Thekkady

This particular place is located in the Idukki district of Kerala, India. It is one of the most prized destinations to
holiday in due to the vast expanse of nature with blossoming flora nd fauna. A Thekkady holiday brings you the promise of being one with nature with its serene lakes, wildlife sanctuaries, village tourisms, spice gardens and simplicity. A holiday in Thekkady is sure to rejuvenate and unwind you so that when you go back to your scheduled life you are refreshed and brimming with energy.

Attractions in and Around

At Thekkady tourism has always flourished for people from all walks of life come here to get away from their busy routines in their day to day life. This place has a lot to offer and some of the best known ones are as follows:-

The Elephant Junction- this is located near the Periyar wildlife sanctuary and is one of the must visit places when in Thekkady. You can enjoy a ride of one of the many elephants that call this place home. This elephants here are well trained and gentle in nature making it much more comfortable for a visitor to get close with these magnificent creatures.

Periyar Tiger Reserve- This is a place that you would not want to leave out when visiting this place. The tiger reserve is one of the few reserves dedicated to tigers so that their diminishing population can be brought up. This is a great opportunity to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. You can go for a safari in this tiger reserve and get amazed by the beauty of nature as you make your way deeper into the forest.

 Periyar lake- This is the largest manmade lake in Kerala and is a sight to be seen. This lake offers boat rides and also serves as a watering hole for the wild animals of the sanctuary. It is a great experience to see wild animals quenching their thirst at the banks of this lake. If you are lucky enough you could even see a tiger or two drinking from the lake.

Kadathanadan kalari Centre- Martial arts is an integral part of the culture in Kerala and what better way to see it than in person. This centre displays the martial art of Kalari with much flamboyance and humility. This is one of the most entertaining places in all of Thekkady and should definitely be shortlisted on your vacation itinerary when visiting here.

Mudra cultural centre- this particular centre promotes the fine arts of dance and kalari. The centre hosts a programme every evening at 5, 6 and 7 pm. This is an interesting way to see the culture and be a part of it. Some of the dance forms that are performed here are Kathakali, Mohininayattam, Kucchipuddy and Keralanatanam.

Accommodations and Eateries

There are a number of hotels in Thekkady as it is a very popular holiday spot. One can find hotels according to their needs and budgets. Some of the most well known hotels that you can stay in are KTDC Lake palace( Thekkady), The Tigers Roare’ ( Near Entrance gate), The elephant Court (Amalambika Road), Beaumont Plantation retreat (Chellaracovil-Mettu Road), and Periyar Meadows (Kumily-Thekkady road).

To eat and drink some of the best restaurants are Bar-B-Que ( K.K. Road), Spice Garden restaurant ( By-pass Road), French restaurant and bakery ( Lake road) and Our Place ( Lake Road) etc.

Getting In

The nearest airport is that of Madurai which is approximately 136 kilometers from Thekkady. If you travel via road ways it is well connected with other major cities via the national Highway. From Cochin it is at a drive of 165kms, from Kottayam it is 108 kms, and from Munnar it is a 90 km drive.

If you are planning to come by railways then the nearest railway station is Kottayam from where you will need to take a drive of 108 kms.