In and Around Thekkady

Thekkady (Idukki district) is the location of the Periyar National Park, which is an important tourist attraction in the Kerala state of India. Situated close to the Kerala -Tamil Nadu border town of Kumaly, it is located about 257 km (160 miles) from Trivandrum. The sanctuary is famous for its dense evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests and savanna grass lands. It is home to herds of elephants, sambar, tigers, gaur, lion-tailed Macaques and Nilgiri Langurs.

The Periyar Widlife sanctuary is spread across 777 km˛ (300 sq. miles), of which 360 km˛ (139 sq. miles) is thick evergreen forest. The Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mulla periyar Dam across the Periyar River adds to the charm of the park. The greatest attractions of Periyar are the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake.