Thekkady

Thekkady, also known as Periyar is one of the renowned Wildlife Sanctuary in India. It is bordered by an unbroken chain of hills of the Western Ghats  and reverberates with the trumpets of elephants and the melodious chirping of the strange birds and insects. This place which is a loving home to the diverse flora and fauna houses the famous Tiger Reserve and the National Wildlife Park. Periyar is the abode of other wild animals such as leopard, wild dog, Nilgiri langur, barking deer and mouse deer, bonnet macaque, porcupines, Nilgiri tahrs (a kind of a wild goat), squirrels, wild boar, sloth bear and 40 tigers. Periyar is also great for bird life, which consists of the Cormorant, Darter, Giant Hornbill, Osprey and Racket-tailed Drongo. Some Tribal Villages are also found in the proximity of Periyar.

What to expect in Thekkady

Thekkady is known as a hill station and as a wildlife sanctuary. It has a cool tropical climate ranging from 30 degrees to 16 degrees. This is one of the favourite getaways in Kerala. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar adds to the charm of the park. This is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar, however, are the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake.

But this does not mean that everyone will always get to see these wild animals. Sometimes you may not spot any at all. If you are lucky you get to see animals coming down to the river to drink water. And mostly you get to see only the herds of elephants. 

There are many homestays and resorts that are nestled in the midst of nature.

Things to do in and around Thekkady

• Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary opens from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is also a Tiger Reserve, but it is known for the herds of elephants. 
• Stay at Plantation Homestays in Kumily- a major spice trading centre.
• Clouds Walk- a long guided trek for approximately 3-4 hrs that ends with a bird's eye view of Periyar.
• Visit to plantation town of Murikkady.
• Chitra Poorna festival at Mangla Devi temple near Thekkady.
• Vandanmedu is a plantation town nearby, about 25kms from Thekkady.
• Trekking in Vandiperiyar, where the River Periyar flows through.
• Elephant rides that the Forest Department organises. it is available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for about 30 minutes each and tickets are available from the Wildlife Information Counter. (0486 2322028)
• Adventure tourism or trekking or even a lazy weekend at Kuttikkanam. 
• Mullaperiyar Dam originates from Thekkady.