A land of contrasts, Thekkady is both wild and enchanting. From exotic reserves of flora and fauna to ancient human traditions, Thekkady is jam-packed with cultural attractions and stunning sights to discover. Expect a lot of unexpected adventures, a surge of emotions and a whole lot of never before experiences because this is unlike any holiday you've done before.
Yearning for a holiday? From adventure junkies to solace seekers, from wildlife enthusiasts to city slickers Thekkady's quintessential experiences are suited to different kind of travelers.
Thekkady's trump card is its wildlife. In the Periyar forest of Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India. Noted for its diversity of wildlife and scenic beauty, the Reserve attracts visitors from all over the world. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar adds to the charm of the park. This is the one of the few sanctuaries 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 animals which includes elephants, deers, bisons and wild boars that come down to play in the lake.
The quieter you become the more you hear, such is the experience as the boat slowly sails through the quietness of fresh early mornings offering a spectacular view of the dense forest reserve. Just minutes into it and the ride begins to cast its spell, taking you away from the world. Apart from all the wildlife one also gets a chance to spot a variety of species of birds perched upon the tree stumps partly submerged within the lake.
Though one might argue that a brush with the wilderness is adventure in its own right, Thekkady comes with a experience which will get your heart racing and adrenaline pumping.
Kalaripayattu-the oldest of Martial - is a gift to the modern world and known as the mother of all martial arts. Legend traces the 3000-year- old art form to Sage Parasurama- the master of all martial art forms and credited to be the re-claimer of Kerala from the Arabian Sea. Kalaripayattu originated in ancient South India.
At Kadathanadan Kalari Centre, Thekkady, this Martial Art is performed in kuzhikalari. A highly designed gallery has been built in such a way that the viewers will get a clear vision from a safer seat.
Kathakali, literally meaning 'story-play', is a dance-drama originated in the 17th century in Kerala, one of the smallest states in India lying on the west coast of the Indian peninsula. Scholars are of opinion that Kathakali is the result of a fusion between all Indian theater tradition represented by Koodiyattom and the indigenous tradition of folk dance forms.
At Mudra you can witness the art form in full bloom before your very eyes, by the professional artists from Kalamandalam - World famous art school of Kerala. You can book your seats before your visit.
After all the thrills & frills its time to cheer up your taste buds with traditional south Indian cuisines. This place offers a range of multi-cuisine restaurants offering a wide variety of food preferences to cater the needs of travelers from across the globe. I was most fascinated by the regular pinkish water which is commonly used for drinking.
You are sightseeing buff? Not to worry, there are plenty of attractions around Thekkady that makes for great pictures. You can devote majority of your time capturing the beauty of the Periyar lake or you can head out to Parunthumpara. Enroute to Parunthumpara presents numerous sights to capture and preserve few for the memories.
Cascading through captivating tea states on both sides of the road, an extremely scenic 25km ride from Thekkady will get you to Parunthumpara which is as close as South India will get to Leh.
Before this trip the mere mention of Thekkady conjured up images of wilderness and isolation but after experiencing different facets that Thekkady has on offer, I can only say every journey has secrets on offer of which the traveler is unaware and its better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times.
