Places to visit in Thekkady, Kerala: A guide

Last Updated on July 1, 2024 by admin

If you are wondering which hill stations near Kochi to visit and are confused between Thekkady and Munnar while planning a trip to Kerala you will be eternally confused. Check out this guide on Places to visit in Thekkady, Kerala and add it to your Kerala Itinerary.

Thekkady, Kerala is a popular tourist destination in Kerala and isn’t missed by anyone, especially on the Central Kerala tour. Among the places to visit in Thekkady, it offers a lot such as wildlife, nature, adventure, culture, food and Ayurveda treatments. 

Thekkady, a major tourist attraction in Kerala is most popular for Periyar National park and the next best thing offered here is Kerala Ayurvedic Massages. Tourists visit Thekkady from all across the world to get treatment for their ailing bodies – with a great view of evergreen forests.

On my second trip to Periyar, I visited all the Thekkady attractions which I missed out on on the first visit, thanks to Kerala Travel Mart 2022 and Pre-mart tour. Here’s a blog on Tourist places in Thekkady.

PLACES TO VISIT IN THEKKADY

Periyar Tiger Reserve

One of the best places to see in Thekkady is the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Periyar National Park, Kerala has played a significant role in the conservation of tigers since the year 1978. And not only for tigers but many other endemic species of Western Ghats which is one of the biodiversity hotspots as well as listed under UNESCO World Heritage centre. 

Animals in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Unique species that are only found here include Malabar Flying Squirrel, Wild Pigs, Sambar deer, Red Mongoose, Indian Gaur, Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri langur and Nilgiri marten. Approximately 40 tigers reside here in Periyar National Park.

Periyar National Park Boat Ride on Periyar Lake

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is known for the varied flora and fauna which is why a typical jeep safari which is popular in all National Parks of India is not permitted here. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thekkady can be visited on the boat which gives a chance to see all the animals in their natural habitat.

Kerala Forest Department (KFD) and Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) run 90-minute boat cruises on the Periyar lake. The lake is surrounded by the forest and has tree stumps standing out making it a unique and stunning landscape.

Best of Thekkady tourist places: Periyar National Park Ticket Booking

It is better to book tickets online to save time in queue. Even if you book online you are required to go to the ticket counter to get the physical ticket. KTDC and Periyar Forest Reserve operate buses from the parking bay until the Periyar lake from where the boats leave.

Periyar Boating Ticket charges: INR 255 for adults. INR 105 for kids aged 5 to 12 years (in KTDC boats)

Boat Timings: 7:30 am, 9:30 am, 11:15 am, 1:45 pm, and 3:30 pm

I love having a vacation close to nature which is why I always prefer Vacation in Indian Jungles.

Nature Walk in Thekkady

A nature walk is one of the best things to do in Thekkady. Nature Walks are offered by most resorts as their properties are intermingled with nature. These properties generally have a local guide and expert with whom you can go on a nature walk.

Nature walks help in connecting with the local flora and fauna and learning about their behaviours. Listening to the chirping of birds while knowing when and where it breeds and resides is something surreal.

Thanks to the forests around, you will be able to spot an ample number of butterflies and also get a chance to photograph them. 

The walk is generally organised for in morning and evening batched and last for 2-4 hours depending pon the interests of the visitors.

Bamboo Rafting in Thekkady

Just like slow water rafting in Manas National Park, bamboo rafting is one of the unique things to do in Thekkady. It is perfect for adventure enthusiasts as well as for tourists who want to try some offbeat experiences in Kerala.

Bamboo Rafting in Thekkady is a one-day activity which involves trekking for 4-5 hours through dense forests and reaching the river with a water current for rafting. Bamboo is used as a raft here and the rafting route is extremely scenic overlooking the best places to visit in Thekkady.

Bamboo rafting in Thekkady begins early morning and ends at sunset taking the tourists through the most panoramic views overlooking the Periyar Lake. Being a guided tour, one gets to experience nature in its raw form with the chance to spot wild animals. 

Being a day trip, snacks are arranged by the team who is guiding the guests. And bamboo raft is driver by a local.

Tickets: INR 2000 per person and children below 12 years are not allowed.

Attend a Cultural Program – Kalaripayattu or Kathakali

Kalaripayattu is one of the oldest martial art forms in the world that originated in Kerala in the 3rd century. Considered among the oldest and most scientific martial arts in the world, the word ‘Kalari’ literally means ‘battlefield’ and ‘payattu’ means ‘training of martial arts. Kalaripayattu uses weapons such as swords and daggers, sticks, spears, maces, axes arrows, discuses, catapults, boomerangs and others.

There are cultural centres in Thekkady that are putting their efforts into preserving this ancient art form and showcasing it to the tourists.

Kadathanadan Kalari, Mudra Cultural Centre and Navarasa center are one of the best places to see Kalaripattu in Thekkady. They run one hour of evening show daily between 6 pm – 7 pm. Some hotels also run in-house shows.

