Thekkaddy - What To See and Where to stay?

Thekkady, a popular hill station of Southern India, summons up images of elephants, endless chains of hills and spice-scented agricultural estates. Find out why Thekkady is popular and check out some of the best hotels if you decide to visit this gorgeous hill station.

19th April 2011
By Shweta Chowdhary

Thekkady and Munnar are two of the most popular hill stations of Kerala.

Thekkady is known for its numerous fauna and flora over and above for the Mannans, Palians and Ooralie tribes who still maintain their earliest methods of herding and bee keeping. Thekkady summons up images of elephants, endless chains of hills and spice-scented agricultural estates. The Periyar forest of Thekkady shelters the finest wildlife reserves in India and the entire district is covered with quaint plantations and hill towns that hold immense chance for treks and mountain walks. Thekkady is a pleasing dreamland for those who love nature in its wild appearance.

Where is Thekkady? This exotic hill station lies at a distance of 100 km from Munnar and 191 km from Cochin. See the map below.

Thekkady Tourist Attractions

Here are some of the places to visit in and around Thekkady.

• Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is an interesting natural wildlife reserve spread across 777 sq. km and is centred on the 24 sq km artificial lake formed by Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River. The altitude varies from 900 mtr to 2019 mtr. Besides the Tiger, this reserve is also home to elephants, gaur (Indian bison), sambar deer, wild boar and a variety of monkeys including the Nilgiri Langoor and the Lion tailed Macaque. It also houses a variety of bird life of which snake birds (Darters), cormorants, kingfishers and grey heron can be usually seen. The three watch towers at Edappalayam, Manakkavala and Thannikudi give a distinct view of this exquisite sanctuary.
• The Mangladevi Temple (12 km away), on the northern boundary of the reserve is built in the traditional Kerala style of architecture and extends a mesmerizing view of the eastern slopes of the Ghats.
• The famous plantation town Peermede , named after the Sufi saint Peer Mohammed is yet another place worth visiting.
• The Periyar Tiger Reserve offers the opportunity to sight animals from the safety of a boat. These boat rides start from early morning and enable one to sense the wildness from a close angle.Elephant rides inside the sanctuary are availed for duration of 30 minutes to the guests.
• Trekking is one of the major activities Thekkady offers to its guests and they include both nature and bird-watching trek.
• Kumily (4 km from Thekkady) is renowned as a spice trading centre. The town is encircled by cultivated areas of pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and tea and coffee.
• Other sightseeing preferences include the waterfalls at Chellarkovil and Churuli .
• Munnar - Also visit ther nearby hill station of Munnar. Find out how to spend 1 or 2 nights Munnar - a beautiful hill station of southern India.

Hotels in Thekaddy

Hotel Sithara International (Rs. 1200), Saleem Tower (Rs. 900) and Hotel Treetop (Rs. 3000) are some of the best rated Thekkady hotels and have been recommended by travelers down the years. These hotels provide comfortable accommodation and are good value for your money. Book a hotel in Thekkady and make sure to compare the reviews.