Forest and lake area of Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Cardamom Hills, next to the spice town of Kumily.
FamousWildlifeLakeTrek
Thekkady is the visitor zone of Periyar Tiger Reserve, where you can watch elephants, bison and deer from a boat on Periyar Lake. Forest Department treks, bamboo rafting and day safaris add more time in the jungle, and the spice gardens around Kumily are easy half-day outings. It suits families, nature lovers and first-time visitors to Kerala's hills.
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Photos
Periyar Lake at ThekkadyPeriyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, ThekkadyHills of the Periyar reserveEntrance to Periyar Tiger Reserve
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
Best time to go
When
What to expect
December to February
Peak season. Days are warm and nights cool, with highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C. Book boats and rooms early.
March to May
Hotter, with highs up to about 36°C and some showers. Animals gather near water, so wildlife viewing is good.
June to September
Monsoon with very heavy rain. It is the lean season and there is a risk of landslides on hill roads.
September to November
After the rains the forest is at its greenest and the weather turns pleasant.
Sights and activities
1
Periyar Lake boat cruise
A boat trip on the reservoir formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam, run by the Periyar Tiger Reserve and by KTDC. Elephants, bison, sambar and birds are often seen at the water's edge.
Distance
About 4.5 km from Kumily bus stand; a Forest Department shuttle bus runs from the parking area to the boat landing
Entry
Rs 255 per adult on the Tiger Reserve boat (Rs 85 for children 5-11); KTDC boat Rs 450. Park entry and shuttle are extra
Timings
Departures at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:15 am, and 1:45 and 3:30 pm. Report 30 minutes early
An old stone temple on a hilltop at about 1,337 m inside the northern part of the Tiger Reserve. It is open to visitors only on the Chitra Pournami festival day.
Kumily, 4 km from Thekkady, is on NH 220 between Kottayam and Theni. KSRTC runs buses from Ernakulam, Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram and Madurai, and private sleeper buses come from Bengaluru and Chennai.
By train
Kottayam railway station is the nearest, about 110-114 km away, with buses and taxis onward to Kumily. Ernakulam Junction is about 156 km away.
By air
Madurai airport in Tamil Nadu is about 136-140 km away. Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery is about 165-190 km away depending on route.
Where to base yourself
Stay in Kumily town, about 4 km from the Thekkady boat landing, where most mid-range hotels and the main bus station are.
Getting around
Kumily is the base; Thekkady's boat landing area is about 4 km away and reached by public or private vehicle.
A Forest Department shuttle bus runs from the Periyar parking area to the boat landing, about a 15-minute ride; its fare is charged separately.
Jeep trips to viewpoints around Kumily are sold per jeep; one older source gives about Rs 2,000 for a four-point tour, and another lists up to Rs 5,000.
Autos and taxis go to nearby spice gardens such as Abraham's Spice Garden, 3 km from Kumily.
Often combined with
Places people usually visit on the same trip, and how long it takes to get between them.
Five-star and boutique resorts, including KTDC lodges inside the reserve
₹7,300 to ₹15,300
Food
Most places to eat are in Kumily, from small cafes to resort restaurants serving Kerala dishes, dosas and some international food. Spices, flavoured tea and coffee are popular buys.
Try these
Puttu (steamed rice and coconut cylinders)
Appam with stew
Kerala fish curry with rice
Idli with chutney and sambar
Banana chips fried in coconut oil
Kerala breakfast dishes such as idli, dosa, puttu and appam with vegetable stew are vegetarian.
Daily costs
Budget level
Stay per room
Food per person
Local transport
Budget
₹1,900
₹500
₹200 per person
Mid-range
₹4,000
₹1,000
₹1,500 per vehicle
Luxury
₹9,000
₹2,500
₹3,000 per vehicle
Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.
Permits and documents
No permit is needed to visit. Activities inside Periyar Tiger Reserve need tickets from the Forest Department or KTDC; carry photo ID. Guests going to KTDC lodges inside the reserve must pass the forest check post before 5 pm.
Safety
By day
A popular tourist area. Stay with guides on forest programmes and keep distance from wild animals.
At night
Forest roads inside the reserve close to visitors in the evening; entry through the check post is not allowed after 5 pm. Night patrols run only with forest guards.
Solo women
Not specifically confirmed online; Kumily is a busy tourist town and group activities are run by the Forest Department.
Roads
Hill and forest roads with some rural stretches. The monsoon (June to September) brings landslide risk. Fuel stops can be scarce on forest routes.
Emergency numbers
112 (all emergencies)
Practical
Mobile network
Kumily town is the best bet for signal.
ATMs and cash
At least one ATM or bank within about 6 km of the centre. Carry some cash as a back-up. Kumily, the local market town, is where banks and ATMs would be.
Fuel
Fill up before leaving Kumily or the main highway; fuel stops are scarce on forest and rural roads.
Medical
For serious care Kottayam, about 110 km away, is the nearest large city.
