Periyar Boating

Activity Charges / Entry Fee: INR 225 for Adults, INR 75 for Kids.
Time Required
One and a half hour
Timings
7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:15 AM, 1:45 PM & 3:30 PM
Difficulty Level
Easy
Best Suited For
Families, Couples and Nature Lovers.

Quick Info

Periyar boating, a major tourist attraction in Thekkady is a one and half to two hour boat ride offered by KTDC and the forest department of Thekkady. Periyar is famous for its wildlife sanctuary (the Periyar Tiger Reserve). The boat ride will give you a glimpse of the wild life sanctuary and if you are lucky, you can spot wild animals on the edges of the forest.

Rankings & Ratings



A very popular activity in Thekkady!
Editor's Rankings

#4 in 10 Things to Do in Thekkady
#2 in 2 Boatings in Thekkady
#2 in 3 National Parks/Gardens in Thekkady

TripAdvisor Ratings

Editor's Review

The Periyar Lake offers a great opportunity for boating. The boating experience is quite relaxing. It can be enjoyed by the entire family. If you're fortunate enough, you can also spot wild animals on the banks of the lake. The town is famous for this boating activity.


PROS

  • A realxing boating experience.
  • The views of the surrounding are great.
  • The cost is quite reasonable.

CONS

  • Wild animals cannot be spotted always.
  • Advance booking costs almost double.

Detailed Info

The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) operates a one and a half hour boat ride at Periyar Lake, Thekkady. Periyar , about 4 kms from Kumili in Idukki district, is home to Periyar Tiger Reserve and Periyar Lake. The Lake offers good opportunity for boating. A well connected tourist spot is about 190 kms from the Cochin international Airport and 114 kms from the Kottayam railway station.

The forests around the Periyar Lake are thousands of years old, but the Periyar Lake itself is not that old. The lake was formed when the Mullaperiyar dam was constructed across the Periyar River in 1895 to nurture the plains of Tamilnadu. 

The Periyar Tiger Reserve is rich in its biodiversity, of both flora and fauna. The tiger reserve supports about 62 species of mammals, 320 species of birds, 45 species of reptiles, 27 species of amphibians, 160 species of butterflies and 38 species of fishes.

Boating in the Periyar Lake is one of the best and easy ways to watch wildlife in the reserve. If you are lucky, you are likely to spot Bison, Gaur, Wild dogs, Wild Elephants, Sambhar and a wide variety of birds on the banks of the lake. Although there are many tigers in this reserve forest, it is difficult to spot one. The best time to visit the Periyar Lake is from September to May. In the dry months of April and May, animals hover around the lake for long. During peak season and mornings, there are long queues for the boating tickets. It gets quite crowded during weekends, mornings, and holiday season. So it is advisable to reach the ticket counter as early as possible.