Thekkady Itinerary: The Best Places to See in Thekkady and the Periyar Tiger Reserve

If you’re keen to go wildlife watching, then I bet you’re looking forward to your Thekkady itinerary.

This small town in central Kerala is located next to the Periyar National Park, a large wildlife reserve with elephants, tigers, sloth bears, Nilgiri langur and over 265 bird species.

With trekking, camping, rafting and tribal art performances available at the Periyar Tiger Reserve, the national park is one of the best places to see in Thekkady.

However, there are many more incredible things to do in Thekkady. For example, a highlight of my Thekkady itinerary was taking a jeep trip into Cumbum Valley in Tamil Nadu (the neighbouring state).

So, without further ado, let’s get stuck into how to plan your Thekkady trip.

Feel free to open up a new tab with my detailed Kerala itinerary to plan the rest of your trip in Kerala’s southernmost state too.

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. If you decide to click through and make a qualifying purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you – thanks for your support.

I created this post following a sponsored trip hosted by Kerala Tourism. They covered my hotel and travel costs and gave me many helpful pointers. I then continued my Kerala trip solo – all of the advice in this post is my own, so I hope you find it useful!

Where is Thekkady?

Thekaddy is in central Kerala, four hour’s drive from Kochi (Cochin) and just under four hours from Munnar.

Located in the southern part of the Western Ghats mountain range, it is 900 metres above sea level.

It’s next-door to the Periyar National Park (and Periyar Tiger Reserve), making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kerala.

The surrounding area has lots of forests and spice and tea plantations. However, the main attraction is the Periyar Tiger Reserve, where hands-on experiences such as camping, trekking and rafting can be booked directly on their website.

However, the names Kumily and Thekkady are interchangeable; most people just use the name Thekkady to avoid confusion.

Is Thekkady Worth Visiting?

Thekkady is absolutely worth visiting, especially if you want to go wildlife watching.

In the Periyar Tiger Reserve, activities include:

• Day or night treks
• Overnight camping
• Tribal dance performances
• Bamboo rafting
• Boating
• Jungle safaris by bus
• Self-guided treks

Thekkady’s spice plantations are also famous. They grow a range of spices, including black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove, and cardamom.

From Thekkady, you can easily go trekking in the Western Ghats.

The town is also considered to be a gateway into the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, where there are more scenic valleys and mountains.

Are there tigers in Thekkady?

There are around 40 tigers in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. In the big scheme of things, that’s a very small amount.

As a result, you are far more likely to spot footprints or dung than the creatures themselves. Elephants and other wildlife are more commonly spotted.

Where to Stay in Thekkady

Thekkady is a name given to a wide area containing the towns of Attappallam and Kumily.

Between them, they have a large number of houses, restaurants, hotels, resorts and homestays. Homestays and hostels are more centrally located.

Most of the resorts are located on the edge of the towns, within jungle areas.

I stayed at Spice Village CGH Earth, an eco resort with tribal-style villas in the jungle. It was exceptional.

If you’re not staying at a resort, I recommend staying in Kumily, where there are spice shops, restaurants and a performing art centre with Kathakli performances.

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Thekkady Itinerary: The Best Places to See in Thekkady

1. Periyar Tiger Reserve

Best for: Hiking, camping, safaris, bamboo rafting and tribal dance performances.

Distance from Thekkady: 5 – 10 minutes’ drive (to the Periyar National Park Ticket Office).

When you’re planning your Thekkady itinerary, it’s likely that most of your activities will centre around the incredible Periyar Tiger Reserve.

It’s simply a must-visit for those who want to go wildlife watching in Kerala.

The park is home to 30-40 tigers, over 300 bird species and 68 reptile species.

You may spot elephants, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, sambar deer, bison and wild boar.

You must register for the activities on the Periyar Tiger Reserve website.

There are so many activities to choose from, but highlights include the treks, safaris and overnight camping. If you don’t want to stay overnight, you can take a day trek.

