Thekkady Archives - Best India Tour Packages

Two images spring to mind with Thekkady; that of a herd of elephants playing in the lake, and the tree houses that provide a life elevated from ground level.

Best time to visit : September to March.

Places to visit/Recreation: The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the banks of Periyar Lake at Thekkady. The high mountains of Western Ghats are covered in dense evergreen, moist deciduous forests, and savannah grass lands. The sanctuary houses elephants, sambars, tigers, gaurs, lion, tailed macaques, and Nilgiri langurs. Spread across 777 sq km, 360 sq km of which is thick evergreen forest, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is a Tiger Reserve. This fascinating jungle is renowned for its diversity of wildlife, geomorphology, and scenic beauty. The best way to enjoy the sanctuary is by boats, safeguarded by nets, which allow a peek into the wildlife from close quarters. There is a beautiful artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam built across the Periyar River. About 5 km from Thekkady is Murikkady, which is famous for its coffee, cardamom, and spice plantations. Kurisumala is a major tourism and trekking spot and offers breathtaking views of Kumily town and Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. 5 kilometres from Kumily lies a photographer’s delight – Pandikuzhi. The Chellar Kovil, located about 15 km from Kumily and leading to Theni district of Tamil Nadu, has a lot of waterfalls and cascades and is extremely serene and beautiful About 15 km from Thekkady is the Mangala Devi Temple, a beautiful stone temple in Thekkady forest, which is open only during the festival of Chitra Pournima. Whether walking through plantations or going on a lazy elephant ride, trekking to test your stamina or relaxing on a boat ride, Thekkady offers all this and more.

Places to stay: Being a famous tourist spot, Thekkady also offers the usual accommodation options, but the stay in a tree house in the dense forest is an experience unlike any other.

Nearest airport: Madurai (114 km), Cochin (185 km), and Trivandrum (250 km)

Near railway station: Kottayam (110 km)

Road accessibility: Easily accessible by road.