Kalaripayattu Thekkady Ticket Price: INR 250 per person

Kathakali is a form of classical Indian dance. It is unique as it is distinguished by the elaborately colourful make-up, costumes and faces masks that the traditionally male actor-dancers wear. The dance form is associated with storytelling through dance. 

Artists elaborate wear make-up and dress up which takes a lot of time. In many shows, this is done on stage to show the process to visitors. 

Kathakali shows also take place in the evening that can be attended. The Navarasa Kathakali show is one of the most popular ones.

Kathakali Thekkady Ticket Price: INR 250 per person.

Spice Plantations, Thekkady

Thanks to the perfect weather of Thekkady, many traditional spices used in Indian cooking grow here abundantly. Most of the Kerala spices that are exported all over the country and the world grow in this region. Black pepper, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and many other herbal plants grow here.

While shopping for these spices in Kerala is an absolute must, it is even more interesting to see their trees, and fruits and learn about their life cycle for a local working in these spice plantations. There are many plantation farms that conduct tours for tourists. A Spice Plantation farm is one of the best places to visit in Thekkady with family.

We visited the Green Valley Spices Farm which has a huge spice plantation and promotes natural and organic farming. A lady guide took us through the entire spice plantation showing herbs used in Ayurvedic medicines to spices. We even saw the exotic vanilla creeper whose pod is expensive in the Indian market.

One of the most interesting plants to see was the cardamom fruit that evolves from the flower that grows at the base of the plant and how they pluck the alternate fruits from a single stem. 

There is a treehouse inside the farm, which is made around a jackfruit tree and gives a 360-degree view of the plantation and a vantage point to photograph birds. I clicked more birds in this spice farm than in a national park!

Tickets: INR 100 per adult. 

Ayurvedic Massage in Thekkady

If you are looking for Ayurveda Retreat in Kerala then Thekkady is the right place for it. Thekkady is the hub for getting Ayurvedic Treatments in Kerala. Whether it is a chronic ailment or you want a refreshing body massage, everything is possible here.

My visit to Thekkady was immediately after Trekking in Munnar so I chose to get a full body massage done in Ranger Wood Nature Castle. The ayurvedic retreat offers month-long ayurvedic treatment solutions to people suffering from chronic ailments. It is like a resort where people can stay for long durations and get their treatments done with consultation from an in-house doctor.

The Ayurvedic massage treatments range from INR 1000 up to INR 3500 for one sitting that lasts for 90 minutes. Prior booking is ideal so as to avoid waiting for a long time.

Camping in Periyar

How would you feel spending your night by the placid lake, waking up to the chirping of birds and hot cuppa coffee? This includes food, trekking, boating, bird watching, and even an adventurous trip to Gavi forest.

Camping Tickets: INR 5000 per tent (accommodates 2)

Tea Plantations and Tea Factory in Thekkady

While Munnar tea plantations are popular, Thekkady also has its fair share of tea plantations and tea factories. The Periyar river that flows through the Periyar region nourishes these plantations.  Tea plantation visit in Thekkady may not feature in the top places to visit in Thekkady but I suggest you give it a chance. Vandiperiyar town is an important trading hub that hosts a number of tea processing plants and factories.

Connemara tea plantation Thekkady is the perfect place to visit to understand tea manufacturing and processing. A one hour guided tour takes visitors around the factory premises that is nestled between tea plantation. One can see tea harvesters going about their day plucking tea leaves.

At the end of the tour, visitors can taste various types of tea and even purchase the same from the Connemara Tea Factory Outlet, Thekkady.

Other tea factories that offer tours are: Pattumalay tea factory is one of the few tea factories still using the orthodox manufacturing process.

Tea factory visit Tickets: INR 150 per person.

PLACES TO VISIT NEAR THEKKADY

Gavi Forest, Thekkady

It is a small village which is a 1-hour drive from Thekkady. It is famous for its abundant flora and fauna. It is being promoted as an ecotourism spot by the Kerala Forest Dept with options of camping inside the forest. Jeep safaris are the best way to explore Gavi Forest.

Chellarkovil Waterfalls

Located 15 kilometres from Thekkady, the Chellarkovil waterfalls are stunning waterfalls. Trekking to these waterfalls is also possible and Kerala Forest Department is promoting it as a one-day picnic spot. Spice garden tour, Trekking, and Waterfalls watch are some of the ways to spend time near Chellarkovil Waterfalls. 

Mangala Devi Temple

Mangala Devi Temple in Thekkady is a popular place to visit due to its rich 1000-year-old history. It is located at a distance of 15 kilometres from Thekkady. Interwoven with local traditions, the temple has a deep connection to Periyar. Because of the many legends attached to it, it is a pilgrimage site for the locals and tourists who visit Thekkady. 

The temple is located in a dense forest and offers a panoramic view of the Western Ghats. Mangala Devi temple in Thekkady is popular for its Pandavan architecture.

