thekkady hill station – kerala

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Thekkady hill station at an altitude ranging from 700 m to 1900 m in the Idukki district. It lies on the Western Ghats in the state of Kerala. Thekkady is one of the important tourist destinations in India. It boasts of a sky-high literacy percentage and a proud culture and tradition, which have maintained throughout the ages. Tradition and culture compliments the natural beauty of the state in entertaining tourists from across the globe.

It is unique and abundantly rich with flora, fauna and varied ranges of birds that cannot be seen in any other wildlife sanctuaries. In Thekkady, one can watch wildlife in a close range. Thekkady wildlife sanctuary offers unique opportunity to watch and film the wildlife while they are in action. Thekkady is a paradise with its natural scenic beauty, clear waters and the serene atmosphere literally captivates the visitors.

Thekkady Attractions and things to do

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary :

Thekkady boasts of the largest wildlife sanctuary in India, the ‘Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary’. Spread over 777 sq km, it is home to elephants, tigers, gaurs, sambars, lion tailed macaques and Nilgiri langurs. The Periyar itself is an attraction for tourists and single-handed commands a wide tourist base that flocks here to spot wild animals and photograph them from close quarters throughout the year. No Kerala Tour is complete without a tour to this place.

The Mangla Devi Temple

is a ruined stone temple situated deep inside the forest. This is also a great spot for tourists who love ruins for the aura and romance that it can invoke.

Bamboo Rafting is a unique program available in Thekkady. This eco friendly program takes the tourists to the thick forests on trek and then to the catchments area of the Periyar Tiger Reserve on a bamboo raft.

The bamboo rafting team consists of maximum 10 tourists, 5 guides and one armed guard for protection from the wild animals. During this program the tourists have a panoramic view of the lake and forests and also are provided a rare opportunity of encountering wild animals and birds. Bamboo rafting program normally starts at 8 and ends by 5 in the evening. Lunch and tea are served during the day.

The Sukri Dam is yet another attraction in Thekkady and makes it one of the most beautiful Kerala Hill Station. It is a 120 years old dam built across the Periyar. The Periyar Lake is an artificial lake spread over 26 sq km formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam.

Border Hiking is a trekking program conducted on the high terrains of the forests ranging to heights of 1000 to 1200 meters. A group of 13 people comprising of 10 tourists, 2 guides and 1 armed guard begin trekking in the morning at 8.

During trekking, the guides that are reformed ex-poachers narrate their fascinating stories regarding encounter of wild lives. Their exceptional knowledge about the terrain, flora and fauna of the jungles will help the tourists to know much about the forest and wild life. In a day, maximum two border hiking groups are taken into the forest. Only people between the age of 16 and 65 are allowed to participate in border hiking.

The tribal heritage museum built inside the sanctuary is a must see when you visit Thekkady. It houses several objects of interest like traditional hunting weapons, armours, cooking vessels, paintings, etc. While at Thekkady; one has several options of recreation like bamboo rafting, border hiking, trekking and nature walking, giving you an opportunity to make your India Tour more adventurous.

Thekkady Shopping
With a plenty of area under tea and spice plantation, Thekkady is a paradise for those who wish to shop endlessly for these items. Spices on sale include fenugreek, nutmeg, black, white and green pepper, rolls of cinnamon, cardamom, coriander and cloves.

Thekkady Accommodations
A regular room with basic facilities cost about Rs 600. A standard room in mid-range hotels cost about Rs 1,200 which offers 24 hour room service and laundry facilities. Apart from hotels, there are good cottages and home-stay rooms available. However the options of room service in home-stays are minimal.

Hotels are fully booked during winter from October to January as the climate is cool and enchanting. Staying in a resort is the best way to enjoy the beauty of the place. The cost of a fully furnished cottage starts from a minimum of Rs 4,000 which comes along with a wide range of facilities. The resorts also have clean swimming pools and play area for children near the sea.

How to Reach Thekkady
By Air: The nearest airports to Thekkady are at Madurai, Tamil Nadu at a distance of 140 km and Cochin International Airport at a distance of 190 km.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is at Kottayam, which is about 114 km from Thekkady.
By Road: Thekkady is well connected by surface network with important centers like Kodaikanal, Kottayam, Munnar and Thiruvananthapuram.

Thekkady Map

Tamil Nadu, India

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