Thekkady
Travel (Periyar)
The very sound of the word thekkady conjures up images of elephants,
unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. In the periyar
forest of thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in india, and
spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and hill towns
that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks.
Access :
Air - Nearest Airport : Madurai (Tamil Nadu) 140 kms,
Kochi (Nedumbassery - 185 km), Thiruvananthapuram (265 kms).
Rail - Nearest railway station is Kumarakom 114 kms.
Madurai station is about 136 kms.
Road - An excellent road network from kumily (4 kms)
links the to all major towns and cities in india.
Places to visit :
The periyar wildlife sanctuary - Lying close to the
plantations, in the rich jungles of periyar in thekkady is one of the
world's most fascinating natural wildlife reserves - the periyar wildlife
sanctuary, spread across 777 sq km, of which 360 sq.km is thick evergreen
forest, the periyar wildlife sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve in 1978.
The splendid artificial lake formed by the mullaperiyar dam across the
periyar river adds to the charm of the park. This is the only sanctuary in
india where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close
quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of
periyar , however, are the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in
the lake. You can also see wild Elephant, gaur, sambar deer, tiger, jungle
cat, sloth bear and wild boar which can be sighted from the boats also 265
species of birds including migrants the hornbill, stork, woodpecker,
kingfisher, raptor, cormorant, grackle etc.
Kumily - 4 kms from thekkady this plantation town,
closely associated with thekkady, is situated on the outskirts of the
periyar sanctuary. An important shopping centre and spice trade centre.
Murikkady - 5 kms from thekkady. Washed in fresh spice
scented air, murikkady is a panorama of cardamom, coffee and pepper
plantations.
Vandanmedu - 25 kms from thekkady, this is one of the
world's largest auction centres for cardamom. A walk through the sprawling
cardamom plantations of vandanmedu is a heady experience.
