Thekkady falls in the picturesque hill of
district Iduki in Kerala. It is better known for its natural wild life
sanctuary. The journey to Thekkady takes you through the quaint little
hill-towns and softly contoured hill slopes surrounded by the plantations of
tea, coffee and spices like cardamom and pepper.
Thekkady has unique flora and fauna specially the birds that differentiates
it from other sanctuaries across India.
The very sound of the name Thekkady
conjures up enchanting images in one's mind. The cool crisp scented air of
the western ghats reveals the unexplored beauty of the place. Even a casual
visitor can easily distinguish the peculiar ecological pattern of the
region. Thekkady Sanctuary is one of the best for taking snaps of wild
animals . Situated 5km from the border town of Kerala, Kumily, it is well
connected by bus from both the regions-Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Best
Time to visit : September to March.
Climate: Climate at Thekkady is tropical and temperature varies from
11 degree C to 15 degree C.
Recreation and Sight seeing
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Periyar wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala is one of the largest and most visited
wildlife reserves in India . The basic aim to built this Reserve was Tiger
preservation and it is also known as Periyar Tiger Reserve.
It occupies 777 sq.kms. of the Cardamom
Hills region of the Western Ghats The Sanctuary is 150 miles away from
Cochin and is surrounded by green rich plantations and dense forests. The
park makes a convenient place to break the long journey across the Ghats
between Madurai and the coast. The altitude varies from 900 mtrs to 2019
mtrs.
The first step towards conservation was taken by the Maharajah of
Travancore. At the core of the Periyar Tiger reserve is the serene Periyar
lake created by the British in the year 1895 to divert water for irrigation.
Encircling the waters are the lush tropical forests in which majestic tigers
roams, free and protected.
Boats
are considered the ideal source to cover the mystical scenery around the
lake. Periyar is a veritable paradise for elephants, sambar, wild pig,
Malabar flying squirrel, gaur, stripe-necked mongoose and over 260 species
of birds including Nilgiri wood pigeon, blue-winged parakeet. The unusual
species found in Periyar are flying Snake and Flying lizards. The ideal time
to visit the sanctuary is between October to June.
Activities in Periyar Wild life Sanctuary
Boating: The first trip starts at 7am and last trip at 4 pm.
Nature Trek : The reporting time is
7 am in the morning and 2- 2:30 pm in the afternoon.
Bird Watching Trek: There are 200 species of bird that could be
sighted in Periyar.
Elephant Rides: There are elephant rides for 30 min within the
sanctuary.
The deep tranquility of the scenic vistas blends with the exhilaration of
adventure to make for a unique holiday experience.
Kumily: 4 Kms from Thekaddy, is situated on the outskirts of Periyar
Sanctuary. It is an important spice centre and shopping centre.
Murikkady: 5 kms from Thekaddy. Famous for its cardamom, coffee and
pepper plantations
Pandikuzhi: 5 kms from kumily. Amidst chellarkovil and Tamil Nadu
border, it offers a great picnic spot and is a delight for photographers.
Vandan Medu: This is the worlds largest auction centre for cardamom
and is Located 5 kms from Thekaddy
Activities
Plantation Tour: Plantation Eco tours are arranged from the District
Tourism Officer. The tour covers all the major plantations in the respective
area
Elephant
Rides: The forest department at Thekkady arranges 30 minutes elephant
ride through the Jungle. Tickets are available from wildlife information
counter.
Trekking: Thekaddy is a best resort for those who love trekking.
Kurisumala near Kumily, Pullumedu,Ottakathalamedu,grampi near vandiperiyar
are few places to name.
Boat Cruises: The Forest department conducts daily treks from the
boat landing station at Thekaddy to the Nellikampatty area and Manakkavala
Accommodation in Periyar :
»
Spice
Village
»
Taj
Garden Retreat
»
Cardamom County
»
Aranya Niwas
»
Lake Palace
»
Hotel Treetop
»
Shalimar Spice
Garden Resort
»
Woodlands Prime
Castle
»
High Range Residency
»
Wild Side Villa
»
Whispering Pine
Woods
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