Bamboo Rafting In Thekkady, Kerala: A Vivid Photo Tour!

Kerala is popular for many beautiful experiences, and among them is bamboo rafting in Thekkady. A land known for its exotic wildlife, rich flora, jade waters, and thick mangroves, Thekkady makes for an exciting avenue for this sport. Adventure seekers love to go bamboo rafting in Periyar National Park, or Periyar Lake, as it provides the perfect environment for sailing on traditional flat bamboo boats with Thekkady’s lush greenery on either side. Travelers can spot several animals and birds and watch local fishermen toss nets into the lake while experiencing the spine-tingling thrill of bamboo rafting in Kerala!

What Is Bamboo Rafting?

Bamboo rafts are essentially bamboo shafts floating on water that you can stand or sit in and row with an oar. These sturdy and fast boats are used for traveling upriver or downriver through manual oaring. Bamboo rafts are built by tying bamboo sticks/logs together so that it floats on water. Fishermen traditionally use bamboo rafting in Thekkady and other regions of Kerala to catch and sell fish. Tribals use it to cross rivers easily and smoothly.

Bamboo rafts are rather fun and exciting to use. This is why they’ve recently started attracting the attention of thrill seekers and travelers who love to row them and enjoy the aesthetic perspective of the river they provide!

Before we dive into this dynamic photo tour, let’s see some basic details about bamboo rafting in Periyar, Thekkady.

ALSO SEE – Munnar Thekkady Tour Package

Why Bamboo Rafting In Thekkady?

Thekkady in Kerala is famous for its Periyar National Park in addition to its wilderness, marshes, mangroves, spice plantations, and boating in the Periyar Lake. Little do people know that it’s also the hub of the very interesting and invigorating activity of bamboo rafting!

The concept of bamboo rafting in Periyar owes its existence to these simple rafts built and used by the tribals in the sanctuary. Even today, one can easily see tribals and locals sailing away on bamboo rafts in Thekkady, especially inside the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.

Bamboo rafting in Thekkady is a great way to explore its wild side and watch wild animals on the shores. It lets you get a close look at animals sunbathing or drinking water on the shores without disturbing or frightening them away with the noise of a motor boat or a ferry!

Thekkady happens to be one of the best places in India to do bamboo rafting. Here are some major reasons for it.

• Periyar’s forest, river, and lake area offer the perfect terrain for bamboo rafting for travelers.
• Travelers get to traverse through some of the richest parts of Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve.
• There’s a higher chance of spotting animals like sambar, gaur, elephants, Nilgiri langurs, Malabar giant squirrels, and various birds via this bare and noiseless riverboat.
• One can also get a close view of aboriginals fishing in the lake, even interact and buy fish from them!
• Bamboo rafting in Thekkady gives the best views of the thick greenery on either shore.
• It offers panoramic views of forested hills reflected on the clear lake.
• It’s the most intimate way to witness the beauty of Thekkady’s backwaters!

Now let’s take a virtual tour of this experience to see how exhilarating and inviting it is!

 

ALSO SEE: Best Things To Do In Thekkady

Bamboo Rafting In Thekkady, Kerala – A Photo Tour!

Rafting on a bamboo boat amid the forests of Periyar is an unmatched experience. That is evident from this Photo Tour of Bamboo Rafting in Thekkady shared by Bozidar Dragisic, a guest from Croatia who visited Kerala a while ago.

You can read his testimonial on our customized Kerala holiday package to learn about his excellent trip experience. You can also find photos from his travels across the world on his website.

During their stay in Thekkady, visitors can try various activities like boat cruises on Periyar Lake, nature hikes, wildlife viewing, and exploring spice gardens. One must-try activity during your stay is bamboo rafting in Thekkady.

Experiences to enjoy while bamboo rafting in Thekkady

While you enjoy a surreal photo tour, make a note of these must-have experiences that you shouldn’t miss on your Thekkady bamboo rafting tour!

Bamboo rafting in Periyar promises to be a unique and unforgettable experience. You can sail over the turquoise waters on a handcrafted bamboo boat built by craftsmen to commute, explore the backwaters, catch fish, and cross rivers and lakes. It’s a refreshing experience for all kinds of travelers. The pictures below will surely throw light on how amazing this experience is.

 

ALSO SEE: Thekkady Boating – Online Booking, Timings, Cost, Fare for Foreigners & Indians (Updated)

1. The thrill and exhilaration:
Rafting through the lake promises to be a thrilling experience as you make your way through the Periyar forest. As you paddle along the lake, you will feel the cool, fresh water splashing on your face. Bamboo rafting in Thekkady can be attempted by anyone with basic fitness, ensuring almost anyone can enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

2. The vivid scenery:
The scenery you’ll encounter all around you while you sail smoothly on a bamboo raft will be unlike any you’ve seen! It’ll give you a close and tactile encounter with the lake shimmering in the sunlight, along with the best view of surrounding greenery, thick forests, and dense mangroves. And the best point to enjoy this is the languidly floating bamboo raft partially submerged in the water.

