Top places to visit in Thekkady

• Periyar Tiger Reserve

  tiger-reserve · 4.5 rating · about 4 h · entry ₹300

  A lush 925 sq km reserve around a lake in the Cardamom Hills, home to elephants, tigers, gaur and rich birdlife, explored by boat, guided treks and bamboo rafting.

• Periyar Lake Boat Cruise

  boat-cruise · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · entry ₹300

  A scenic government boat cruise on Periyar Lake, the classic way to spot elephant herds, sambar deer and birds along the forested shoreline.

• Spice Plantation Tour

  plantation · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A guided walk through a working Cardamom Hills plantation to see cardamom, pepper, coffee, vanilla, nutmeg and clove growing, with the fragrant story of each spice.

• Kumily Spice Market

  spice-bazaar · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The bustling town bazaar of Kumily, lined with shops selling freshly harvested cardamom, pepper, cloves, vanilla, tea and homemade chocolates and oils.

• Elephant Junction

  elephant-park · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  An elephant-care park near Kumily offering ethical interactions — feeding, bathing and short rides — popular with families exploring Thekkady.

• Periyar Nature Walk

  jungle-trek · 4.4 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A guided eco-tourism trek with armed forest guides through the reserve's grasslands and evergreen forest, tracking wildlife signs, birds and butterflies on foot.

• Mudra Cultural Centre

  performance-venue · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A Kumily venue staging nightly Kathakali dance-drama and Kalaripayattu martial-arts performances, a great evening introduction to Kerala's classical arts.

• Kadathanadan Kalari Centre

  martial-arts-venue · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A purpose-built arena in Kumily presenting energetic nightly Kalaripayattu shows — Kerala's ancient martial art of acrobatic combat, weapons and fire.

• Murikkady Viewpoint

  viewpoint · 4.2 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A scenic spot amid spice and coffee plantations a few km from Kumily, with rolling Cardamom Hills views and roadside spice stalls.

• Mangala Devi Temple

  forest-temple · 4.2 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A remote ancient stone temple deep inside the forest at ~1,300 m, opened to visitors only on Chitra Pournami; a rugged trek with sweeping Tamil Nadu views.

• Chellarkovil Viewpoint & Falls

  cliff-viewpoint · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A cliff-edge viewpoint about 15 km from Kumily overlooking the Tamil Nadu plains, with a cascading seasonal waterfall and terraced farmland below.

• Vandanmedu Cardamom Hills

  spice-hills · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of the world's largest cardamom trading hubs north of Thekkady, set amid endless spice estates — a fragrant, scenic detour into Kerala's spice economy.

Things to do

• Periyar Lake Boat Cruise Wildlife · 1.5 h · from INR 300 per person
• Spice Plantation Tour Cultural · 2 h · from INR 600 per person
• Kathakali & Kalaripayattu Show Show · 1.5 h · from INR 500 per person
• Bamboo Rafting in Periyar Adventure · 6 h · from INR 2,500 per person
• Elephant Experience Activity · 1.5 h · from INR 1,500 per person
• Periyar Jungle Nature Walk Wildlife · 3 h · from INR 1,000 per person
• Gavi Eco Day Trip Day Trip · 10 h · from INR 3,000 per person
• Border Hiking Trek Hiking · 8 h · from INR 2,000 per person

Day trips and tours

• Periyar Wildlife & Boat Cruise Day 7 h · from INR 1,500
• Spice Plantations & Kumily Day 7 h · from INR 1,800
• Gavi Eco Day Trip 10 h · from INR 3,000

Where to stay in Thekkady

• Main Town about INR 3,500 per night

  Wildlife sanctuary gateway with resort accommodations

Hotels

• Spice Village 5-star · INR 14,000 to INR 26,000 per night
• Shalimar Spice Garden 5-star · INR 8,000 to INR 14,000 per night
• Claus Garden 2-star · INR 2,000 to INR 4,000 per night
• Mickey Homestay 2-star · INR 1,500 to INR 3,000 per night
• Cardamom County 4-star · INR 7,000 to INR 13,000 per night
• Greenwoods Resort 3-star · INR 4,000 to INR 8,000 per night

Where to eat

• Ebony's Restaurant Kerala, South Indian, Continental · about INR 500 per person
• Chrissie's Cafe Continental, Italian, Cafe · about INR 550 per person
• Periyar Cafe Kerala, South Indian, North Indian · about INR 300 per person
• Grandma's Cafe Kerala, Continental, Cafe · about INR 400 per person
• Spice Garden Restaurant Kerala, South Indian, Continental · about INR 1,800 per person
• French Live Bakery Bakery, Continental, Cafe · about INR 300 per person
• Cardamom County Restaurant Kerala, North Indian, Continental · about INR 900 per person
• Shalimar Spice Restaurant Kerala, Italian, Continental · about INR 1,500 per person

Getting to Thekkady

Nearest airport: Cochin (COK), about 103 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.

How visitors arrive in Thekkady

• Bus or road via Kumily on NH 220 By road from Kumily · common

  Kumily, a few km away, is the main bus station for the Periyar area and is linked to Kerala and Tamil Nadu cities. Source: keralatourism.org

• Train to Kottayam, then road By train from Kottayam · common

  Kottayam is the closest railhead; continue by bus or taxi up to Kumily. Source: keralatourism.org

• Fly to Madurai or Kochi, then road By air from Madurai / Kochi · common

  Madurai and Kochi (Nedumbassery) are the airports used, followed by a road transfer. Source: keralatourism.org

From the bus terminal to the centre

• Auto or taxi from Kumily unconfirmed

  Kumily bus station is the arrival point; autos and taxis cover the short leg to Thekkady. Source: keralatourism.org

Getting around

• Auto Rickshaw
• Taxi
• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Pre-paid taxi "broken meter"

  Airports, train stations, popular squares

  Driver insists meter is broken, quotes ~3x the fair price; or detours via "shopping" stops earning commission.

  How to avoid it: Use pre-paid taxi counter at airport, or Uber/Ola/Rapido apps. Insist on meter or agree price upfront.

Best time to visit Thekkady

• Jan 27°C
• Feb 29°C
• Mar 31°C
• Apr 30°C
• May 28°C
• Jun 26°C
• Jul 25°C
• Aug 25°C
• Sep 26°C
• Oct 26°C
• Nov 26°C
• Dec 26°C

More in India

• New Delhi
• Agra
• Jaipur
• Panaji
• Mumbai
• Varanasi

Frequently asked questions about Thekkady

What are the top-rated places to visit in Thekkady?

The highest-rated places in our Thekkady guide are Periyar Tiger Reserve, Spice Plantation Tour, Periyar Nature Walk, Mudra Cultural Centre, Kadathanadan Kalari Centre.

Where should I stay in Thekkady?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Thekkady: Main Town.

How do I get around Thekkady?

Ways to get around Thekkady covered in our guide: Auto-rickshaw, Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Thekkady?

Scams reported to us for Thekkady include Pre-paid taxi "broken meter". Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Thekkady?

Average daytime highs in Thekkady run from 25°C in Jul to 31°C in Mar.