Located in Idukki, the drive to Thekkady itself is enchanting as the road winds through tranquil countryside, rich plantations & thick jungles. The wild life sanctuary, lies on the Western Ghats and is approximately 4000-5000 ft above sea-level, 60 km from Idukki, 190 km from Cochin and 114 kms away from Kottayam. It is open throughout the year , but the best season is from September to March.

The sanctuary is centered around the large (24 sq km) artificial lake formed by a dam across the Periyar river. The main attraction is a boat trip over this man-made lake of Thekkady. The forest department would also arrange elephant rides and trekking inside the sanctuary. One can see deers, monkeys, tigers, herds of elephants and other exotic flora and fauna here. For the more adventurous, trekking into the jungle would be an exciting thing to do.

There are bus regular bus services from the major towns and cities in Kerala to Thekkady.

Some of the main attractions of Thekkady are:

Plantation Tours: Plantation Eco-Tours are arranged from the District Tourism Information Office at Thekkady jn. in Kumily. Tours cover cardamom, pepper, coffee and tea plantations, tea factories, tribal settlements and the surrounding hill regions.

Elephant rides: The forest Department, Thekkady offers facilities for elephant rides through the jungle. Time : 1000 to 1700 hrs. Duration of a trip : 30 minutes. Tickets are available from the wildlife information.

Trekking: Main trekking areas in Thekkady are Kurisumala near Kumily, Pullumedu, Ottakathalamedu, 5 km from Kumily, Grampi near Vandiperiyar.

Boat cruises on the Periyar Lake