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Thekkady - The very sound of the name conjures up
images of elephants, unending chains of hill and spice scented 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 mountain people.
In the Periyar forest of Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in
India, and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and
hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks.
The Thekkady sanctuary is one of the best in the country for watching and
photographing wild life. Thekkadi is almost on the border with state of Tamil
Nadu, in fact just 5 kilometers from the border town of Kumily which is very
well connected by bus to both Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Notable among the denizens of Periyar are the tigers, the majestic Asiatic wild
elephants and the distinctive Nilgiri langur with an all black body and white
face. Other creatures include wild boar, wild dog, bison, bear and leopards.
Amongst the avifauna, the most profuse are herons, egrets, darters, kingfishers
and the great Malabar grey hornbill. A cruise through the waters of Periyar lake
around which the wild -life sanctuary is situated, offers a soul - stirring
pleasant experience.
The drive to Thekkady itself is enchanting as the road winds through tranquil countryside, rich plantations & thick jungles. The sanctuary, 60 km from
Idukki, 190 km from Cochin and 114 kms away from Kottayam is open throughout the year, but the best season is from September to March. The sanctuary is
centered around the large (24 sq km) artificial lake formed by a dam across the Periyar river. The main attraction is a boat trip over this man-made lake of Thekkady. The forest department would also arrange elephant rides and trekking inside the sanctuary.
GENERAL INFORMATION
* Best
Time : September To May
* Location : Idukki District (Kerala).
* Languages : Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, English.
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Main Attraction : Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary
* Altitude : 900-1800 m Above Sea Level
* Clothing : Woollen and Cotton
PLACES TO VISIT
* The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Open 0600
- 1800 hrs)
* Kumily (4 km)
* Murikkady (5 km)
* Pandikuzhi (9 km)
* Mangala Devi Temple (15 km)
* Chellarkovil (19 km)
* Vandiperiyar (18 km)
* Vandanmedu (29 km)
* Pullumedu (43 km)
HOW TO GET THERE
By Air
Nearest Airport Madurai is 140 km / Cochin
is 190 km connected to Lakshadweep (Agatti), Bangalore, Kozhikode (Calicut),
Coimbatore, Chennai (Madras), Delhi, Goa, Mumbai (Bombay), Thiruchirapally (Trichy)
and the Middle East.
By Rail
Nearest Station Teni - 60, Kottayam - 114, Changanassery - 114, Madurai - 140
km for trains
to major cities.
By Road
Kodaikanal 160 km, Kottayam 114 km, Munnar 113 km, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
272 km. There are frequent buses from Kumily (4 km away).
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