Thekkady, Kerala, India

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Thekkady

Periyar Elephant Reserve

What is it? Plantation town and gateway to the Periyar sanctuary
Where is it? Kerala
When do I go? September to May
For how long? Two days
STD Code: 0486

This is where you can wander through plantations of cardamom, tea and coffee. This is where you can glimpse tigers as they come out of the hidden depths of the forest, and trek in evergreen forests so dense that it can hide elephants. This is where the weather can change in a few minutes from sunny skies to mists so thick they envelop you in white fog. This is Thekkady, a hill station and plantation town that is only just making its presence felt on the tourist map of Kerala.

About Thekkady
History
The climate here is ideal for the cultivation of spices, particularly cardamom, so it’s no surprise that Thekkady is a plantation town, surrounded by spice plantations. The area that is now the Periyar sanctuary was created as a wildlife reserve in 1934 by the Maharaja of Travancore. It was formerly a royal game reserve.

Geography
Thekkady is a small town in the Idukki district of Kerala, 900 to 1,800m above sea level. Thekkady is the jump-off point for the Periyar wildlife sanctuary.

Climate
Temperatures in Thekkady range from a maximum of 29°C and a minimum of 18°C in summer to a high of 21°C and a low of 15°C in winter. Rainfall is 2,500 mm from June to September. The best time to visit is between September to May. You may find occasional showers in October though, and expect the weather to change very quickly from bright sunshine to mist, clouds and rain.

For more information on the following topics, please see our Thekkady travel guide below:
- Getting there
- Getting around
- Sights & Sounds
- Excursions
- Accommodation
- Eating Out
- Shopping
- Useful Information
- Survival Guide

Thekkady, Kerala Think of plantations of cardamom, tea and coffee and elephants and tigers, think of Thekkady in the beautiful southern state of Kerala in India. Price: $4.99