One of the environmental 18 hotspots in the world famed for its biodiversity and encompassing 777 sq. km, the Periyar Tiger reserve at Thekkady (named after thekku, the teak tree) will bring you close to some of the rarest animals and plants. A treasure trove of contrasting experiences, here misty hills vie with majestic animals, spice gardens snuggle close to tropical rainforest and

tranquility goes hand in hand with raw vitality. It was declared a protected area way back in 1933 by the Maharaja of Travancore (the descendants are the present owners of our company) and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978.The Pamba river flows on the western side of the reserve.

There is an entry fee (payable each time you enter the reserve). Timings 6am to 6pm.

Ride a mighty elephant and feel on top of the world. Synonymous with elephants, Thekkady is home to some 750 of them and they come in all sizes and ages.

How about a stint as night watchman of the jungle? You can be part of the regular night patrolling carried out in the eco development zones of the tiger reserve. Two

Cruise along the 26 sq km artificial lake (created by the British to provide water to Madurai) formed by the Mullaperiyar dam over the Periyar and is surrounded by hills filled with grass that is food for elephants, gaur and sambar. Sheltering an amazing variety of exotic fishes.Look out for the most famous and endangered game fish of India- the Mahsheer, found abundantly in

the upstream parts of the lake. The otter, the only mammal of the lake can also be spotted during the boat ride, which is the best way to see the sanctuary. (Timings- 7am, 9.30am, 11.30am, 2pm and 4pm).

Spend a night in one of the observation towers or rest houses right inside the forest and ignite your adventurous spirit. Safely perched atop one of these watchtowers you will get a bird’s eye view of the jungle as well as the wild life. Book well in advance.

Trek through rough terrain scaling 900-1300 metres of mist clad peaks. You catch glimpses of lofty escarpments bordering the park and the vast plains below. Apart from birds and butterflies, you also come across gaurs, sambar ,chital , elephants etc. (8am to 5pm-10 persons in 2 groups/day).

Go cozy in a forest cabin at Kokkara. An ideal place for two to enjoy the quietness and ambience of forest life where animals come right near your lodging.

Acquaint yourself with the culture and lives of the tribes belonging to the region. Five tribal communities live in the tribal area. A tribal heritage museum is built right inside the Mannan settlement belonging to one of the oldest tribes. It features various types of artifacts related to their ancient practices and rituals. The two hour tour covers the tribal museum and a trek through the tribal hamlet.

Take a jungle walk(only with a guide)and expect close encounters with gaurs,sambars,chital, etc. The celebrated primate of this sanctuary is the lion tailed macaque. Then there is the Nilgiri Langur.

Glide along the waters on bamboo rafts so that you get to see wildlife at close quarters without disturbing their privacy. This is part of a full day trekking programme through some of the richest forest tracks of the tiger reserve. (8 am to 5 pm. Maximum 10 persons/day).The dead trees jutting out of water offer perches for birds such as cormorants, gray herons etc.

Sign up for a bird spotting trek and you may be lucky to glimpse the orange headed ground thrush, the resplendent forest wagtail etc.You are in the heartland of spices. So do not miss the chance to get a few of those neatly packed and labeled samples of fenugreek, nutmeg, black, white and green pepper, cinnmon, cardamom, star anise, cloves etc. from Kumily town.

Visit the ruins of a stone temple, the Mangaladevi temple(12 kms),through dense forests, at the northern boundary of the reserve(open only on full moon day of April/May) atop a peak 1337 meters above sea level. The deity is Mangaladevi or Kannagi, the protagonist of the Tamil epic Silappadikaram . The peak commands a panoramic view of the eastern slopes of the ghats and some hill villages of Tamil Nadu.

Go on a vanilla/spice plantation tour with its numerous a romas and plants and get acquainted with the various spices at their prepacked stage. Alternately, you can visit the Connemara Tea factory and watch tea processing provided you reach there before 2 pm. (10am to 5 pm)

Watch lecture and demonstrations of Bharatnatyam,Kalaripayattu or Kathakali

As a souvenir, why not buy the good quality T shirts with exclusive Periyar Tiger Reserve Motifs?

Visit Vandanmedu9925 kms from Kumily), one of world’s largest auction centers for cardamom. A walk through the sprawling cardamom plantations is a heady experience.

Visit the 160 year old Summer Palace of the Travancore Maharajas (owners of our company). Though in disrepair, this is an interesting place with durbar hall and even a small prison cell.

Visit the Ayurvedic Factory where one gets a glimpse of the various stages of processing of ayurvedic ingredients into a medicinal decoction. (9am to 4pm)

Gavi (48 kms from Thekkady)

Stay at Green Mansions, a lake side lodge of the Kerala Forest Development Corporation’s eco tourism project. Join a trekking expedition to Meenar and Valley View forest sites, boat on Gavi and Kullar lakes. The 360 degree view from the nearby Pullumedu hill, of acres upon acres of greenery, including the sacred shrine of Sabarimala is spectacular.