Getting There

Kerala’s Spice Country can be accessed from the south via Kottayam or from Cochin in the West. Kumily situated a few miles away from the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and home to several exotic hotels, is situated 110 kms from Kottayam, a journey that will take up to four hours. From Kumili to Thekkady (the main entrance to Periyar) is just 4 kms. From Kumily to the hills station of Munnar is 110 kms. Nearest airport to the Spice Country is Cochin which is 190 kms away and Madurai airport is 140 kms.

Sights

Situated within the district of Idukki, Kerala’s Spice Country is one of the most nature rich areas of Kerala and is girded by three main rivers – Periyar, Thalayar and Thodupuzhayar -- and their tributaries. Idukki’s massive arch dam powers Kerala with one third of the state’s electricity supply. Travelling from Kottayam along winding roads with spectacular views of the Ghats, you reach Thekkady, which is famous for its spice plantations. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the largest in India, is also a major attraction in Thekkady. The park was first declared a forest reserve by the Maharaja of Travencore. Tigers are a rarity, but elephants, bison, sambar, barking deer, wild boar, and numerous species of birds and butterflies can be seen here. The Forest Department has successfully co-opted the support of the indigenous Mannan community who now conserve this wildlife sanctuary in exchange for much-needed income. Kumily, a plantation town, is situated on the outskirts of the Periyar sanctuary and is an important link in the spice trade. You can purchase fabulous spices from here as well as Ayurvedic medicines and essential oils. Munnar, situated about 1600 metres above sea level is a scenic hill station with tea covered hills, misty mountains and waterfalls.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Periyar, Thekkady and Kumili ranges from homestays to boutique hotels. Serenity, a stylish Malabar Escapes property, is enroute between Kumarakom to Periyar and offers just three stylish rooms in a plantation villa. Shalimar Spice Village, located in Thekkady, is an exquisite boutique hotel set on a cardamom estate with individual chalets that blend vibrant local fabrics with a modern touch. The CGH Earth Spice Village, close to the entrance of the Periyar Wildlife Reserve, resembles a tribal village with an eco-friendly philosophy that has won many accolades. For those wishing stay within the Periyar Wildlife Reserve, we recommend the KTDC Lake Palace perched on an island in the middle of the reserve.

Serenity, Kanam: Serenity is a six-bedroomed plantation bungalow on a rubber estate between the Malabar Coast and the spice-growing Thekkady hills. A refurbished 1920s plantation mansion, Serenity is set on a small hilltop on the Kanam Rubber Estate and has views of the Western Ghats at a distance. Owned by Malabar Escapes, which runs several exquisite boutique hotels and villas in Kerala, this refurbished colonial mansion is immersed in tropical greenery. [More]

Shalimar Spice Garden, Kumili: One of the best boutique hotels in Kerala, Shalimar Spice Garden is set on a seven-acre spice plantation in Thekkady bordering the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Surrounded by aromatic spices, this exquisite hotel is a tasteful blend of traditional Keralan design and modern living within an eco-friendly setting. [More]


Carmelia Haven, Vandamedu: 'Carmelia', which is the botanical name for Cardamom, is as close as you can get to experiencing the exotic aromatic spices of Kerala. Situated at the centre of a 55-acre estate scattered with cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg; fruit trees and acres of tea, Carmelia Haven is a must for those interested in cuisine and the flavours of Kerala. [More]


Spice Village, Thekkady: Spice Village resembles a tribal village with an eco-friendly philosophy that has won many accolades. It is in every respect an exemplary and adventurous holiday retreat. Sleep in comfortable elephant-grass thatched cottages, dine on delicious Kerala feasts cooked with aromatic spices picked from the gardens, relax with a sundowner at the Wood House bar or venture off on an adventurous trek on foot into the Periyar Reserve where wild elephants roam free. [More]

Lake Palace, Periyar: Lake Palace is a six-bedroomed heritage property situated on a peninsula on Periyar Lake within the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The hotel is another Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) property and is reached by a 20 minute boat ride starting from the gates of Periyar. [More]

Food & Drink

With an abundance of aromatic spices grown in their own home gardens and estates, most hotels and homestays serve excellent traditional Kerala rice and curries. Try a traditional Sadya meal served on a banana leaf and eaten with your hand. As many as 15 vegetarian curries are served with rice on to your banana leaf.

