Thekkady is a popular tourist destination in Idukki district of Kerala and is 4 km from Kumily town. Kumily has good road connection to Kottayam via NH 220 (100 km, 3 hour) and to Theni/Madurai in Tamil Nadu. Kumily town has all the facilities - Hotel, lodge, shopping, spices, antiques - for the tourists.



A tourist has to take Rs 25 ticket for entering the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The boat ticket is available from the landing station. It is better to reserve the ticket online before going to the queue. There is a tea stall near the ticket booking centre, which serves tea, snacks, Idli vada, cool drinks etc to tourists.

Boat timings : 7.30 am, 9.30 am, 11.15 am, 1.30 pm & 3.30 pm.

Ticket rate Rs 150. Still Camera Rs 25, Video Camera Rs 200. Duration 1 hour 30 minutes. Four boats were there for the service.

The best time to watch wild elephants is the first boat service during summer months (March/April). During the trip we were lucky to spot 4 wild elephants, then on another occasion a mother & baby elephant.



I was lucky to get an upper deck seat for the 11.15 am boat trip after a long 5 hour waiting!. Go for online boat ticket from ktdc.com avoiding the long queue.

Huge tree trunks were in the lake was a nice sight. Water birds have nest on these tree trunks.

Trekking along the Periyar lake periphery can also be done in a day (advance booking required, summer is the best period). Beware of leech bite.



Dos & Donts

1. Please wear life jackets during boating.
2. Be silent, it will help you to spot the wildlife.
3. Please do not stand all of a sudden when you see wildlife.
4. Boat will not stop for photography.
5. Seeing wildlife is a matter of luck. You are not in a zoo!.