Things to Do in Thekkady, India: Walking Guide

Thekkady is a hill destination in Kerala, in southern India, known for its forests, wildlife, rivers and tea-covered surroundings. It is a rewarding place to visit if you want to experience the landscapes of the Western Ghats and discover the natural and religious sites around Periyar. Neywo’s free audio guide for Thekkady narrates 4 places in 11 languages.

What to See in Thekkady

Periyar National Park

Periyar National Park is one of India’s celebrated wildlife sanctuaries and a central part of the Thekkady experience. The protected area covers 925 square kilometres, including a 350.54-square-kilometre core zone officially declared Periyar National Park in 1982.

The reserve is known as both an elephant and tiger reserve and is one of India’s 27 designated tiger reserves. Its forests and wildlife are centred around the famous Periyar Lake, giving the protected area a varied landscape to explore at a slower pace.

For visitors looking for things to do in Thekkady, Periyar offers a chance to focus on Kerala’s forests and biodiversity rather than urban sightseeing. The scale of the protected area also means that the landscape itself is one of the main attractions.

Periyar River

The Periyar is the longest river in Kerala and one of the few rivers in the region that flows throughout the year. Its name means “big river”, while its broader role has earned it the title “Lifeline of Kerala”.

The river stretches 244 kilometres through the state and supports communities, towns and industries along its course. Its water is used for drinking water and electricity generation, including through the Idukki Dam and other hydroelectric projects. Fourteen dams harness the river’s flow.

The Periyar also has an important economic role: 25 percent of Kerala’s industries are concentrated along its banks, particularly in the Eloor-Edayar industrial region. Seeing the river in the context of Thekkady’s landscape offers a different perspective on how closely Kerala’s natural environment and daily life are connected.

Zion Lutheran Church Dymock

Zion Lutheran Church Dymock is a modest church in Kerala’s Idukki district. It is a quiet and meaningful stop for travellers exploring the region’s scenic surroundings and looking beyond its better-known wildlife attractions.

The church adds a small but distinctive cultural element to a visit to Thekkady, alongside the area’s forests and rivers.

Our Lady of Good Health Church, Pattumala

Our Lady of Good Health Church, Pattumala is a Roman Catholic Latin Rite pilgrimage shrine set among the tea gardens of Kerala. The church is in Peermade village panchayat, on the Kottayam to Kumily road in Idukki district, surrounded by tea plantations.

The shrine is about 8 kilometres from Peermade and roughly 24 kilometres from Thekkady. Its hilltop setting makes it particularly striking, while its dome is described as the largest of any Christian church in India.

The church’s main feast takes place in September, celebrating the birth of Mary on the eighth of the month. It draws pilgrims to the tea-covered hills around Pattumala.

Exploring Thekkady and Kerala

Thekkady’s main attractions are spread across a landscape where protected forests, waterways, plantations and hill communities meet. A visit can combine the wildlife setting of Periyar National Park with the river that supports much of Kerala, as well as churches and pilgrimage sites in the surrounding Idukki district.

The destination also makes a useful stop when exploring Kerala more widely. Travellers interested in the state’s hill landscapes may also want to continue towards Munnar, while Kochi offers a different setting in Kerala.

Explore Thekkady with Neywo

Download Neywo’s free audio guide to explore Thekkady independently. It includes 4 narrated places, with each story playing as you reach the place at your own pace. There is no group and no schedule, so you can explore the city on your own terms.

The narration is available in 11 languages. Open the app, walk to the places included in the guide and listen to their stories as you arrive—an easy way to turn a visit to Thekkady into a self-guided audio tour.