Located in the foothills of the Western Ghats, the very name conjures up images of elephants, expansive grasslands, spice plantations and view of mist clad mountains. The first to promote environmental tourism in Kerala, Thekkady is known for the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Located just 4 km from Thekkady is Kumily. Kumily is plantation town and along with Thekkady, it makes a very convenient base to explore the Cardomom hills. Kumily lies just on the fringes of the borders of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. As compared to Thekkady, Kumily is buzzing with activity and usually thronged by tourists. In the course of time a lot of plantation Bungalows have come up here which offer a unique stay experience to the tourists.
The weather ranges between 11°C to 27° C. However the best time to travel to Thekkady is September to March. It is also advisable to carry woollens and cottons when planning a trip here.
Elephant rides: One of the most famous attractions with tourists is to go on Elephant rides through the dense jungles in Thekkady. The forest Departmen of Thekkady organizes for these elephant rides.
Plantation Tours: Plantation Eco-Tours are organized by KTDC and also by some private organizations. These tours usually educate tourists about pepper, cardamom, tea and coffee plantations, tea factories, tribal settlements and the surrounding hill regions
Trekking: The ideal places to go trekking are Pandikuzhi, Pullumedu, Ottakathalamedu, Grampi , Kurisumala, Nellikampetty and Manakkavala.
Kurisumala: Known as 'Mountain of the cross' It is a 2 km drive from Kumily.
Pullumedu: A special permission is require from the Wildlife Preservation Officer,Thakkadyy(contact no: 04869-322027) and the Range Officer. It is only possible to commute to this place by a Jeep.
Nellikampetty and Manakkavala: Treks are conducted on a regular basis by the Forest Department. You can book your trek with the Wildlife Preservation Officer, Thekkady.
Dance shows: One can look forward to seeing some dance performances and also know a little more about the popular dance forms at Natyagriham: Thamarakandom Road, near Ambady Jn., Thekkady.
Demonstrations and lectures of Bharathanatyam Kalaripayattu. Look out for the daily Bharathanatyam performance: 1730 to 1830 hrs. Ticket:Rs 100/- per person
Boat cruises on the Periyar Lake : Boat cruises at sunrise and sunset are not to be missed . Known for the Elephants and avifauna, you are certain to spot some as you cruise.
The Indian Rupee is the official currency of Thekkady . Currency can be converted at the currency exchange counters at the Airport. credit and debit/cards are accepted in most of the hotels. The closest bank is the State Bank of Travancore, Peermede.
No permits are required to travel to Thekkady, other than a visa for India.
Kumily: About 4 kms from Thekkady, Kumily lies in the Idukki District of Kerala which is just on the outskirts of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Known for the Cardomom hills, Kumily is a famous spice trade centre and shopping arena. Most of the reasonable accommodation can be found at Kumily.
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary: Is one of the most distinct Natural Wildlife sanctuaries. This dense sanctuary is home to a lot of animals. One can look forward to spotting Tigers, Sambar, Gaur, Lion, Nilgiri lang, Bison, Bear and Elephants.
The Sanctuary Watch Towers: If one enjoys sightseeing then the Watch towers at Thannikudi, Edappalayam and Manakkavala offer a splendid view. To make reservation, call the Forest Information Counter.
Pandikuzhi ( 5 km from Kumily): This picturesque place cradled between Chellarkovil and the Tamil Nadu State border is a popular picnic spot. Pandikuzhi offers great opportunities for trekking and is a photographer's delight.
Tribal Heritage Museum: The Museum displays artifacts related to the traditional attire, rituals, fishing gear, hunting weaponry, medicinal herbs, bamboo furniture etc., giving you a peep into the lives of the tribe called Mannas, the earliest inhabitants of the present day Periyar Tiger Reserve
Gavi: An ideal place for Trekking, watching birds, outdoor camping and boating. One can enjoy a long 40 km drive from Kumily and view the waterfalls, cardamom plantations and green carpeted grasslands on the way.
Mangala Devi Temple: A 15 km drive from Thekkady, amidst the dense woods is the ancient Mangala Devi Temple. A long trek to the peak which is 1337m above the sea level also offers a breathtaking view of the Ghats. However, Tourists can go to this Temple only on Chithra Pournima festival day celebrated with a religious fervour. The temple is built in the traditional Kerala style of architecture.
Where To Eat: Most of the restaurants offer authentic Kerala food that is sure to tickle your taste buds. Apart from that you can dig into Indian, Chinese, Continental and Italian cuisines. Where To stay: There are a lot of Hotels one can choose from. Some of the popular Hotels are Taj Garden Retreat Hotel, Bamboo Grove, Saj Jungle Village, Ambadi, Tree Top to name a few. Ensure that you make your reservations in advance. Most of the hotels give you an option to make bookings online also.
Chellarkovil (18 km) Small village with nearby cascading waterfalls and distant views over the coconut groves of Tamil Nadu.
Vandiperiyar (18 km) The river Periyar flows down through this town supplying water to the flourishing tea, coffee and pepper plantations.
Vandanmedu ( 25 km from Kumily) One of the world's largest auction centres for cardamom
Pullumedu - only reached by jeep where the famous Sree Ayyappa Temple is to be found. Sabarimala and the Makara Jyothi illuminations at the shrine are visible. Special permission has to be obtained for visits.
Kottayam: A town known for its ancient churches especially the 700 years-old churches, the Cheria palli ('small church') with exceptionally lovely paintings over the altar and the Valia palli('Big Church') perched on a picturesque hillock over a small cluster of houses.
Erumely-It a pilgrim centre for the Hindus and Muslims. There is the Sree Dharmasastha Temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.
Aranmula-This is the place where one can catch all the action during Onam festival boat races, usually in early September.
Vagamon-An ideal place for trekking with lush meadows, tea gardens and green valleys.
Elaveezha Poonchira-Elaveezha Poonchira is yet another picnic spot located in the midst of beautiful hills
Vaikom -is famous for the Shiva Temple and the 'Panchavadyam' an important musical performance
If you are looking for an adventurous yet quiet holiday, pack your bags and head to Thekkady.
Contact numbers:
District Tourist Information Office: Thekkady Junction: 04869-222620.
Eco Tourism Centre of Periyar Tiger Reserve, Ambady Junction, Kumily: 04869-224571
Forest Information Centre, Boating Landing, Periyar Tiger Reserve- 04869-222028
By Air
The nearest Airports to reach Thekkady are Madurai which is at a distance of 142 kilometers and Kochi at a distance of 130 kilometers . Apart from that, you can access the airport at Thiruvananthapuram at a distance of 302 kilometers
By Rail
The railhead nearest to Thekkady is Kumarakom located 114 km away. The other Railheads are Kottyam 142 km away, Madurai 162 km away and Thiruvananthapuram which is 302 km away from Thekkady.
By Road
The drive to Thekkady takes one through the enchanting countryside, lush plantations and dense forests. There are regular buses plying from Kottayam to Kumily. You can opt for the KSRTC buses or private buses. The bus journey takes around 4 hours. Kumily is also connected by road to Madurai. After reaching Kumily it is a 4 km drive to Thekkady.