Activities

Culture & Heritage

Tribal village tours: The Forest Department conducts tribal village tours in Kumili and Thekkady. Learn of the rituals and lifestyles of the indigenous Mannan communities who have been now been given an opportunity preserve the wildlife and their surrounding habitat.

Mangaladevi Temple: This is a tumbledown ancient ruin in the forest, about 15 kms from Kumily, which provides for a fun day-trip and some splendid views over the Tamil Nadu plains.

Sri Ayappan forest shrine: This remote and sacred site situated in Sabarimala takes an entire days trek. This sacred shrine attracts thousands of hardline male Hindu pilgrims each year, mainly in January. The trek there is hard and arduous and you will need a guide and plenty of provisions.

Sports & Adventure

Idukki Arch Dam: This magnificent dam is considered the world’s second and Asia’s first arch dam and is constructed across the Kuravan and Jurathi Hills. This massive arch dam powers Kerala with one third of the state’s electricity supply. Explore the area which has magnificent views across the dam.

Trekking: The mountainous areas with spectacular views and untouched wilderness, offers interesting trekking. Kurusamalai peak, crowned with a holy cross at the peak and situated north west of Kumily is an adventurous 90 minute trek. There is another interesting trek through rural Manna villages which can be accessed via Kumily town.

Boat trips on Periyar Lake: The Forest Department as well as the KTDC conducts boating rips on a daily basis on Periyar Lake bordered by the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Due to the noise of the engines and the crowded boats, the chances of seeing much wildlife are limited, but if you’re lucky you might spot a few wild elephants or sambar at the edge of the lake.

Bamboo rafting: Conducted by the Forest Department, this is an adventurous journey along the Periyar Lake that starts at the boat jetty. Since these rafts are paddled and create little noise, there is a great chance of seeing wild animals, including elephant, bathing in the lake.

Nature walks: As an eco-tourism initiative, the Forest Department recruits villagers from the Mannan tribe to conduct nature walks for guests within the fringes of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Guests can accompany a Mannan warden at night on his `Jungle Patrol’ or join him by day on a full-day `Border Hiking’ tour which takes you into the thick jungle on foot. The `Periyar Tiger Trail’ is a two-day adventurous trek for serious trekkers where armed guards take you into the thick of the jungle in search of the elusive Tiger.

Spice plantation tour: Innovative plantation owners have successfully created additional income by opening up their estates to tourists. Spice tours can be fascinating. A wide range of spices are grown in the area, including pepper, cardamom, nutmeg and cloves, as well as tea, rubber and coffee. Fresh spices can be purchased at some of these plantations or in Kumily, the hub of the spice trade.

Wildlife & Nature

Elephant Junction: Feed and bathe elephants as well as go on an adventurous elephant ride at the Elephant Junction situated in Kumily off the Murikkady road.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary: Covering 780 sq kms of Kerala’s Spice Country, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular in India, attracting 300,000 visitors per year. It is situated around a British-engineered reservoir designed to supply water to Kerela's dry neighbour, Tamil Nadu. The park was first declared a forest reserve by the Maharaja of Travencore over a century ago. It was also incorporated into Project Tiger in 1973. Tigers are rarely seen though, but they can occasionally be heard hunting at night. Elephants seen wading happily in the cool waters, are much more common. Other animals include bison, sambar, barking deer, Malabar Giant Squirrel, gaur, wild boar as well as over 323 species of birds and 112 species of butterfly. The Forest Department has gained the support of the indigenous Mannan community who are the traditional guardians of this land, to conserve the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in exchange for a much needed income. The best time to visit the sanctuary is from September to May when the dry season draws the park's animals out of the forest to the lake.

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary: A two hour drive from Cochin, on the northern bank of the Periyar River near Kothamanagalam in Ernakulam district. The reserve was officially formed in 1983 but 50 years earlier Dr. Salim Ali, India’s most famous birder, described Thattekad as the "richest bird habitat in peninsular India". Unfortunately, much of the forest has now been converted to commercial use but the 25 sq km park still boasts 270 species, including the rare Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Grey-headed Bulbul, Rusty-tailed Flycatcher and Mottled Wood Owl.