Thekkady Tourism

"Periyar-India's Largest Tiger Reserve" Thekkady Tourism Home to the country's largest Tiger Reserve- Periyar, Thekkady is a great way to enjoy a jungle vacation. Periyar National Park, being a major attraction, is one place where you can enjoy bamboo rafting in the catchment area of Mullaiperiyar Dam, hiking, and in the midst of the wilderness, shopping! Popular for its good eating joints, you can also enjoy its vast stretches of spice gardens and various adventure sports. You can also enjoy a night trek in the wilderness of Periyar. The early morning ride in the boat within the sanctuary is an extremely awesome experience and you might be able to spot wild elephants, bisons, wild boars, various kinds of birds, etc. Anakarra is also located nearby which is a great place to enjoy nature. Murikaddy is located around 5 km from the city and is famous for coffee and spices plantations. Chellar Kovil is another area located nearby with a lot of picturesque waterfalls and cascades. Mangala Devi Temple, located at an altitude of 1337 m and at a distance of around 15km from Thekkady opens only on the Chitra Pournami Festival. Download Thekkady PDF Guide > What's Great? Wonderful weather throughout the year. Is pristine and has beautiful natural attractions like forests and plantations. What's not so Great? Is almost always crowded. Limited eating options. For Whom Thekkady is ideal for people who love nature and want to try cycling and trekking in adventurous areas. Also perfect for people who want to relax and unwind in a tranquil place.

Flora and Fauna Thekkady boasts an amazing and diverse range of unique wildlife, with mountains glistering over boundless waters the picturesque habitat is known worldwide as home to a wide population of Indian Elephants. It also owns what is often referred as ?the pride of Kerala? - The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary which has been rooted as one of the largest and most visited wildlife reserves in India. The sanctuary is spread across an area of 777 square kilometres, and with a tiger reserve within its perimeters, it nurtures a splendid habitat for the fauna. A highly protective elephant and tiger reserve have recorded 53 tigers and more than 900 elephants along with over 62 species of mammals thriving in the lush greens. Deer, mouse deer, dholes (Indian wild dogs) mongoose, foxes, and leopards are some commonly found mammals in Thekkady. It also has 300+ species of birds, 45 species of reptiles, 40+ varieties of fish and 160 types of insects. Situated on the bank of Periyar lake, the place has developed a wide variety of flora in its lush forests. Approximately 75 percent of the entire area is covered with evergreen or semi-evergreen rain forest with trees of bacteria indicia, Cullen exarillata, hope parviflora, canarium strictum, Artocarpus 104 hirsutus and bischofite javanica. It has over 2000 species of flowering plants, 170 species of ferns and 145 types of orchids recorded that are often studied and used as resources by locals. With activities like tiger trails and bamboo rafting, one can explore the greens of this place with ease.

Itinerary Day 1 -Go on the famous Nature Walk, a guided tour through the forests in the morning. After that, go boating on the Periyar lake. Try the elephant rides that are offered.  Wander around the town area and check out the plantations. In the evening, be sure to catch a Kathakali performance held near Periyar Meadows. Day2 -Visit the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. If possible check out the Periyar Tiger Trail. Also, check out the Kalari Payattu performance that takes place at the kadathanadan Kalari Center at Kumily.

Throughout the yearis the best time to visit Thekkady September to April is the best time to visit Thekkady because of weather conditions. March and April are the driest months and that makes a lot of animals come near water and hence is the best time to spot animals. Monsoons are very green and makes the area more beautiful. Weather in Thekkady Loading... Thekkady in Summer (March - May) In the summer months, the temperature ranges between 36 degrees Celcius and 26 degrees Celcius. The days tend to be hotter, but the evenings turn cooler, making the weather pleasant. Thekkady in Monsoon (June - September) It is advisable to avoid visiting Thekkady during the monsoon, as the region experiences heavy rainfall. Landslides occur frequently and Thekkady experiences extremely heavy rainfall during July and August. Thekkady in Winter (October - February) Thekkady experiences very cool and comfortable winters. The temperature ranges between 15 to 21 degrees Celcius, making it the perfect time to visit this place. Monthly Weather in Thekkady Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 23 32 February 23 32 March 25 34 April 27 36 May 27 35 June 26 34 July 25 33 August 25 34 September 25 33 October 25 33 November 24 32 December 23 32

Events in Thekkady Wildlife spotting at Periyar National Park Throughout the year Nestled among the Cardamom hills, Periyar Tiger Reserve is among the most well known tiger reserves of India. Built around the Periyar Lake, fauna ranging from tigers to elephants, can be spotted here if you're lucky. This is also a popular spot if you're looking for reptiles, amphibians, fish or migratory birds. Avoid visiting during monsoons as chances of a wildlife sighting are quite slim. Chitra Pournami Festival 19th April Dedicated to Mangladevi, this temple symbolises the power that resides inside every ordinary women. A 1000 year old temple, it is located deep inside the forests of the Periyar reserve. The temple is opened only once a year to pilgrims during the Chitra Poornima Festival, as poojas are conducted throughout the day.