Boating in Thekkady – Charges, Timings & More

If you are planning a visit to Thekkady or the Periyar Tiger Reserve then Boating in Thekkady is one of the most amazing things to do in Thekkady. If you are wondering about the charges, timings, and how to book, fret not. Read on to find out the exact details and how you can pre-book your tickets and enjoy this activity.

Boating Location

Boating in Thekkady is done in the Periyar Lake, also called the Thekkady Lake since it is located in Thekkady which is part of the Idukki District in Kerala. It is organized jointly by the Forest Department & KTDC (Kerala Tourism Development Corporation).

This lake is a man-made lake, that was created by the collection of water during the construction of Mullaperiyar dam. Despite being an artificial lake, the Periyar Lake is known for its pristine waters and mesmerizing beauty since it is dotted with hills full of lush greenery and surrounded by the wildlife sanctuary – the Periyar Tiger Reserve, and lies deep inside the forest area. The boat landing is located inside the forest area.

Boating in Thekkady – the Experience

The Periyar Tiger Reserve is one of the most awe-inspiring and picturesque wildlife sanctuaries in India, especially because it is surrounded by lush green hills and ornamented with the Periyar Lake & Periyar River. Boating on these pristine, calm waters is a multi-faceted experience on many levels.

The jungle cruise on the calm waters of Periyar Lake provides a reprieve from the hustle & bustle of city life and an opportunity to breathe clean and fresh air. However, the possibility of spotting animals in the jungle provides this Boating in Thekkady the fervor of thrilling adventure activity. Herds of elephants, sambhar deers wild boars, and herds of Gaur are frequently sighted during boating. Rarer possibilities of tiger sightings make these boating experiences even more sublime.

You can also experience otters in the waters around you. For bird lovers, there are egrets and kingfishers to spot as well. Just do remember to grab a pair of binoculars along.

How to reach the Thekkady Boat landing?

For access to boating in Thekkady Lake one has to go through the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, the entrance is common for both – Periyar Tiger Reserve & Periyar Lake. As such, there are two ways of reaching the Thekkady Boat landing:

• Walking down- Since the lake is situated inside the forest area, there is a considerable amount of walking to be done to reach the Thekkady boat landing. Will not suggest this if you are traveling with children or senior citizens.
• KTDC buses- once you buy the ticket online or from the counter at Ambadi Junction, some buses take you inside the park, directly to reach the Thekkady Boat landing.

Boating in Thekkady – Timings

The Periyar National Park is open to tourists 365 days a year and the timings are from 6 am to 7 pm. However, Boating schedules are slightly different. It operates for the below five time periods only.

Morning Boating in Thekkady Timings

• 7.30 am to 9.00 am
• 9.30 am to 11.00 am
• 11.15 am to 12.45 pm

Afternoon Boating in Thekkady Timings

• 1.45 pm to 3.15 pm
• 3.30 pm to 5.00 pm

Duration of Thekkady Boating

As you can see from the above-mentioned timings, the Boating is for one and a half hours of duration.

Thekkady Boating Tickets Cost and How to Book?

As mentioned above, the entry to the Periyar Tiger Reserve & Periyar Lake boating is a common one. However, tourists need to pay separate entry fees for visiting the national park and for accessing boating.

For the wildlife sanctuary, the fees for adults is Rs. 45 for Indians and Rs.500 for foreign nationals. For kids aged 5 to 11 years, the fee is Rs.15 for Indians and Rs.180 for foreign nationals. If you are carrying cameras you need to shell out Rs. 38 for a still camera and Rs. 300 for the video camera. Further, you can also opt to rent out binoculars that will help you spot animals from a distance. Charges for the same are Rs. 50 with a refundable security deposit of Rs.100.

Thekkady boating tickets can be purchased both online and offline. Here are some details regarding each method.

Online Booking of Thekkady Boating Tickets

Online boating tickets can be booked in advance of up to 30 days from the below websites:

• KTDC Website – The cost of boating on the Periyar Lake is Rs. 450 including 18% GST. This cost applies to all individuals above the age of 5 years irrespective of nationality. For children below 5 years, no separate ticket needs to be taken. The website also shows you the availability of different time slots
• Periyar Tiger Reserve Org – The cost of boating on this website is Rs. 255 for adults irrespective of nationality and Rs. 85 for children aged 5 to 11 years, irrespective of nationality.

Offline / over the Counter Booking of Thekkady Boating Tickets

Offline booking is done through the counter at the gate of the national park in Thekkady. The charges are Rs. 255 for adults irrespective of nationality and Rs. 85 for children aged 5 to 11 years, irrespective of nationality. However please do note, that the tickets from the counter in Thekkady are known to get sold out very quickly, especially during weekends and festival holidays. So please plan your visit and ticket booking accordingly.

The above charges include the cost of life jackets for each passenger. Further, in each boat, you will also find Lifeguards and lascars in addition to the boat drivers. Also, please do remember that to properly enjoy the boating activity, you need to adhere to the given timelines and report to the Thekkady boat landing area at least 15 minutes to 30 minutes before your scheduled boating time.

Other activities at Periyar Lake

Other than Boating, you can also attempt bamboo rafting in the Periyar lake. This includes trekking through the forest and then crossing the lake in a raft made of bamboo. However, please do note that this is a riskier adventure activity and fewer tourists opt for it. There is a cap on the number of people allowed per trip and that is capped to 10. This activity is done under strict supervision and has experience guides training you for it.

I hope the above information will help you in properly pre-planning and booking the necessary tickets to Boating in Thekkady so that you can have a wonderful time. Please note, that I am not affiliated with any of the above-mentioned websites and have written this post purely based on my personal research & backpacking experience in Thekkady.

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