Thekkady is the gateway town to Periyar Tiger Reserve, its economy and character shaped almost entirely by the wildlife tourism the reserve generates, alongside spice plantations that carpet the surrounding hills. Boat safaris on Periyar Lake within the reserve offer the town's signature wildlife experience, while walking tours through nearby cardamom, pepper and cardamom plantations give visitors a more hands-on sense of Kerala's spice trade beyond simply viewing wildlife.
Ayurvedic treatment centres and spice markets add further dimensions to a stay in Thekkady, and the town's relatively compact scale means most of its attractions — plantation tours, cultural performances of Kathakali dance, and the reserve itself — are all within easy reach of most accommodation.
Thekkady's development as a tourism town grew directly alongside the establishment and later expansion of the adjoining Periyar wildlife reserve, transforming what was a spice-growing region into one of Kerala's most visited inland destinations.
September to March, avoiding peak monsoon.
About 150km from Kochi, roughly 4 hours by road.
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