God’s own country, Kerala is filled with attractions. Also, this place is loved by many tourists. As we all know, Kerala has something for every kind of traveller, right? From thrilling adventure activities to houseboats, from mesmerizing hill stations to romantic beaches, from temples to pubs, from amusement parks to wildlife, Kerala has got everything. Agreed? Each and every place in Kerala has something special. Likewise, Thekkady in Kerala is blessed with many attractions and makes it a must-visit place in Kerala. Especially, this place is loved for its wildlife. In addition, its environment has a mysterious tone which is perfect for all the adventure activities. Apart from wildlife and adventure activities, this place is also loved for its breathtaking landscapes, mouthwatering dishes and many more. Interested to explore Thekkady in Kerala? Have a read and find out everything about Thekkady.

A stunning click in Thekkady — Image Credits: Google Images

Also Read: 18 exciting things to do in Thekkady for an amazing vacation

How to reach Thekkady

Even though Thekkady in Kerala is famous, reaching this place is tricky. Thekkady does not have the best connectivity to reach. Now you must be wondering how to reach Thekkady, right? Not to worry! Have a read and find out the best ways to reach this place.

Air
Train
Road

1. Air

The nearest domestic airport to Thekkady is Madurai Airport. You will find various flights connecting Madurai from cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata. From Madurai Airport, travellers can take a cab and reach Thekkady. In addition, the closest international airport to Thekkady is Cochin International Airport. This airport is easily accessible to international travellers.

2. Train

Thekkady doesn’t have a railway station. So, the nearest railway station to Thekkady is Kottayam. Kottayam railway station is around 110 km away from Thekkady. Upon arrival at Kottayam, you can hire a cab and reach Thekkady.

3. Road

Reaching Thekkady by road is one of the best ways. You will find many buses which will directly take you to Thekkady. You can also self-drive towards Thekkady or hire a cab. However, booking a cab might be expensive. Anyways, you can choose to reach Thekkady by cab if you are not planning your vacation on a budget. On the way, you will be able to witness some beautiful scenic areas. Also, it is highly advisable to carry a certain amount of petrol with you as there are not many fuel stops on the way. In addition, driving to Thekkady might be a little tricky as the roads are in dense forest and rural areas.

Best time to visit Thekkady

The weather in Thekkady is pleasant all across the year. However, there are certain months which brings the best of Thekkady to the tourists. So, have a read and find out the best time to visit Thekkady in Kerala.

Summer in Thekkady
Monsoon in Thekkady
Winter in Thekkady

1. Summer in Thekkady

The summer season in Thekkady is from March to May. Visiting Thekkady during summer can be tiring because of the rise in temperature. It gets hot and humid from the beginning of March and remains until the end of May. In spite of being an unfavourable time, wildlife sightseeing is one of the best things to do in summer. During these months, you can spot many wild animals gathering near the water bodies. In addition, you will find a sudden rise in temperature in April. So, it is better to carry light cotton clothes and an ample amount of sunscreen to help you during the summer.

2. Monsoon in Thekkady

Thekkady welcomes monsoon between June and September. You will witness heavy rainfall and landslides from June to September. Therefore, monsoon time is not suitable for a visit. However, you will find Thekkady brimming with greenery and eye-soothing sceneries. In addition, the forests and landscapes in Periyar Lake are worth watching during this time of the year. So, if you love rain and want to experience the best of nature in Thekkady, monsoon will be the best time for you to visit Thekkady in Kerala. In addition, do not forget to carry your raincoats and umbrellas if you are planning to visit Thekkady during monsoon.

3. Winter in Thekkady

Well, winter is the best time to visit Thekkady. So, to have the best experience, make sure you visit Thekkady between October and February. The pleasant weather makes it ideal for outdoor activities and sightseeing. In addition, events such as bird watching, boating, elephant riding, and canoeing are some of the highlights during winter. Since the weather can get a little chilly at times, carrying light woollens is recommended.

Thekkady in Kerala – Top 6 things to do in your vacation

Boating
Mangaladevi Temple
Bullock Cart Ride
Elephant Ride
Purchase Spices
Jungle Night Patrol

1. Boating

Boating in Thekkady — Image Credits: Google Images

Boating in Periyar Lake is one of the best things to do in Thekkady. Interestingly, this lake lies near the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary where animals of the sanctuary can be seen drinking, bathing, resting or searching for food. If you are lucky, you might even spot elephants playing with their babies. Beautiful, right? This 2 hours of boating experience offers you to spot animals and to enjoy the beauty of Periyar Lake.

Timings

7:00 AM – 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Also Read: Explore the insides of Periyar Lake at Periyar National Park

2. Mangaladevi Temple

Visiting Mangaladevi Temple and seeking blessings is one of the best things to do in your vacation. Interestingly, this temple is beautifully surrounded by lush green trees and is loved for its scenic views. You may be an atheist or theist, but you should definitely visit this temple to learn more about the locals and to admire the nature.

Timings

6:00 AM – 6:00 PM

3. Bullock Cart Ride

Well, how about having a ride in the bullock cart? Sounds cool, right? Thekkady in Kerala offers many unique activities to tourists and I am sure you will love the bullock cart ride which is one of the unique things to do in Thekkady. Visit the villages and discover Kerala’s rural life in bullock carts. Interestingly, you will have a guide who will explain everything about Kerala’s rural life. Cool, right? Willing to learn about Kerala’s rural life? Well, this activity is one of the best ways to learn about the locals.

