Tourist Spots

Visiting the Periyar tiger reserve and wild-life Sanctuary:

Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary is actually bounded by the periyar lake. The sanctuary or the Periyar Tiger Reserve is ostentatious with the presence of untamed wild animals and lot of water birds. Its is the largest and protected areas of Kerala(777 sq. Km.). Periyar Tiger reserve contains very rare and threatened species of flora and fauna.

Boating in the Periyar Lake:

Boating in the lake is conducted by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation and Kerala Forest Department. Tourists get a chance for seeing the wild animals along the fringes of the lake

Trekking ( 3 hours – whole day ):

In this programme, a group of tourists go to explore the forest and nature on foot under the guidance of trained tribal guides. Its provides an excellent opportunity to see wild flora and fauna.

Night Jungle Patrol and Border Hiking:

This is a patrolling programme is the fringe areas of the forests for the tourists with the protection and guidance of the armed forest guards.This programme is part of the regular night patrolling in the fringe eco-development zones of the tiger reserve. The trekking could be at any time between 7 pm and 4 am and could be taken by persons having proper physical and mental fitness to trek the wilderness at night.

Tiger Trail ( 1 night and 2 days stay in the forest):

Periyar Tiger Trail is a trekking programme organised in the periyar tiger reserve. It helps the tourists to experience nature in its glory. They will be guided by poachers turned protectors.

Elephant Ride:

Kerala Forest Department is organising Elephant rides for tourists.

Bullock Cart Ride:

Bullock Cart Discoveries are held for Tourists to explore the villages hidden in the valleys behind the mountains of the periyar tiger reserve.We invite you to visit the farmlands through villages hidden in the valley behind the mountains of the Periyar Tiger Reserve in a bullock cart. The villages are rich in bio-diversity such as vineyards, diverse agricultural crops of mangoes, tamarind, onions, sunflower, jasmine and various other vegetables. The villages are a sight to behold and will take your breath away. The trained guides will explain the various processes involved in crop cultivation which is peculiar to the region. A bullock cart ride through these rustic villages is truly an incomparable once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Bamboo Rafting and trek. ( Whole Day ):

Dawn to dusk bamboo rafting programmes are available through the forest tracts of the periyar tiger reserve.This is a dawn to dusk range hiking programme through some of the richest tracts of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Starting at 8 am from the boat landing, a mosaic of habitats will be traversed before the party gets into rafts made of Bamboos. The team hikes through the forests all day and get back to the boat landing by about 5 pm. An armed guard and 4 guides will accompany a maximum of ten tourists on the raft. Tea, snacks and packed food will be served en route.

Tribal Habitats:

Mannans are the oldest indigenous group of people to inhabit the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Till as late as 1940’s they used to live in the remotest areas of the Tiger Reserve eking out a simple living by fishing in the lake and cultivating a few crops. A tribal heritage museum built inside the Mannan settlement features various types of artefacts related to their ancient agricultural practices, marriage ceremonies, cultural events, rituals and various other Mannan lifestyle peculiarities. Tribal heritage visit is a two hour programme available on all days from 8 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 4 pm.

Border Hiking:

This is a conservation oriented hard trek taking up a full day. The trekking starts at 8 am and ends in the evening. The trek is mainly through undulating terrains and covers heights of 900 meters to 1300 meters above mean sea level. The Hikers are guided by 2 trained guides and armed forest guards. The guides that accompany the hikers have an interesting story of themselves! The guides are ex-poachers, who have given up their old ways of destruction for conservation of the forests. Their knowledge of the flora and fauna of the forests is extensive! A group of ten tourists are taken on the trek. Two treks are operated on a day.

Place to visit around Thekkady

Ramakalmedu :

Ramakkalmedu is a mountain peak that gives you a bird’s eye view of Western Ghats and the plains of Tamil Nadu. There is a folk-tale that lord ‘Sree Rama’, the Hindu mythological God had set his foot on this rock and hence the name Rama-Kal-Medu (Meaning: Rama’s foot imprints). Also you can see here two huge statues of ‘Kuruvan’ and ‘Kurathi’, the two historical characters of the local community who’s name where given to the rocks between which the Idukki Dam was built. Ramakkalmedu is 28 kms from Thekkady.

Chellarkovil :

Four kilometres off Thekkady on the Munnar- Kumily road is this sleepy wind-stricken village. The panoramic view and the silver cascade of water falls add to the charm of the place. From here one can view the majestic plains below.

Calvary Mount :

The Golden Spot of the high ranges, ‘Calvary Mount’ is situated 48 kms from Thekkady towards Idukki. The view of the Idukki Dam water reservoir from the top is mind boggling. The forest department conducts trekking through the forests. It is also a pilgrim centre, thus the name ‘Calvary Mount’.

Gavi:

Gavi is an off-track trekking retreat. The picturesque landscape of Gavi makes the trek all the more enjoyable. The place is known for its cascading waterfalls, valleys, bird diversity and of course cardamom plantations. Endangered species such as elephants, Niligiri Tahrs, lion tailed macaque are often sighted in this area.