Places to Visit in Thekkady
The best places to visit in Thekkady are given below:
Thekkady, with its unspoiled tropical forests and incredible wealth of animal and plant life is a nature lover’s paradise. The journey to the best places in Thekkady will take you through quaint little hill towns and soft contoured hill slopes. It is a delight for tourists because of its unending chain of hills with scented spice plantations along with tea, coffee, and cardamom. Various picturesque towns of Thekkady hold good opportunities for trekking and mountain walks. Come, let’s explore the wonderful places to visit in Thekkady in God’s own country.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
The Periyar National Park in Thekkady, Kerala, is one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world and the best-protected reserve area that one can lay eyes on in India. The Periyar National Park is spread over 257 square miles and the rivers Pamba and Periyar flow through it. This National Park is an amazing coming together of nature, adventure and beauty. Famous for its gorgeousness, greenery and stillness, the park is the dwelling place of abundant significant species, including the royal tigers and majestic elephants apart from other reptiles, fishes and birds.
A place which allows you the peace and serenity you so desire, an opportunity to be one with nature and just a normal sighting of a Tiger or two, Periyar National Park is full of beautiful sights and sounds.These rivers help the plants and animals to nurture and flourish. This site attracts thousands of tourists to it every year, who come from all parts of the world to take pleasure in the boat cruises, jungle safaris in the form of jeep safaris and elephant safaris, and prominent eco-tourism activities, that are the specialty of this national park.
Periyar Tiger Trail
Tourists trek along the Tiger Trail and thick vegetation of the reserve along with guides and Forest Department officials is an experience worth remembering. Tourists can also spot elephants, sambhars, and tigers there.
Bamboo Rafting
Bamboo Rafting is a perfect activity for all the water sports enthusiasts. The facility is offered by the Forest Department at Thekkady where one can enjoy the activity in the catchment area of the national park. The rafting is for about three hours and one gets a panoramic view of forest – clad hills reflected on the lake. Animals like elephant, gaur and sambar are sighted keeping close to the edges of the lake. The team hitchhikes back to the boat landing by about 5 pm. An armed guard and 4 guides will accompany a maximum of 10 tourists. Tea, snacks and packed lunch will be served en route.
Thekkady Lake
The placid lake, located near the Periyar National Reserves, is a famous tourist spot. You can go for boating and enjoy the serene beauty of the surroundings. If you are lucky, you might get a chance to see herds of elephants bathing on the lakeside.Tucked in the heart of the jungle, Thekkady or Periyar Lake is famous for its wide varieties of wildlife. You can also take a boat ride in the reservoir that provides water to the forest.
Border Hiking
The Trekking starts at 8’o clock in the morning and ends in the evening. The route passes through undulating terrains. This is a conservation oriented hard trek taking up a full day. Attitudinal ranges of 900 meters to 1300 meters will be covered in the trekkers could glimpse the lofty escarpments bordering the park watershed and the vast plains down below. Gaur, sloth bear, elephant, etc. are often sighted along this route apart from birds and butterflies. Maximum of 10 Tourist can hike the programme in two different groups. The Trekkers will go with two guides and an armed forest guard. Vegetarian refreshments can be had en route.
Chellarkovil Water Falls
Chellarkovil Waterfalls are 15 km north to Thekkady and Kumili at Anakkara panchayath. The Kerala State Forest Department has implemented community based ecotourism activities like valley view from wooden watchtower; border trekking, spice and ayurvedic garden visits.The cascading waterfalls are feast for the eyes. The village slopes down to the farms in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.Chellarkovil is the perfect place for trekking and for other adventure activities.
Ramakkalmedu
Wind blows at a speed around 35 km per hour at Ramakkalmedu throughout the year irrespective of the season and time. Enjoy the wind, sunset and plains of Tamil Nadu and trek through the rocks at Ramakkalmedu which is a hill station and a hamlet. The wind gusts into the hills and recorded as maximum in Asia. The hilltop also offers a panoramic view of Tamil Nadu towns of Cumbum, Theni, Kombe, Thevaram, Uthamapalayam, Bodinaykannor and Vaiga.It is believed that that lord ‘Sree Rama’, had set his foot on this rock and hence the name Rama-Kal-Medu (Meaning: Rama’s foot imprints). One story says that Lord Rama kept his feet at the tip of Ramakkalmedu to search Ravana the King of Lanka who abducted his wife Sita.
Elephant Ride
There is a park having Elephants an inmates and filled aroma of spices due to plantation of spices in the park and there are various programs on offer here including Half an hour ride and photo session and another program called One hour with elephant which includes Elephant Ride, Elephant Bath, Photo Session, Commands and Communication.and Two Hours with Elephant – Elephant Ride, Elephant Bath, Photo Session, Commands and Communications, Timber Dragging, Feeding, Elephant Shower.
Kalvari Mount
Kalvari Mount or Calvary Mount lies in the environs of Thekkady, on the way to Kattappana. The mount provides beautiful views of the Idukki Reservoir as well as the two major tribal villages of the region. From near the foothill, roaming of elephants in the forest is sighted. The attractions within the proximity of this mount are Thumpachi Mala, Malankara Dam, Idukki Hydroelectric Project, Nadukani and plenty of sprawling tea gardens.
The best time to go here is during Idukki and Cheruthoni dams are opened for visitors. The engineering of the two dams are splendid. After the long walk on top of the two dams, Idukki Kalvari mount provides a reviving effect for the traveler with the presence of cool breeze and spectacular views.