About Thekkady

Thekkady in Kerala State , India 's largest wildlife sanctuary is a dream destination for any tourist visiting India . The 120 years old 'Surki' dam built across Peryiar, Poorna in Vedic parlance, is a major tourist attraction. This sanctuary is spread over an area of 777 Sq.Kms, surrounded by an artificial lake over an area of 25 Sq.Kms. The Country's sole Tiger reserve, Thekkady, with its bountiful treasures of tropical flora and fauna is the ultimate reservoir of many an endangered species and a rich tribal culture. Thekkady is a pleasant heaven on earth for those who love nature in its wild manifestations.Thekkady is famous for the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best places for viewing wild animals. The best time to visit animals is during the months of March, April and May. Thekkady offers facilities for Trekking, elephant riding and boating. Boating through the Placid Lake provides a rare opportunity to watch wild animals at close quarters.

General Information

Altitude: 900 - 1800 m above sea level
Latitude and Longitude: 9 degree 15 inches to 9 degree 40 inches North and 76 degree 25 inches to 77 degree 55 inches East
Rainfall: 2500 mm
Climate: Tropical
Clothing: Woolen and Cotton
Temperature: 15 to 30 degree Celsius
Languages: Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, English
Best season to visit: Any time during the year except Monsoon, which ranges from June to September

Climate

Thekkady experiences a tropical climate with little variance from season to season. March to May is the summer time. There are frequent rains. This mean minimum temperature records 16 degrees Centigrade. September to May is the best time to pay a visit to the natural paradise of Periyar.

Things To Do In Thekkady

Plantation Tours -Plantation Eco-Tours are arranged from the District Tourism Information Office at Thekkady jn. in Kumily. Tours cover cardamom, pepper, coffee and tea plantations, tea factories, tribal settlements and the surrounding hill regions Tel. : 91-486-322620.

Elephant rides -The forest Department, Thekkady offers facilities for elephant rides through the jungle. Time : 1000 to 1700 hrs. Duration of a trip : 30 minutes Fare : Rs. 30 per person. Tickets are available from the wildlife information Counter Tel. : 91-486-322028

Trekking -Main trekking areas in Thekkady : Kurisumala near Kumily, Pullumedu, Ottakathalamedu : 5 km from Kumily, Grampi near Vandiperiyar. The Forest Department conducts daily treks from the boat landing station at Thekkady to the Nellikkampetty area and Manakkavala. Starting : 0700 hrs. Fare Rs. 10 + entrance fee. Booking can be made with the Wildlife Preservation Officer, Thekkady Ph : 322027 322028.

Boat cruises on the Periyar Lake -0700, 0930, 1130, 1600 hrs. Fare : Lower deck : Rs 25 + 10 ( entrance fee) Upper deck : 50 + 10 (entrance fee). The forest Department (Contact Ph : 322023) conducts boating trips from Thekkady. Entrance fee at check post. Foreigners : Rs. 50 (valid for 3 days) Domestic tourists Rs. 2

How To Reach

Air -The nearest airport is Kochi or Madurai

Rail-The nearest rail junction is Kottayam or Madurai

Road
190 Km from Kochi
Kumily 4 Km
Sabarimala via Pullumedu : 50 Km,
Idukki: 65 Km,
Munnar 106 Km ,
Kumarakom 128 Km,
Sabarimala via Erumeli : 134 Km,
Kodaikanal: 149 Km,
Alappuzha: 164 Km,
Kollam: 220 Km ,
Ooty: 390 Km.

Thekkady At Glance

 

The very sound of the word Thekkady or Periyar Tiger Reserve conjures up images of Elephants, unending chains of hills and spice-scented plantations. Periyar forest has one of the finest wildlife reserves in India and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and hill towns that hold great apportunities for treks and mountain walks.

Thekkady is tantamount to proud mountains, winding valleys, scented plantations and crisp air. The periyar forest of Thekkady is abode to one of the finest natural wildlife sanctuaries in India. Spread over a picture perfect landscape, it holds great opportunities for wildlife watching and photography. A cruise on the lake might just strike that long forgotten string of the heart. Set off on a memorable plantation tour, spice garden trek, walking through the cardamom, coffee, pepper and tea plantations. Make most of it by walking into tribal settlements and watching their life from close. Ride through the jungle on elephant back and see how it feels to walk in grandeur and style.

Thekkady in the south Indian state of Kerala is one very appealing town of India with vast forest areas and some finest nature views. The very sound of the word Thekkady recollects images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. Periyar forest in Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India, and spread across the entire district are bewitching plantations and captivating hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks.

Around 700 elephants and 42 tigers! This is the least that Thekkady (Periyar) offers. Nestled in the verdant high ranges of the Western Ghats, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is the cynosure of all eyes here in Kerala. The sanctuary covers a huge area of 777 sq km and harbours species like Nilgiri langoor, Nilgiri tahr, Bison, Sambhar, Deer, Antelope, Tortoises, Black Tailed Monkeys, etc. The avian species count to 265. To add to your experience all the more, there are aromatic spice gardens in the vicinity of the park.

The pride of Kerala, Thekkady is a dream destination that offers a thrilling combination of wildlife safari tours and a hill-station holiday that leaves the tourists spellbound. The very mention of Thekkady conjures up images of elephants, rolling hills and spice plantations. Here, in the crisp, cool air of the Western Ghats you will experience the most enchanting holiday with the animals of the wild and the simple unsophisticated mountain people.

Thekkady's premier tourist attraction is the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Centered around an artificial lake of Thekkady, the national park is home to a great variety of wildlife species such as elephants, sambars, tigers, gaurs, lion tailed macaques and Nilgiri langurs. The Sanctuary also doubles up as a Tiger Reserve and you can explore the Thekkady forest at leisure on elephant rides, cruises on the lake and jungle safaris to the heart of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

On tours of Thekkady, you will also come across other places of interest such as Kumily and Murrikady, where you can see the exotic spice plantations of cardamom, coffee and pepper. If you feel like picnicking, no other spot is better than Pandikuzhi that offers great opportunities for trekking and photography. Travel to Chellarkovil in Thekkady to enjoy the spectacular view of the plains and cascading waterfalls during the monsoons.

Thekkady is king of jungles. The drumming calls of Nilgiri langurs, probably a coded message to the denizens of the forest to be alert and careful, will greet the visitors who enter the forests. Moving further, barking deers, a characteristic alarm signal to the inmate species, may shake the visitors. Amongst Thekkady worthy inhabitants, there is an exclusive charm in watching the majestic tuskers and the bright-eyed tigers in their exclusive kingdom. It is meaningless to think of returning without a sweet brush with animals.That is fun.

It is mandatory to have a guide. Most of the guides are poachers turned. The poachers were roped in as protectors as part of ecotourism and rehabilitation. The sprawling Periyar Tiger Reserve, in an area of 777 Sq Km, is rated as one of the 18 hot spots in the world in bio-diversity. Its tropical rain forests present worlds most ancient and complex environments. Home to elephants, tigers, leopards, deers, gaurs, antelopes, variety of reptiles and birds of numerous species. The location is ideal and adaptive. Amidst mountain ranges, valleys, lakes and rivers ? superb dramatic settings. The largest sanctuary in the State, it is in the south end of Western Ghats with splendid cardamom hills, in an altitude upto 6000 ft. The boathouse is the starting point. Just 2 Km from the entry gate. Eco-tourism centre is near the boathouse. Booking is to be made here for guide, treks, boat rides and other activities

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