The majority of Thekkady’s “activities,” as they are commonly referred to, revolve in some way around Periyar. We enjoyed exploring the town on foot, sampling banana chips and haggling over their price, and unwinding at Spice Village, an incredibly beautiful (and sustainably run) resort; more on that later.
Here are some things to do in Periyar (which are called Periyar Tiger Reserve and Periyar National Park interchangeably). However, it would definitely be best to be up front and say that there are probably very slim chances you’ll run into a tiger here. Instead, spending time in Thekkady is a wonderful opportunity to unwind, get back in touch with nature, and enjoy Kerala’s stunning scenery and wildlife.
The majority of Thekkady’s “activities,” as they are commonly referred to, revolve in some way around Periyar. We enjoyed exploring the town on foot, sampling banana chips and haggling over their price, and unwinding at Spice Village, an incredibly beautiful (and sustainably run) resort; more on that later.
Here are some things to do in Periyar (which are called Periyar Tiger Reserve and Periyar National Park interchangeably). However, it would definitely be best to be up front and say that there are probably very slim chances you’ll run into a tiger here. Instead, spending time in Thekkady is a wonderful opportunity to unwind, get back in touch with nature, and enjoy Kerala’s stunning scenery and wildlife.
Periyar Lake Boat Trips: Periyar Lake boat tours leave throughout the day, with the last (and most popular) one departing at 3.30 p.m. Contrary to what we were told, the KTDC office is inside the park, thus you can buy tickets there on the day of the event (turn up 1.5 hours early to buy). Boating on the Periyar Lake, which we found to be the least delightful activity in Thekkady, is the most popular activity in Periyar.
As an alternative to the noisy and crowded boat tour on Periyar Lake, you can choose to float across the water in your own bamboo raft. Make reservations in advance because space is limited and the rafts leave at 8 am! Along with the passengers, there is a guide and an armed forest guard in the raft. If we went back to Periyar, we would prefer to explore the lake in this way.
Trekking –Â
In addition to the nature walks into Periyar, a number of alternative trekking options are available into the breathtaking surrounds (see above). There are one-day to multi-day treks, with the longer ones covering longer distances and being more difficult. On treks, armed forest guards and guides are always present. Discover more about treks by contacting your hotel.
Support Tribal Heritage –Â
The Periyar forests and the surrounding areas of the park’s borders are home to a number of tribal communities. Two of the larger tribes are the Mannan and the Paliyan. As India’s rapid growth continues, such groups run the risk of losing their traditions to memory and time. The ability to generate revenue for the community while promoting the preservation of some of their traditions is provided by tourism. Visit the museum devoted to tribal heritage or go on a tour with a guide from one of the tribal communities.
As we investigated the region, we discovered the massive solar farm, which has over 650 solar panels and stores solar energy in over 70 large batteries to power the majority of the resort’s operations. On site, different wastes are converted into three different types of compost, one of which is used to produce biogas, which is subsequently utilised as fuel for cooking in the staff housing. Ayurvedic or organic cleaning products are used throughout the resort, as well as guest toiletries.
Locally filtered drinking water is then put into glass bottles using only natural methods without the use of chemicals. No plastic is utilised. There are prominent signs in every guest room advising us to use water when we brush our teeth or shampoo our hair. The resort recycles all of its paper since Spice Village has a plant on-site where paper is made from trash that has been recycled. This is maybe most notable.
Responsible tourism in Thekkady
Kerala has become a well-liked travel destination for both local and international tourists, and two of its top attractions are Thekkady and Periyar. As a result, tourism is putting more pressure on the environment and influencing it more. The amount of wildlife habitat decreases as tourism increases and development intensifies. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your time in Thekkady while also helping to protect it for future visitors.
Try to reserve a room in a resort or hotel that practises sustainability and ethics. This involves, among other things, recycling their waste, employing locals, and purchasing products made in the area. As a tip, try Spice Village (above)!
Avoid using plastic wherever you can, especially for water bottles. In the Periyar lake and its surrounds, we found an alarming quantity of plastic water bottles, many of which end up in the stomachs of animals. Drink safe filtered water and set an example for others to follow (if you find yourself in a hotel without a RO/UV filter, we propose our convenient UV filter). Alternately, fill up your water bottle with boiled water from your accomodation if you’re unsure.
Take any rubbish you find in the park with you if you plan to take it home. Take your waste back to your lodge with you since there are often limited trash facilities, so it doesn’t end up on the floor.If anyone else is dropping trash, kindly inform them of the situation and ask them to clean it up if they do.Keep quiet when you’re in nature since animals frequently have acute hearing senses. Making noise will lessen your chance to see wildlife and that of other visitors.
The best wildlife interactions should take place from a distance. Although we acknowledge that each human must make their own choices, we are against interactions with interactive wildlife. In light of this, we do not suggest visiting any of the neighbouring Periyar elephant experiences that offer riding, washing, bathing, etc. However, we are aware from recent experience that it can be difficult to discern how animals are truly treated. We have heard a variety of perspectives on this and that the elephants are well cared for. Therefore, our rule is to avoid anything that you may ride, embrace, or use as a prop in a selfie.
Become a local ally. Rural communities are in danger all across the world, including in India, as younger generations leave the countryside in pursuit of work and as regional customs disappear. Shop locally to contribute to helping them out. Stay in local-owned hotels, eat at local-run restaurants, purchase locally-made souvenirs, and even converse with younger residents to help them hone their language skills and better understand their culture. Thekkady Offers the worlds best forest stay in Kerala.