Timings

6:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Also Read: Top 10 things to do for an amazing vacation in Kerala

4. Elephant Ride

Elephant Ride in Thekkady — Image Credits: Google Images

How about an elephant ride? Amazing, right? Periyar Tiger Park offers an elephant ride which is one of the famous things to do in Thekkady. The whole activity includes elephant rides, a photo session with elephants, elephant bath, and elephant feeding. Isn’t that cool? It is, right?

Timings

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Also Read: Wildlife Safari in Kerala: Top 7 National Parks in Kerala

5. Purchase Spices

Spice market in Thekkady — Image Credits: Google Images

Your vacation to Thekkady won’t be a complete one without purchasing the famous spices. With plenty of spice plantations in the vicinity, you will find the largest collection of authentic spices gathered from the local plantations. So, make sure you buy some nice spices from Thekkady. In addition, you will find the famous banana chips in the markets.

Timings

Most of the markets in Thekkady are open from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM.

6. Jungle Night Patrol

Here comes one of the most interesting things to do in Thekkady. The Jungle night patrol takes you into a late-night walk inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve. This place allows a maximum of two teams each night. Each team is accompanied by 2 guides and an armed forest guard. I am sure this will be a thrilling experience which you will remember throughout your life. Also, if you love wildlife, this is one of the best ways to explore the wildlife of Thekkady.

Timings

10:00 PM – 4:00 AM

Thekkady in Kerala – Top 6 places to visit in Thekkady

Kumily
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Mullaperiyar Dam
Ramakkalmedu
Murikkady
Pandikuzhi

1. Kumily

As we all know, Thekkady in Kerala is blessed with nature. Make sure you visit Kumily to experience the best of nature. Interestingly, you will be able to capture some of the best scenic views in Kumily. Also, you can simply walk around this place and admire the nature with your loved ones. Apart from nature, Kumily is also loved for its interesting activities. So, take some time and have fun by taking part in those interesting activities. Furthermore, stays are also very famous in Kumily. Some of the best stay options in Kumily are Greenwoods Resort, Poetree Sarovar and Aranya Niwas. You can book a stay here and fall in the lap of nature. That’s lovely, right? And yes, this place is extremely famous for spices and tea plantations. So, get ready to bag some of the best spices from here.

Also Read: 17 places to visit in Thekkady for an amazing getaway

2. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is known as one of the best national parks in India. This place covers an area of 925 sq. km. This place acts as a habitat to many endangered and endemic species of flora, reptiles, mammals, fishes, amphibians, and birds. Interestingly, you will find many activities to do in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Since the Periyar National Park is one of the best places to visit in Thekkady, you will find plenty of stay options here. This place offers hotels, tree houses, resorts and homestays for travellers with different budgets.

Also Read: Explore the wilderness of South India at Eravikulam National Park, Kerala

3. Mullaperiyar Dam

Thekkady in Kerala is gifted with many dams. However, there are few dams which stand out, right? Well, Mullaperiyar Dam is one of them. This dam is built on the Periyar River and is one of the best places to visit in Thekkady. This dam is situated at 2,890 feet above sea level on the Cardamon Hills. It was constructed between 1887 and 1895 by John Pennycuick and has a height of 53.6 m from the foundation and a length of 365.7 m. Make sure to add this place in your itinerary to capture some breathtaking views as this place is completely blessed with nature.

4. Ramakkalmedu

A statue of Kuravan and Kurathi — Image Credits: Google Images

Ramakkalmedu is one of the top tourist spots in Thekkady. Interestingly, you will hear many tales about this place on your visit. Also, it is believed that Lord Vishnu created this place and people who visit this place will be blessed. So, you can find many devotees in Ramakkalmedu. Ramakkalmedu offers some stunning views and is one of the best picnic spots for friends, and families. As soon as you enter this place, you will be able to smell the freshly grown cardamom, pepper, tea, coffee and rubber. Also, the statue of Kuravan and Kurathi is one of the major attractions in Ramakkalmedu. Interestingly, this place was visited and praised by Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Cool, huh? When he couldn’t resist visiting this place, why should you? So, make sure you visit this place for an amazing experience.

5. Murikkady

Murikkady is famous for its spice plantations, coffee and cardamon gardening. Interestingly, this place cultivates more than twelve varieties of spices including ginger, clover, vanilla, tea and turmeric. Apart from its spices, it is also known as a famous picnic spot for families. Also, you can spend some quality time with your loved ones by walking around this place. In addition, some of the best stay areas are Palace Avenue Hill Top, Sterling Holidays, and The Elephant Court. Love nature? Spices? Well, this place should definitely be in your Thekkady itinerary.

Also Read: How to spend 10 days in Kerala

6. Pandikuzhi

Looking for a perfect picnic spot in Thekkady? Well, you have Pandikuzhi. This place in Thekkady is one of the famous picnic spots for families. The picturesque landscape, exotic flora and fauna will make your day here. You can have a fun-filled time with your family by roaming around this place. And yes, this place is also known as the photographers’ favourite spot. You can capture some of the best clicks of nature here. In addition, some of the stay options in Pandikuzhi are Silent Summit Cottage, Lake Queen and High Range Residency.

Also Read: Best of Kerala: Top places to visit in your 7 days Kerala itinerary

Well, Thekkady in Kerala definitely deserves a visit, right? To experience Thekkady for real, quickly plan your vacation to Thekkady with Pickyourtrail. Reach out to Pickyourtrail website and check our travel packages. Also, you can ping us in Whatsapp for more options. Interestingly, you can also customize your own itinerary. In addition, follow this page for more unique contents on travel. Experience the best of Thekkady with Pickyourtrail!