THEKKADI
Amazing Travelling For Thekkadi
Thekkady (Idukki district) is the location of the Periyar National Park, which is an important tourist attraction in the Kerala state of India.
Thekkady is located about 257 km (160 mi) from Trivandrum, 114 km from Madurai City and Madurai Airport, 145 km from Cochin International Airport and 114 km from Kottayam railway station. Thekkady is located near to Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. The sanctuary is famous for its dense evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests and savanna grass lands. It is home to herds of elephants, sambar, tigers, gaur, lion-tailed Macaques and Nilgiri Langurs.
he Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across 777 km2 (300 sq mi), of which 360 km2 (140 sq mi) is thick evergreen forest. The Wild Life Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River adds to the charm of the park. The greatest attractions of Periyar are the herds of wild elephants, deers, bisons that come down to drink in the lake. Sanctuary can be accessed through a trekking, boating or jeep safari. Submerged trees in Periyar National Park Thekkady is considered as a heaven for natural spices such as black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, nutmace, ginger, and clove .
Climate
The climate in Thekkady generally remains cool and pleasant throughout the year except for a couple of months in the summer when the temperature touches the 36 degree Celsius mark. The mild climate makes it easier for you to indulge in various activities such as jungle expedition, trekking and bamboo rafting.
Places to Visit in Thekkady
Get in
BY ROAD
Thekkady is just 4 km away from the town Kumily on NH220, which links Kollam to Theni in Tamil Nadu via Kottayam, Peermade and Vandiperiyar. there is frequent buses, Taxi, Auto Rickshas available it will be more pleasure to have a walk from Kumily to Thekkady. Kumily is well connected with all major cities of Kerala and Tamilnadu. KSRTC(Kerala State Road Transport Corporation)(Phone : 04869-224242) public transport buses connect Thekkady with other nearby cities. Super fast buses are regularly available from Kottayam, Kochi and Trivandrum to Thekkady.
BY TRAIN
Nearest railway station is Kottayam, which is located at a distance of 114 km from Thekkady. Taxi services are available from Kottayam to Thekkady at the rate of Rs 2500. (approximate price, may change according to the price hike) Kottayam is well connected to all railway stations in India. All express trains have stop at Kottayam station.
BY AIR
Nearest airport to Thekkady is Madurai, Thamilnadu. Madurai is placed at a distance of 136 km away from Thekkady. Madurai Airport is connected to Chennai and Coimbatore. The major international airport near to Thekkady is Nedumbassery airport in Cochin, at a distance of 190 km away. Kochi airport is well connected to all cities in India and many matropolitian cities around the world. Tourist taxi services are available from Cochin to Thekkady and charge is about Rs 4000.(approximate price, may change according to the price hike)
Attractions in Thekkadi
Periyar NationalPark
Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady, is an example of nature’s bounty, with great scenic charm, rich bio diversity and providing veritable visitor satisfaction. Sprawled over an area of 925 Sq .km., Periyar is one of the 27 tiger reserves in India. Zealously guarded and efficiently managed reserve is a repository of rare, endemic and endangered flora and fauna and forms the major watershed of two important rivers of Kerala, the Periyar and Pamba. Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (PNP) is a protected area in the districts of Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta in Kerala, India. It is notable as an elephant reserve and a tiger reserve.
Boat safari
The tourist centre at Thekkady offers two-hour boating trips, arranged by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, at the artificial lake near the sanctuary. A herd of elephants or a wandering family of deer are common sights near the lake. In the hot months of March and April, visitors stand a better chance of viewing wildlife as the animals come to the lake frequently for drinking water. You may be able to spot herds of Gaur, Sambar and wild boars in the grasslands adjacent to the shores. A variety of avian fauna such as darters, egrets and kingfishers can be seen resting on dead tree trunks that stick out over the lake. During your boat ride, there is also a high probability of observing the antics of the Smooth Indian Otter.
Spring Valley Mountain
The place provides a 360 degree view of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and of the nearby town of Kumily. With a dazzling view from the hill top the place is an absolute favorite amongst the visitors.
Chellarkovil
Fifteen kilometers apart the Kumily town lays a small sleepy village – Chellarkovil.Chellarkovil is famous for its greenish mountains, cascading waterfalls and picturesque beauty. The destination is placed around 1200 m above the sea level. When you reach Chellarkovil, you will feel like this is the place that you were longing to visit for a long time.