Thekkady tour

Thekkady

Thekkady is enchanting as the road winds through tranquil countryside, rich plantations & thick jungles.Thekkady is located near to Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. The sanctuary is famous for its dense evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests and savanna grass lands. It is home to herds of elephants, sambar, tigers, gaur, lion-tailed macaques and Nilgiri langurs.

Things to do in Thekkady:

Thekkady is heaven for wildlife as well as for nature lovers and is usually combined with Munnar for a Munnar Thekkady package which is popular among guests visiting Kerala. Its cool climate, scenic vistas, lush greenery and the exotic wildlife sanctuary attracts tourists from the nook and corner of the world.

Boating

The first and foremost activity of a tourist in Thekkady is Boating in the Lake. One can see the wild animals along the Lakeside foraging, bathing, drinking and resting. It would be a greater fun if one is lucky enough to see the elephants playing with their babies in the lake. KTDC and Forest Departments are operating the Boat Service. Daily 5 Trips and each trips of Two Hours.
Timings : 7 am, 9:30 am, 11:30 am, 2 pm & 4 pm .

Jeep safari in Thekkady

The jeep safari to Gavi from 6 AM to 5 PM is the major off-the-track destination activity ideal for a wilderness retreat among the Things to do in Thekkady replete with trekking, birding, canoeing and facilities for boarding. This programme includes breakfast, lunch as well.Jeep Safari covers the dense green vegetation,thick forests,cascading waterfalls and aromatic spice plantations

Bamboo Rafting

Bamboo rafting is a dawn to dusk range hiking and rafting programme through some of the richest forest tracts of Periyar Tiger Reserve is popular among the Things to do in Thekkady. Starting at 8 am from the boat landing, a mosaic of habitats will be traversed before the party gets in to rafts made of bamboos. The forests are rich in bird life and arboreal animals like giant squirrel and Nilgiri langur. The rafting is for about three hours and one gets a panoramic view of forest – clad hills reflected on the lake. Animals like elephant, gaur and sambar are sighted keeping close to the edges of the lake. The team hitchhikes back to the boat landing by about 5 pm. An armed guard and 4 guides will accompany a maximum of 10 tourists. Tea, snacks and packed lunch will be served en route.

Trekking

Several trekking programs are offered in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Short trekking programs are available that cover 4-5 Km and completed in 3 hrs. This is a good option to watch birds, butterflies and some wildlife. The trails often pass through evergreen and moist deciduous forests and grasslands. It costs Rs. 300 per person and a group can have a maximum of 4 persons.

A 12 Km trek (one way) to the ruined Mangaladevi temple in middle of the Periyar Sanctuary is a great option to experience beauty of the park in depth. It is recommended for experience trekkers.

Border Hiking is a conservation oriented hard trek taking up a full day. The trekking starts at 8 AM and ends in the evening. The route passes through undulating terrains. Maximum of 10 tourists can take the programme in two different groups. The trekkers will go with two guides and an armed forest guard.

Tourists can also participate in jungle patrol, which is a night trek programme intended to conserve the forest. Persons having proper physical and mental fitness to trek through the wilderness in the night could take the 3 hours trekking. Two protection watchers and one-armed forest guard will accompany the tourists.

Trekkers must obtain prior permission from the wildlife authorities. Kurisamala to Kumily and Kumily to Pandikuzhi are some of the most favorite trekking routes and Pullumedu, Kurisumala, Ottakathalamedu and Grampi are noteworthy trekking bases in this area. The Forest Department conducts daily treks from the Thekkady Boating Point to the Nellikkampetty area and Manakkavala. Booking can be made with the Wildlife reservation Officer.

Plantation tour

About 4000 Sq. KM of Idukki district is under verdant spice plantations. The main occupations of the natives are spice farming and trading. The original produce was cardamom, pepper, ginger and turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, all spice, tea etc. This will give an excellent opportunity to the visitor to see the spice plants and ayurvedic medicinal plants and buy some garden fresh spices from the plantations. This Tour will take 2-3 hours.

Elephant ride

There is park having Elephants an inmates and filled aroma of spices due to plantation of spices in the park and there are various programmes on offer here including Half an hour ride and photo session and another programme called One hour with elephant which includes Elephant Ride, Elephant Bath, Phto Session, Commands and Communication.and Two Hours with Elephant – Elephant Ride, Elephant Bath, Photo Session, Commands and Communications, Timber Dragging, Feeding, Elephant Shower.

Getting there

By Air

Thekkady does not have an airport of its own and the Madurai airport located at a distance of 136 kilometres from Thekkady is the nearest domestic airport. From Madurai, you can hire a cab to get to Thekkady.

The nearest international airport is the Cochin International Airport, which is 190 kilometres away. This airport is well-connected with all major cities in India and abroad. The best way to get to Thekkady from Cochin is by hiring a cab.

By Bus

The most inexpensive way to get to Thekkady from nearby cities like Cochin, Trivandrum and Kottayam are the government or private run buses. Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses are available at regular intervals from Kottayam, Cochin and Trivandrum to Thekkady.

By Train

The nearest railway station to Thekkady is in Kottayam, located 114 kilometres away. The railway station in Kottayam is well-connected to major cities across India.You can hire a cab from Kottayam to get to Thekkady, or even board a government or private run bus.

Road/Self Drive

Driving through the quaint countryside painted with the green colour of tea plantations and forests, is quite an experience. From cities like Cochin, Madurai, Trivandrum, Munnar, Kottayam, one can easily book a cab or get behind the steering wheel of their car to drive to Thekkady.

While on the road to Thekkady, do not forget to keep your camera ready to click pictures of the scenic views. Also, do remember to take an extra 10 to 20 litres of petrol or diesel with you in case you run out of fuel as there is no fuel station nearby.

Travel tips

• ·        Does not have that much sight seeing using cab. You can enjoy boat ride, elephant ride etc.
• ·        Since Thekkady is surrounded by forests on all sides and has a wide variety of wild animals, you will find many insects in the area. Take proper precautions and carry along insect repellents. During excursions to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, it is advisable to wear long sleeved shirts and long pants to avoid mosquito bites.
• ·        There are plenty of invigorating fun activities to choose from - nature walks, the Periyar trail, boating, bamboo rafting, trekking, plantation visits and much more. The Periyar Trail is an exciting and unique excursion tour, which takes the tourists deep into the wilds of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
• ·        You will want to make sure that you pack a warm jacket.
• ·        When it comes to driving anywhere in Thekkady it is best to do it during the daylight hours. Plan your trips early so that you are safe somewhere during nightfall. 

Timings and season

Given its pleasant climate most of the year, Thekkady makes for an all year round destination. Here is a month wise break-up of the weather of Thekkady to help you plan your holiday better:

October to February: Winters are by far the best time to visit Thekkady as the weather is cool and pleasant, making it ideal for sightseeing. The maximum temperature goes up to 15 degrees Celsius and this is a great time to go for wildlife safaris and admire the natural beauty of Thekkady. You can also enjoy the many festivals which take place during this time in Thekkady.

March to May: March marks the beginning of summer in Thekaddy and temperatures begin to rise. The maximum temperature during this time of the year goes up to 36 degrees Celsius. Since not many tourists visit Thekaddy during this time, you can secure great deals on hotels and enjoy th natural beauty of the place minus the crowds. Though do make sure you carry light cotton clothes and sunscreen along.

June to September: The monsoons are another great time to visit Thekkady. The temperature drops slightly and the surroundings are draped in a cloak of rich greenery. The rains are also a great time to enjoy the rain washed beauty of Thekkady. Do make sure you carry an umbrella or raincoat alogn as rain showers are frequent and heavy.