Thekkady · Western Ghats · Kerala
A quiet hillside retreat minutes from the Periyar Tiger Reserve, where mornings begin with mist, birdsong and the scent of spice.
Welcome to Thekkady Castle
Perched on the green slopes above Kumily, Thekkady Castle sits among cardamom, pepper and coffee, a short drive from the gates of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Days are spent on the lake, in the spice gardens or simply on your balcony watching the hills change colour.
We are a small, family-run resort. That means unhurried service, home-style Kerala cooking and hosts who know the best hour to spot an elephant on the water's edge.
“Slow down. Breathe in the hills. Let Thekkady set the pace.”
Stay With Us
Every room opens onto greenery. Choose a cosy room in the main house, a private cottage in the spice garden, or a suite with sweeping hill views.
Warm, wood-finished rooms in the main house with a private sit-out over the garden.
Standalone cottages tucked among cardamom and pepper vines, with a verandah made for long breakfasts.
Our most spacious suite, with a separate living area and a balcony that looks across the hills.
Experiences
Our team arranges everything, from forest-department permits to a driver who knows the back roads.
Glide across Periyar Lake at dawn and watch elephants, gaur and sambar come down to drink.
Walk forest trails with a tribal guide from the reserve's eco-development programme.
See cardamom, pepper, clove and nutmeg grow, and take home spices straight from the source.
Catch Kerala's classical dance-drama and its ancient martial art at a nearby theatre in Kumily.
Look for the great hornbill, Malabar trogon and paradise flycatcher in the forest canopy.
Day trips to Vagamon, Elappara and Munnar through some of Kerala's prettiest tea estates.
Dining
Our kitchen cooks the food of the hills: appam and stew in the morning, fish moilee and kappa at lunch, and a candle-lit dinner when the evening turns cool. Vegetables and spices come from our own garden and the farms around us.
Ask for a traditional sadya, a cooking class with our chef, or a barbecue by the campfire.
Ask About Meal PlansWellness
Kerala is the home of Ayurveda. Unwind with a traditional Abhyangam oil massage, Shirodhara or a herbal steam, offered by trained therapists from a certified centre nearby.
Pair it with morning yoga on the lawn as the mist lifts off the valley.
Gallery
Location
Thekkady sits on the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border in Idukki district. The drive in climbs through spice estates and tea gardens, and the views are part of the trip.
Airport and railway pick-ups can be arranged on request.