SHOPPING IN THEKKADY

Kerala is a shopping paradise. So why not indulge in retail therapy in Thekkady as well?

Spice shopping in Thekkady

If you want to buy one thing in Thekkady, it has to be spices. Thekkady is famous for spice plantations and one cannot and should not resist buying fresh, aromatic spices from Thekkady. 

All the spice plantations have a spice outlet where one can buy the spices. That is the best way to support the plantation and it is affordable in your pocket. You know where the spices are coming from. They are unadulterated, big in size, sold without oil removal and fresh from the farm where you just visited.

While wholesale buying is possible, they also sell small packets which can be utilised as souvenirs. Must buy spices from Thekkady are cloves, black pepper, cinnamon, green cardamom, nutmeg, bay leaves and betel nut.

Bargaining is possible if you are buying in bulk and are a large group. However, prices are subject to season, yield and market. I got cardamom for INR 260/100 gm, cinnamon for INR 100/100gm and cloves for INR 150/100gm.

Kerala Banana Chips

An evening walk in Thekkady led me to a street with stalls selling Kerala Banana Chips. The speciality of these chips is that they are fried in Coconut oil which offers a very unique taste. Kerala Banana Chips are a must-buy in Kerala. Although these chips are available in all cities and towns of Kerala, I bought them here.

WHERE TO STAY IN THEKKADY KERALA

Whether you are staying in Thekkady for one night or for a month, there are great options to choose from! From resorts to ayurvedic centres, from homestays to guest houses, there are hotels in Thekkady to suit all budgets.

Cardamom County Resort Thekkady

A lush green resort in Kumily offers nature views and a relaxing environment. Be ready to be woken up really early with the cacophony of Nilgiri Langurs and the chirping of birds. An inviting swimming pool, a relaxing spa and great food complement the property. Read more about my experience at Cardamom County Resort Thekkady Kerala and book it here. 

Luxurious Resorts: Greenwoods Resort Thekkady, Spice Village – CGH Earth, Spice Lap Thekaddy 

Homestays: Periyar Woods, Mulberry Homestay 

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR PLACES TO VISIT IN THEKKADY

Best time to visit Thekkady

Thekkady is pleasant all around the year but it is best to visit during winters (November to February). It is also the ideal time for sighting migratory birds. I visited in May and it was hot and humid which can make moving around and walking a small distance uncomfortable. Monsoons are not a good time as the approach roads are bound to landslides.

How to reach Thekkady

By Flight:

Thekkady does not have an airport of its own. Madurai and Kochi Airports are the nearest to Thekkady. Madurai airport is located at a distance of 136 kilometres from Thekkady and Cochin International Airport is 190 kilometres away. The best way to get to Thekkady from Cochin or Madurai is by hiring a cab. KSRTC buses also ply between both the places.

By Rail:

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. Visitors can hire a cab from Kottayam to get to Thekkady, or even board a government or private run bus.

By Bus:

The most affordable way to reach Thekkady from Cochin, Trivandrum and Kottayam are the government or private run buses. Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses are available at regular intervals.

Kerala Tour Guide/Agency

Although my two trips to Kerala were work trips, the other two were leisure trips. While there are many Kerala tour agencies who offer Kerala Trips I highly recommend The Wanderers Travel which arranged everything from my air tickets, accommodation and the entire Road-trip in Kerala.

I have exclusively written about my experiences with individuals I met during the many Kerala trips in Human by Nature. I have been touched by the hospitality and the warmth of the people of Kerala. And the experience repeated itself.

I am extremely thankful to my tour guide – C Satish who made the entire trip in Kerala extremely effortless and seamless. His knowledge of his home state is commendable (architecture, heritage culture, flora, food and the list goes on). I highly recommend him for arranging accommodation, planning a Kerala itinerary or even for food recommendations. He is based in Kochi and is a great resource for Fort Kochi Heritage Tour as well.

C Satish can be reached at +91 9495690929

SUSTAINABLE TIPS FOR PLACES TO VISIT IN THEKKADY

• Thekkady is a unique hill station that is not only home to the largest wildlife sanctuary in India but it also has a panoramic landscape in the Idukki district of Kerala. So respect nature by not throwing the trash just about anywhere.
• Do not tease wildlife during the safari.
• Wear camouflage clothes during the safari and maintain silence. Do not use mobile phones on loudspeakers.
• Do not litter any of the tourist areas, especially while hiking or near waterfalls.

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• Kerala Backwaters of Alleppey
• Chendamangalam Handlooms, Kerala
• Responsible Tourism in Kumarakom, Kerala
• Best things to do in Cherai
• Glamping in Kerala
• Things to do in Thiruvananthapuram

Disclosure: I was invited by Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) and Kerala Tourism to explore Kerala. However, all opinions in this post are unbiased and of my own.

Disclaimer – This post contains affiliate links. It means it adds no extra cost to you if you book through the link but I get a referral bonus which helps me earn a little to keep this website up and running.

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