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Thekkady
Location: Thekkady, about 4 km from Kumili in Idukki district, central Kerala
| Climate | Best time to Visit |
The pride of Kerala and a testimony to nature's splendour and human innovation, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Periyar lake - an artificial lake, at Thekkady. Here the high ranges of the Western Ghats are clothed in dense evergreen, moist deciduous forests and savannah grasslands. Below this thick green canopy roam herds of elephants, sambars, tigers, gaurs, lion tailed macaques and Nilgiri langurs.
In addition to elephant rides, cruises on the lake and treks to the ruined Mangaladevi temple - a beautiful old stone temple situated in the heart of the Thekkady forest, this sanctuary offers the unique opportunity to watch and photograph wild elephants at close quarters.
Lake Palace and Aranya Nivas are two idyllic accommodation options set in the sylvan lake side background. The romantic Lake Palace, formerly a summer retreat of the Maharaja of Travancore, is built on a small island accessible only by boat. Aranya Nivas(Jungle Retreat) a stone lodge with rubble masonry and colonial style of architecture at the head of the lake is a premium property of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.
Some interesting
facts about Thekkady
Periyar
is the best-known wildlife sanctuary in south India. Though billed as a tiger
reserve, Periyar is really famous for its wild elephants, 100-year-old artificial
lake and its setting in the beautiful thickly forested Western ghats. This
is not your best shot at spotting the Bengal Tiger considering there are less
than 40 of them that inhabit an area of 777sq.km but there’s plenty of
other game like the Nilgiri langoor, Nilgiri tahr, bison, deer, antelope and
about 700 elephants to make the trip worthwhile.
The Asian
elephant is diminutive compared to its larger African cousin but the thrill
of spotting a herd of them lumbering through the dense shola (forest) or wading
into a lake is going to be no less than seeing the African elephant in the
Masai Mara grasslands. There are more than 700 of these large grey animals
that have for a long time been a symbol of Indian exotica. Over a 100 species
of butterfly and at least 240 species of
birds inhabit
the area.
Around
the park are some interesting aromatic spice gardens. Many have good guides
who’ll tell you about the medicinal value of each spice and maybe startle
you with how much of the research is millennia old.
When
to go: The tourist season is from September to May and particularly
the Christmas - New Year holidays. From
February onwards it starts getting warmer and though this could be distinctly
uncomfortable, it has its benefits. The animals are easiest to spot now as
elephant and chital (spotted deer) alike flock to the waterholes. Avoid weekends
when the park can get quite full with people looking for a daylong getaway.
Accommodation:
There are enough possibilities to suit different budget requirements both
inside and outside the park. The entire gamut from cheap basic to expensive
luxury will present itself before you. Inside the park it is also possible
to stay in the very rudimentary set up of the observation tower or ‘machaan’
(like the hunters would in earlier days). This gives you a very good chance
at game spotting. Be sure to carry bedding and food, and mosquito repellent
or you might find it easier to stay up than you thought!
Do carry
sturdy and comfortable shoes for your nature walk, dull clothes, some warm
and waterproof clothing, and mosquito repellent. Cameras and camcorders too
are allowed into the park but the latter has to be accounted for with a ticket.
There are
several restaurants outside the park including some fairly posh ones with
great food and ambience. Inside the park it’s a different matter altogether.
The Rest Houses provide you with a cook but carry your own supplies. If you’re
camping out on the observation tower the entire bedding and eating arrangement
has to be yours.
Most visitors
tour the park on the two-hour boat rides around Periyar Lake. Rather than
the larger sized public boats, which proportionately dim your chances of actually
seeing game, go for a smaller private boat, which would correspondingly tilt
the odds in your favour. Early morning and dusk are the best times for wildlife.
In the afternoons they all tend to disappear into the shade of the thick forests.
A morning
‘trek’ is another great way of doing some serious game watching.
A knowledgeable guide will take you to all the hot spots and point out anything
interesting like pug marks (if you are really lucky) or chital droppings.
Some hotels offer more serious treks into the forest that a keen enthusiast
will enjoy.
Getting
There and Around: The nearest airport is not in Kerala but at Madurai
(140 km) in Tamil Nadu. In Kerala, Thekkady is closest to the Kochi international
airport (190 km). The nearest railhead is Kottayam from where it takes about
4 hours by bus, marginally lesser by car. Buses to Periyar usually originate
and terminate at Aranya Nivas, a posh hotel inside the Park. They do halt
briefly at the town of Kumily, just outside Periyar. The sanctuary is very
well connected by bus to many towns in Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
There are bus connections from Ernakulam (6 hours), Kottayam (4 hours), Trivandrum
(8 hours), Kovalam (9 hours), Munnar (4 ½ hours) and Kodaikanal (6 hours).
Jeep and elephant safaris are also a good perch from where to view the animal world. A little ‘encouragement’ from you would probably take the mahout off the beaten path to more rewarding locations.If you are staying outside the park then a rented bike or local bus will take you to the park’s entrance.
Getting
there:
Nearest railway station: Kottayam, about 114 km
Nearest airports: Madurai (Tamilnadu) about 140 km; Cochin International Airport,
about 190 km.
Tropical, between 10 and 26 degrees Celsius
August-May
| Facts & Figures of Thekkady | ||
| Location : Idukki district, Kerala, India | ||
| Altitude : 900-1800 m above sea level | ||
| Climate : Tropical | ||
| Temperature : 15*C - 30*C | ||
| Rainfall : 2500mm | ||
| Best time to visit : August to May | ||
| Clothing : Woollen and cotton | ||
| Languages spoken : Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and English | ||
| Accessing Thekkady | ||
| Air : Kochi : 190 Km, Madurai - 140 Km, Thiruvananthapuram - 265 Km | ||
| Rail : Kottayam 114 Km, Theni : 60 Km | ||
| Road : There are frequent busses from Kottayam to Kumily( 4 Km away) on N.H. -220. | ||
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