Kerala · Wildlife · Spices
Thekkady
Thekkady, near the Tamil Nadu border, is the base for Periyar Tiger Reserve and the spice plantations around Kumily. It is about 470 km from Mysuru, about 10 hours by road. Most visitors plan 1–2 days. Wildlife parks follow their own seasons and may close for part of the monsoon.
Why travellers go
A boat ride on Periyar Lake and a walk through a spice garden are the main draws.
- Suggested time
- 1–2 days
- State
- Kerala
- Good for
- Wildlife, Spices
Best-known sights in Thekkady
- Periyar Tiger Reserve: A protected forest of about 925 sq km in Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts, named a tiger reserve in 1978. It is home to tigers, elephants, gaur, sambar and lion-tailed macaques. Book boating, treks and nature camps through the official Periyar Tiger Reserve website.
- Periyar Lake: The lake formed by the Mullaperiyar dam at the heart of the sanctuary. A boat safari lets you watch wildlife from a safe distance.
- Mullaperiyar Dam: The dam completed in 1895 that created Periyar Lake.
- Guided nature walks and treks: Small-group walks inside the reserve with a tribal guide, plus longer guided treks such as the Periyar Tiger Trail. Treks need prior permission from the wildlife authorities and a guide.
- Spice plantations: The hills around Thekkady grow pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and clove, and plantation tours are offered from Kumily.
- Kumily: A busy plantation and trading town on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, about 4 km from Thekkady, and the main bus station of the Periyar region. It is the practical base for food and shopping.
- Mangala Devi Kannagi Temple: A temple inside the tiger reserve, about 15 km from Thekkady, open for worship only on Chitra Pournami day in April or May. Private vehicles are not allowed on the festival day; at other times visitors need prior permission from the Wildlife Warden at Thekkady.
- Pandikuzhi: A viewpoint about 5 km from Thekkady.
- Grampi: A viewpoint about 24 km from Thekkady.
- Vandanmedu: A cardamom-growing area near Thekkady with a cardamom auction centre.
How many days do you need in Thekkady?
Plans for one, two or three days. A starting point only, not a Travel Trendzz package.
One day
- Boat trip on Periyar Lake
- Spice plantation tour
- Evening in Kumily town
Two days
- Day 1: Boat trip on Periyar Lake, Guided nature walk in the reserve, Evening in Kumily town
- Day 2: Spice plantation tour, Pandikuzhi viewpoint, Tribal village visit
Three days
- Day 1: Boat trip on Periyar Lake, Guided nature walk in the reserve, Evening in Kumily town
- Day 2: Spice plantation tour, Pandikuzhi viewpoint, Tribal village visit
- Day 3: Grampi viewpoint, Vandanmedu cardamom auction centre
How to reach Thekkady from Mysuru and Bengaluru
From Mysuru
- By road
- About 430-460 km, about 7 hours. One mapped route runs through Kerala via Kalpetta, Kozhikode and Thrissur.
- By train
- No railway station at Thekkady and no direct train from Mysuru. The nearest railheads are Theni (about 60 km) and Kottayam (about 114 km).
- By bus
- No direct bus. Kumily, 4 km from Thekkady, is the bus hub; you can go via Bengaluru, which has buses to Kumily, or via Coimbatore and Palani.
- By air
- No airport at Thekkady. Madurai airport is about 140 km away and Cochin International Airport about 190 km.
From Bengaluru
- By road
- About 500 km, about 8.5 hours, on NH 44 via Hosur, Krishnagiri and Salem, then Dindigul and Theni on NH 183.
- By train
- No direct train. Trains run from Bengaluru to Kottayam (about 114 km from Thekkady) a few times a week; continue by road.
- By bus
- Private and Tamil Nadu state (TNSTC) buses run overnight from Bengaluru to Kumily, taking about 9-12 hours.
- By air
- Fly to Kochi (about 190 km) or Madurai (about 140 km), then by road.
Road times are approximate; check current timings for trains and buses before you travel.
