Activities

The Periyar lake was created by the Mullaperiyar dam, constructed by the British to irrigate the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. The man-made Periyar lake is located a few kilometresfrom the entranceof the wildlife sanctuary. During boating on the Periyar lake, you care likely to find wild animals along the banks or the herds strolling along the sanctuary

The elephant ride through the jungle is an unforgettable experience for most tourists who visits the hill station. Organized by the forest department, it is a fabulous opportunity to observe your surroundings, sittings atop the pachyderm.

Steered as part of the wildlife conservation treks, border hiking takes trekkers (up to 10) to altitudes of 1200mts. You will be escorted by two guides and an armed forest guard. You can trek up the rolling hills and down valleys, enjoy watching wildlife at close range and snooping to the sounds of nature, first hand.

Bamboo rafts are one of the most functional ways of exploring the wild. Manoeuvre your way through the thick forest and deep lakes with the help of guides and experts. The rafting takes place in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. To reach the place where you start the rafting tour, you need to hike up into the forest, all the while spotting birds and animals around. Each bamboo raft ride takes around two to three hours, and you will have an armed guard and four guides accompanying each group.

Patrolling the jungles of Periyar at night is an activity most adventure enthusiasts can’t resist. Each patrolling group starts late evening and typically lasts until the early morning hours. Two guides and an armed forest guard accompanies 5 – 10 patrollers in the trip inside the reserve.

If trekking is your passion, then a nature walk is what you would enjoy. Varyingfrom 2km to 5km in distance, each walk is exciting in its own way. From butterflies and birds to deer and elephants, you may spot all kind of wildlife in its original habitat. Also visible are different types of vegetation; evergreen and moist deciduous forests as well as marsh grasslands.

While taking a walk through the tribal villages, you will be able to see and experience the life and culture of the tribals of the area. Their hamlets and settlements can be visited and you can talk to the natives themselves to understand their lifestyle. You’ll be escorted by a guide throughout your trip.

There are many spices plantations in Thekkady and Kumily.Plantation tours can be arranged where you could trek through acres of plantations like cardamon, tea and other spices You can see how the spices are plucked, dried and processed. Some of the plantations have their own outlets from where you can buy fresh spices.

Your tour of Kerala would be incomplete without experiencing an authentic ayurvedic massage. There are authentic Ayurvedic massage centres with doctors in Thekkady and Kumily with whom you could consult for any ailments or to have specific massage for the well-being of your body.

Kathakali is one of India’s oldest dance-drama art form. In Thekkady, you can watch Kathakali being performed late in the evening or at night. Even the hour-long preparation and make-up before the play unfolds are worth watching and documenting.

Led by a team of experienced guides, you can camp in the Periyar forest for two to three days to observe the wildlife around. It’s a unique experience to pitch your tent and cook in the forest while the guides are there tohelp you follow the tiger trail and get a glimpse of the magnificent cat.

Jeep safaris are for those who would like to watch wildlife from a distance, and within the confines of a vehicle.