There are few different hike types:

• Day treks: Best for those short on time. It’s unlikely you’ll see large animals, but you may see birds, butterflies and reptiles.
• Overnight trekking and camping: The Tiger Trail attempts to trace tiger activity. The Border hikes are difficult but offer higher chances of seeing Gaur, sloth bears and elephants.
• Night treks: Night patrols with armed guards offer a good chance of seeing nocturnal animals.
• Self-guided treks: These are best for observing insects, birds and reptiles.

The reserve also has a range of other activities:

• Watch towers: This comfortable overnight stay gives you a good chance of spotting passing wildlife such as elephants.
• Tribal dances: These take place at 6pm – 7pm in the Vanasree Auditorium. They feature performances from the Mannan and Paliyan tribes living in the national park.
• Boating on Periyar Lake: Best for spotting sambar deer, Gaur and wild boars.
• Bus safaris: Best for wildlife watching without any discomfort. The safaris last for six hours. You’re more likely to scare off wildlife, but you don’t need to trek.

2. Cumbum Valley (Tamil Nadu)

Best for: Visiting Tamil Nadu by jeep, exceptional views and meeting local farmers

Distance: Half an hour’s drive

Visiting Cumbum Valley was a highlight of my Thekkady itinerary. It was so unexpected – I had no idea that such a scenic valley was located right over the border in Tamil Nadu.

Cumbum Valley is located down a scenic mountain road. Swinging around the corners in a jeep is forever imprinted on my memory.

As we emerged into the valley, it only become more scenic. We passed fruit and vegetable farms, spices gardens and farm buildings.

The trip was organised by my hotel, Spice Village CGH Earth and Kerala Tourism.

As my guide spoke the local language, we were able to communicate with local farmers and learn more about the different fruit and vegetables they grow in the villey (grapes, red bananas and pineapple were just a few).

I also saw locals transporting their havest using ox carts, four-wheeled wooden carts pulled by oxen.

3. Kumily

Activities: Shopping for spices

Distance: Within Thekkady

Kumily is a busy plantation town next-door to Periyar National Park. You may already have booked a hotel in Kumily, making it one of the easiest places to visit on your Thekkady itinerary.

Kumily is a great place to go shopping for spices, as it has a reputation for high-quality, aromatic spices and specialty spiced teas and coffees.

Many of the workers from the surrounding spice plantations or farms in the Cumbum Valley live in Kumily. Therefore, you can also get your hands on tapioca, sugarcane, lemongrass and coffee.

4. Watch Kathakali and Kalaripayattu at a theatre in Kumily

Best for: Watching two of Kerala’s traditional art forms.

Distance: Within Kumily

At Kadathanadan Kalari & Navarasa Kathakali in Kumily, you can watch Kathakali and Kalaripayattu, two of Kerala’s traditional artforms.

I watched Kathakali in Munnar. The artform is fascinating. The performers act out stories from Indian epics, dressed in elaborate costumes.

The performance merges classical dance, music and techniques such as eye dancing.

A Kathakali performance in Munnar

Kalaripayattu, on the other hand, incorporates martial arts and weapons such as swords.

This small performance art centre hosts performances for both art forms every evening.

Kalaripayattu is shown daily between 6pm and 7pm and Kathakali is shown daily between 5pm and 6pm and 7pm and 8pm.

Why You Should Not Visit an Elephant Park in Thekkady

There are several elephant parks in Thekkady. Here’s why you should not visit one…

Any elephant park that encourages elephant rides, touching or washing is not ethical. Elephants are wild animals, who in normal circumstances, would not react well to being touched or washed by humans.

Many elephants in Thekkady have been trained to allow human touch, techniques which usually involve violence and/or purposeful isolation.

In ethical elephant sanctuaries, rescued elephants develop a bond with a single mahout, who can help to bathe and guide the elephant.

So, please avoid visiting an elephant park in Thekkady.

If you want to see elephants, take a safari or trek in the Periyar Tiger Reserve instead, where you can (hopefully) observe wild elephants from a safe distance.

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I hope you found my Kerala itinerary useful. If you’re currently travelling or ready to plan your trip, you may find some of my other blog posts useful…

• Kerala itinerary – start here to plan your trip!
• Munnar itinerary – tea plantations, hikes and more
• What to wear in Kerala + a free packing list
• Alleppey itinerary – houseboats, backwaters and more