Best time to visit Thekkady
September to March is the usual season for Thekkady, and the reserve is open all year. December and January are coolest, with lows near 13°C. June to September is the southwest monsoon and October to December brings northeast monsoon rain.
| Month | Weather and what to know |
|---|---|
| Jan | Cool and mostly dry, lows near 13°C Usually the driest month. |
| Feb | Dry and warming |
| Mar | Warm and dry March and April are considered good months for wildlife sightings. |
| Apr | Warmest time of year, up to about 30-31°C The Mangala Devi temple opens for worship only on Chitra Pournami, in April or May. |
| May | Warm, pre-monsoon showers |
| Jun | Southwest monsoon sets in Often the wettest month, about 359 mm on average. |
| Jul | Monsoon rain |
| Aug | Monsoon rain |
| Sep | Southwest monsoon easing The main visiting season begins. |
| Oct | Northeast monsoon showers |
| Nov | Northeast monsoon showers |
| Dec | Cool, lows near 13°C, showers ending |
Tips for visiting Thekkady
- Stay in or near Kumily, 4 km from the reserve gate, which has more places to eat, shop and stay.
- Book boating and trekking slots through the official Periyar Tiger Reserve website before you travel.
- Longer treks such as the Periyar Tiger Trail are limited to small groups and ask for medical fitness.
- Try local dishes such as kappa biriyani (tapioca biryani).
Photos
Travel Trendzz packages that include Thekkady
Prices are given on request; the team sends a quote for your dates and group.
Questions about Thekkady
What is the best time to visit Thekkady?
September to March is a good time to visit Thekkady, though the reserve is open all year. December and January are coolest, with lows near 13°C, and March and April are good for wildlife sightings. June to September is the southwest monsoon, when rain is heavy.
How many days are enough for Thekkady?
Two days are enough for Thekkady. Spend the first on a Periyar Lake boat trip and a guided nature walk, and the second on a spice plantation tour and viewpoints such as Pandikuzhi. A third day lets you add Grampi viewpoint and the cardamom country around Vandanmedu.
How far is Thekkady from Mysuru and Bengaluru?
Thekkady is about 500 km from Bengaluru, about 8.5 hours by road via Salem, Dindigul and Theni. From Mysuru it is about 430-460 km, about 7 hours by road through Kerala. There is no railway station; the nearest railheads are Theni and Kottayam.
Is Thekkady good for families and couples?
Yes. Thekkady suits both families and couples. Families can enjoy the Periyar Lake boat trip, spice plantation tours and Kumily town, which need little walking. Couples often choose guided forest walks, bamboo rafting and quiet plantation stays. Book reserve activities in advance on the official website.
Does Travel Trendzz have a package for Thekkady?
Yes. Munnar, Thekkady & Alleppey Discovery (4 Nights / 5 Days), Cochin, Munnar, Thekkady & Alleppey (5 Nights / 6 Days), Kerala Hills & Coast: Munnar to Kovalam (6 Nights / 7 Days) are published Travel Trendzz packages.
Places near Thekkady
Published packageMunnar
Tea hills · 2–3 days
Vagamon
Meadows · 1–2 days
Published packageMadurai
Temple city · 1–2 days
All Kerala destinations · All South India destinations · See all tour packages
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources in November 2026. Rules such as entry passes, timings and road closures change, so check before you travel.
- en.wikipedia.org › Periyar National Park
- keralatourism.org › periyar
- en.wikivoyage.org › Thekkady
- en.wikipedia.org › Thekkady
- en.wikipedia.org › Mangala Devi Kannagi Temple
- idukki.nic.in › how to reach
- nativeplanet.com › roadtrip from bengaluru to thekkady 003366
- wanderlog.com › thekkady to mysuru mysore drive
- rome2rio.com › Thekkady
- rome2rio.com › Thekkady
- rome2rio.com › Vagamon
- en.wikipedia.org › Kumily
- keralatourism.org › kumily panchayat climate
- weather-and-climate.com › average monthly precipitation Rainfall,thekkadi,India
- periyartigerreserve.org
Plan your Thekkady trip
Tell the trip planner your dates, group and budget. Nothing is booked until you confirm with the team.
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