The Land of Spices, Thekkady in Kerala

Located in the Idukki district of Kerala, Thekkady is a beautiful place that is also home to the Periyar National Park. With lush green hills, wildlife sanctuaries, lakes and spice plantations, Thekkady is a popular travel destination in the country. People come to relax, to explore and to enjoy the generous nature here. The pleasant climate, adventurous forest trails, amazing elephant sighting and activities like boating across scenic waters makes for an idyllic vacation.Thekkady has some key tourist attractions ranging from wildlife to estate walks. Here are some of the places in Thekkady that you must visit. Among the most popular places to visit in Thekkady is the Periyar National Park, spanning an area of 300 sq km, the park is home to many wild animals. The dense evergreen forests have also been conferred the status of Tiger Reserve. A unique feature of this sanctuary is the sighting of wild animals at close ranges from the boats across the lake. You will be amazed by the sights of wild elephants coming to the lake edges for water. Travellers can visit the park from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.Photo Courtesy: Lian Chang Another place to visit in Thekkady is the lovely Mangala Devi Kannagi Temple. The temple supposedly built by Chera king in the Pandya style of architecture is said to be over 1,000 years old and continues to be dedicated to the worship of Mangaladevi or Kannagi during the Chitra Pournami festival. Legend has it that Kannagi an ordinary village woman burnt the ancient city of Madurai with a curse when she came to know that her innocent husband was falsely accused of theft and killed at the royal court. The temple though in ruins has interesting sculptures and usage of granite stones. It is located on a hilltop and offers great views of the surroundings.Photo Courtesy: RameshSharma1 A place of scenic beauty to visit in Thekkady is the Mullaperiyar Dam. Surrounded by the Periyar National Park, the dam was originally built on the river Periyar to re-direct waters to the dry regions of Madras. Presently the waters are used for both irrigation purposes as well as the generation of hydro-electricity. The area surrounding the dam is one of the richest hotspots for bio-diversity in the region and remains under protection. A visit here is great for the surrounding greenery and calm.Photo Courtesy: Captainofhope An interesting tourist attraction in Thekkady is a visit to the Kadathanadan Kalari Centre. The place showcases the ancient martial form that originated in Kerala. A well-designed gallery allows the visitors to feast their eyes on remarkable Kalari performances. You can enjoy the acts of defence and the beauty with which the weapons are used at the centre. A trip to the Kalari centre makes for a unique experience.Photo Courtesy: Praveen Gurukkal The place for elephant rides and baths is the Elephant Junction in Thekkady and is a popular tourist attraction. Especially popular among children, travellers can opt for a wondrous journey atop the elephant or watch it playfully take a bath. You can also feed them treats such as pumpkins or bananas.Photo Courtesy: Liji Jinaraj Kerala is famous for its colourful and vibrant art forms. Many classical dances and performances of Kerala enthrall travellers from the world over. The Mudra Cultural Centre is one such destination in Thekkady, where travellers can feast their senses to the performances of Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Keralanatanam, etc. Performances of martial art form Kalarippayattu will also enthrall viewers. An experience not to be missed on a holiday in Thekkady.Photo Courtesy: Appaiah A gateway to the scenic beauty of the surrounding Periyar National Park, the lake waters of Periyar is an important sightseeing place in Thekkady. The half immersed tree trunks in the water paints a hauntingly beautiful picture. Activities such as boating are available for a 90-minute journey of relaxation and tranquility across the waters of the lake. If you are lucky, you might spot various animals and birds on the boat ride.Photo Courtesy: Lian Chang Thekkady offers interesting activities to do such as estate and plantation walks through tea estates and spice plantations. Guided trips are informative and rejuvenating as you climb through the various estates. The many surrounding hills and forests also offer great trekking trails in Thekkady. Trekking in the forests requires prior permission from the forest authorities as well as an informed guide to accompany them. It is a must-do activity for all those who enjoy the outdoors.Photo Courtesy: Thierry Leclerc Enjoy the exciting Kerala cuisine at Thekkady, which has many restaurant options for both vegetarian and non-vegetarians. For best hotel deals in Thekkady click here.Shopping in Thekkady can be fun with a variety of products ranging from organic food items to wildlife keepsakes available at the local stores. Speciality products such as locally grown spices and homemade chocolates are interesting buys.Photo Courtesy: Ankur P By Road: A network of roads such as the NH-7 and SH-17 connect Thekkady to major towns and cities in the region. It is located at a distance of 138 km from Madurai and 85 km from Munnar.By Rail: The railway station nearest to Thekkady is Kottayam (114 km), travellers can also proceed to Madurai Railway Station at a distance of 138 km. Both the stations have trains connecting to major towns and cities across the country.By Air: Travellers wishing to fly can take flights to the nearest airport in Cochin, at a distance of 146 km from Thekkady or Madurai at a distance of 140 km. Both have domestic and international flights to major destinations in the country and outside.Photo Courtesy: Liji Jinaraj