Destination
Thekkady: Green. Deep. Alive.
Located in the southern ranges of the Western Ghats, Thekkady is one of Kerala’s most important forest landscapes. Dense evergreen forests, misty mountain slopes, and vast reservoirs define a region where nature remains powerful and largely undisturbed.
At the heart of this landscape lies the Periyar Tiger Reserve, one of India’s most significant protected ecosystems. The reserve is home to elephants, gaur, sambar deer, and numerous species of birds and reptiles, forming a complex ecological network within the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
Thekkady’s forests have historically played multiple roles—sustaining wildlife, supporting indigenous forest communities, and later becoming part of conservation initiatives that shaped modern environmental policy in India.
Surrounding the forests are plantations of cardamom, pepper, and other spices that connect the region to Kerala’s long-standing role in the global spice trade. The scent of spices, the depth of forests, and the quiet presence of wildlife give Thekkady a distinctive character unlike anywhere else in the state.
At ALT DMC, Thekkady is experienced not merely as a wildlife destination but as a living forest system where ecology, conservation, and human livelihoods intersect.
The ALT Thekkady program explores the region through three perspectives:
Green Walking through spice plantations and forest edges reveals the extraordinary biodiversity of the Western Ghats and the agricultural traditions shaped by this environment.
Deep The forests of Periyar offer an opportunity to understand conservation, wildlife protection, and the delicate balance between human activity and ecological preservation.
Alive From forest sounds to wildlife sightings and the daily rhythms of communities living near the reserve, Thekkady reveals the vitality of a landscape where nature continues to shape life.
Through this approach, Thekkady becomes more than a stop on a travel itinerary—it becomes a place to observe how forests, wildlife, and human society coexist within one of India’s richest ecological regions.
