Thekkady - Idukki

The very sound of the word Thekkady conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. In the Periyar forest of Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India, and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks.
Accessing Idukki by Road: There are frequent buses from Kumily (4 km away) to various tourist centres.
Distance of a few major towns from Thekkady
Kumily: 4 km (15 mts) Sabarimala via Pullumedu: 50 km (2 hrs) Idukki: 65 km
(2 1/2 hrs) Munnar: 106 km (4 hrs) Kumarakom: 128 km (4 hrs) Sabarimala via Erumeli: 134 km (4 hrs) Kodaikanal: 149 km (5 hrs) Alappuzha: 164 km (5 hrs)
Kollam: 220 km (6 hrs) Ooty: 390 km (11 hrs)
us timings from Kumily: Thekkady: 0930, 1045, 1130, 1200, 1230, 1330, 1530 hrs Kumarakom: 0700 hrs Munnar: 0600, 0945, 1330 hrs Ernakulam: 0700, 1330, 1515, 1630,1715, 1930 hrs Thiruvananthapuram (from Kumily): 0840, 0930 hrs; (from Thekkady): 0820 hrs Kottayam: Frequent buses Cherthala: 1415 hrs Idukki: Frequent buses Chennai: 1630, 1900 hrs Pondicherry Madurai: 0115, 0515, 0525, 0645, 0716, 0720, 0730, 0755, 0835, 0940, 1030, 1045, 1120, 1155, 1300, 1315, 1320, 1420, 1515, 1540, 1550, 1650, 1705, 1800, 1840, 1905, 2045 hrs Dindigal: Frequent buses Kodaikanal: There is no direct bus from Kumily to Kodaikanal.
The Dindigal bus takes you to Vathalakundu from where there are frequent
buses to Kodaikanal (149 km) Trichy: 0855, 1045, 1925 hrs Palani: 0930, 1135, 1830, 1850 hrs.

Map of Idukki

Accessing Idukki

Telephone access code:
Thekkady, Kumily, Peermede: +91-4869 Munnar: +91-4865 Chinnakanal: +91-4868
Air:
Nearest Airport: Madurai (Tamil Nadu): 140 km Thiruvananthapuram : 265 km Kochi: 190 km Kozhikode: 315 km Chennai (Tamil Nadu): 570 km
Rail:
Kottayam: 114 km (4 hrs) Madurai: 136 km (31/2 hrs) Changanacherry: 93 km (4 hrs) Theni: 60 km (11/2 hrs)
Road:
Kottayam - Kumily 110 km (4 hrs) Munnar - Kumily 110 km (4 hrs) Madurai - Kumily 136 km (3 hrs) Thiruvananthapuram - Kumily 265 km (8 hrs) Thekkady - Kumily 4 km (10 min) Kodaikanal - Kumily 149 km (5 hrs) Idukki - Kumily 65 km (21/2 hrs) Alleppey - Kumily 160 km (51/2 hrs) Ooty - Kumily 390 km (11 hrs)
Bus timings from Idukki:
Thodupuzha, Ernakulam and Kottayam: frequent busesMunnar: 1015, 1515 hrs Thekkady/Kumily: 0730, 0930, 1400, 1550, 1750 hrsThiruvananthapuram: 1300, 1915 hrs
Tourist information offices:
DTPC Information Centre, Munnar Telefax: 04865 231516 Email: munnar@sancharnet.in www.munnartourism.com District Tourist Information Office, Department of Tourism, Thekkady Jn., Kumily Ph: 04869-222620

Idukki

A landlocked district, Idukki is one of the most nature rich areas of Kerala. High ranges and wooded valleys are girded by three main rivers - Periyar, Thalayar and Thodupuzhayar - and their tributaries. The river Pamba also has its origin here. As a tourist destination, Idukki offers diverse attractions like wildlife sanctuaries, hill stations, spice plantation tours, mountain treks, elephant rides etc.
Idukki has a large population of tribals, the main tribes being Muthuvan, Malayarayan, Mannan, Paliyan, Urali, Ulladan, Malavedan and Malampandaram. The tribes of Kerala have unique customs and beliefs and maintain an ethos which is distinctly different from that of the mainstream culture.