Thekkady & Periyar National Park: Wildlife Boat Safaris, Bamboo Rafting & Spices

Kerala's Pristine Wildlife & Spice Highland

Nestled in the Cardamom Hills at an elevation of 900 to 1,800 meters, Thekkady (Kumily) borders Tamil Nadu and centers on the world-renowned Periyar Tiger Reserve. Covering 925 square kilometers of tropical evergreen rainforest, moist deciduous woods, and a vast artificial lake formed by the 1895 Mullaperiyar Dam, Thekkady is the spice capital and wildlife sanctuary of Kerala.

Wildlife Excursions in Periyar Tiger Reserve

• KTDC Periyar Lake Boat Safari: The marquee activity of Thekkady. A 90-minute cruise across the submerged tree stumps of Periyar Lake provides rare opportunities to view herds of wild Asian elephants, gaur (Indian bison), sambar deer, wild boar, and otters coming to drink at the water's edge.
• Full-Day Bamboo Rafting & Trekking: An elite eco-tourism expedition managed by the Kerala Forest Department. Involves a 3-hour guided jungle trek through primary tiger and elephant territory followed by a 3-hour silent paddle aboard indigenous bamboo rafts across deep forest waters.
• Guided Nature Walks: 3-hour morning or evening foot patrols accompanied by tribal forest protectors exploring medicinal flora, giant Malabar squirrels, and endemic hornbills.

Organic Spice Plantation Walks

Thekkady's fertile highland slopes produce India's finest spices. Kerala DMC coordinates immersive guided farm walks where agronomists explain the cultivation, harvesting, and medicinal applications of green cardamom, black pepper vines, clove trees, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla beans, and allspice.