Green Park Ayurvedic & Spices Plantation. You can see all the places to visit in Thekkady here
What are the top hotels in Thekkady?
There are 146 in Thekkady which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Thekkady are Aanavilasam Luxury Plantation House, Indhrivanam, Cassells Jungle Resorts, Aranya Homestay, Sopanam Heritage Thekkady, Homeroots. You can see all the hotels in Thekkady here
How much does a package cost for Thekkady?
The packages for Thekkady start at INR 7464 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here
What is the best way to reach Thekkady?
Madurai (136 km) and Kochi (165 km) have the nearest airports. The nearest rail head to reach Thekkady is at Kottayam. Regular buses run to Thekkady from Kottayam, Madurai and Trivandrum besides other South Indian cities. Read More
What is the local food in Thekkady?
Thekkady has a bite for everyone from local snacks and cuisine cooked in fresh coconut oil to a number of keralan delicacies representing the rich and exotic food culture of Kerala. A variety of fish preaparations can also be indulged in here. Read More
What is the best time to visit Thekkady?
September to April is the best time to visit Thekkady because of the favourable weather conditions. March and April are the driest months, where a lot of animals gather near the water bodies, and hence it is the best time to spot animals. Monsoons bring freshness and greenery along with it and make the area even more beautiful.
Thekkady is ideal for people who love nature and want to try cycling and trekking in adventurous areas. Also perfect for people who want to relax and unwind in a tranquil place.
What is not so good about Thekkady?
Is almost always crowded. Limited eating options.
What is famous about Thekkady?
Wonderful weather throughout the year. Is pristine and has beautiful natural attractions like forests and plantations.
Have a Question on Thekkady?
Ask a question from the travellers who have experience.
The Tiger Trail is probably the closest I have been to wildlife. We camped over night in the middle of the forest after going in for 2 hours by boat, and another 1 hour of trek. We were pretty cut of (Read More)f from 'rest of humanity' and pleasantly, there was no sign of any human intervention in our surroundings. Our camp site was right by the lake, in the middle of the forest, and all night we kept hearing sounds of wild animals from Elephants to God knows what. I had also never seen so many stars in my life before. This 1 day of Tiger Trail became the highlight of my 12 day trip to Periyar.
Ramya Sreekumar
3 years ago
Thank you for sharing such informations. Recently, I spend one night in Bethlahem Homestay and this is one of the best homestay in Munnar. "Link Hidden"
