Best Time To Visit Thekkady

Summer in Thekkady is the shortest season, with it being really hot during March, April and May. Heat and humidity are hallmarks of the climate during the summers with temperatures ranging in between 26 and 36 degrees celsius. However, thanks to the canopy cover of the forest, early mornings and evenings still tend to be fairly pleasant. Another important factor to be considered is that during summer, most animals are out and about in search of water. That makes the summer season the best time to visit Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary for most tourists looking to observe the wildlife. This is also the season for most tour groups and wildlife camps to visit the sanctuary. Rates also tend to be lesser at this time. The Chithrapournami celebrations take place in April/May and it’s the only time that the Mangaladevi temple is open for devotees. 

Monsoon season in Thekkady has a charm of it’s own. The surroundings come to life with the rains and the temperature drops after the heat of the summer, making everything pleasant. With Thekkady boasting forests and plantations as it’s main attractions, the lush greenery that comes with the monsoon is something that needs to be experienced. However, getting to see animals becomes a bit of a tough task with visibility dropping as well. This makes the monsoon the ideal time to visit Chellarkovil though, as the vibrant landscape and the bubbling waterfalls are at their best during this season. Anyone visiting Thekkady at this time however, is advised to carry protective clothing and umbrellas as the showers can get fairly heavy.

It is evident though, that there is no real best time to visit Thekkady and merely a question of what the traveller is looking for.

Winter in Thekkady, is on all counts, the ideal season to visit. The temperature is between 15 to 24 degrees celsius making it the ideal time to go sightseeing. This wonderful climate makes it much easier to truly enjoy the natural beauty of the region, with nature walks, treks and trails getting that much easier to do and pleasant as well. There are a couple of festivals that also take place during this season in and near Thekkady. The festival of Thai Pushyam is celebrated around the time of the full moon in January. Also happening during the pilgrimage season between November and January is the Sabrimala Temple Festival. These festivals add a cultural aspect to your visit to Thekkady as the locals come alive during this time and it is also ideal for food. However, due to this being the best time to visit Thekkady, the rates for everything are that much higher.