3. Stunning views of Mullaperiyar Dam:
Thekkady Lake was created when the Mullaperiyar Dam was built over a century ago and water was collected in the forest areas. The projecting arms of trees are silent reminders of the Mullaperiyar dam. It’s a hauntingly beautiful sight you’ll only get to see in Periyar Lake!

4. Guided trekking & rafting tour:
You’ll be able to have a much more insightful and rejuvenating experience of bamboo rafting in Thekkady if you let trained experts of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary guide you on your bamboo rafting expedition.

They’ll help you navigate the pristine waters of Thekkady in a better way than you can on your own. They’ll also take you through the most unique areas with the most unusual sights of flora and fauna you would otherwise have missed. This dawn-to-mid-afternoon guided activity of bamboo rafting will give you create memories of a lifetime.

 

ALSO SEE: Best Time To Visit Thekkady

5. Enriching forest trek:
After an 8-10 km long bamboo rafting adventure, your guide will take you from the boat landing point to the starting point through the forest. You’ll embark on a rejuvenating 4-km trek through the dense Periyar jungle that will be an adventure in itself.

The experienced guides, most of whom are ex-poachers rehabilitated as a part of Periyar Sanctuary’s eco-tourism programs, take travelers through the most exciting routes and show vivid scenes and elements of the forest, like rare flora, leopard prints, animal bones, colorful insects, and more.

Soak in the mesmerizing views of lush green forests and majestic mountains while you’re hiking through the Periyar forest after bamboo rafting in Thekkady. Each forest has distinct smells and sounds. Indulge in earthen scents like the smell of damp leaves, the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, and the subtle scent of moss-covered rocks. Keep your ears open and hear exotic birds singing and monkeys chattering.

 

 

 

5. Diverse wildlife:
You can spot families of bison and wild pigs trotting back home in the distance, langurs and monkeys swinging from branch to branch and playfully pulling each other’s tails. A wide range of animals and birds can be seen during the trek after a hearty session of bamboo rafting in Thekkady.

You can even see bones and skeletons of animals like the bison since tigers and leopards too roam and hunt here. And if luck favors you, you may even be able to spot one of these wild cats lurking in the bushes! Periyar is a veritable paradise of Asian elephants. Herds of playful wild elephants can be seen near the Periyar Lake, their favorite haunt for frolicking in the water.

Many of these animals can also be seen via bamboo rafting. While you’re slowly wading through the waters, gliding smoothly and noiselessly in a simple raft, you will be able to see herds of elephants, bison, gaur, deer, boars, and other animals resting, sunbathing, or drinking water near the banks of the lake. It’s the perfect opportunity to see Thekkady’s wildlife and water birds without disturbing or startling them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALSO SEE: Periyar Lake Photos & Images

More about bamboo rafting in Thekkady: Location, timings & other info

Geography:
The Periyar Sanctuary is spread across the districts of Idukki, Pathanamthitta, and Kottayam, which explains its surreal green landscapes and amazing weather! The sanctuary and lake area lie 4 km away from Kumili in Idukki. With activities like bamboo rafting, trekking, nature walks, jungle safari, birdwatching, and wildlife watching, this entire region attracts adventure enthusiasts, families, couples, and groups of friends seeking thrill in large numbers each year.

How to reach Thekkady:
The place is well connected by road from most cities in Kerala, including Kochi and Trivandrum. The nearest airport is Madurai Airport (IXM) located 153 km away, and the nearest railway station is Kottayam Railway Station 106 km away. You can easily find KSRTC buses or private cabs from the nearest airports, railway stations, and cities to take you to Periyar Sanctuary in Thekkady.

Thekkady Bamboo rafting program details:
Bamboo rafting in Thekkady is part of a dawn-to-dusk protection-oriented adventure program organized by Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve. It’s a brilliant tourism initiative and involves thrilling activities like hiking and bamboo rafting in Periyar.

In this program, tourists embark on a guided trek through a variety of habitats and Periyar’s richest forest tracts before climbing onto a bamboo raft and sailing on the lake! After the lunch break, the tourists are guided back to the base, again via a forest hike, and usually return to the starting point by 5 PM.

The activity starts at 4 AM and travelers are accompanied by 4 guides in different groups of 15 people each. After trekking, the bamboo rafting activity starts at 8 AM with the company of an armed guard on the boat. The last ride is usually at 5 PM since it’s safer to indulge in bamboo rafting in Thekkady while the sun’s out.

The three-hour experience brings travelers close to some of Kerala’s most exotic species of wildlife and birds along with sights of lush greenery on the shores and aboriginals fishing in the lake. Both activities offer tremendous opportunities for photography enthusiasts to test their skills and for nature admirers to lose themselves amid untouched flora.

Booking a bamboo rafting tour in Thekkady
Travelers can book a session of bamboo rafting in Periyar Lake by directly contacting the Forest Information Centre (Boat Landing) or making it a part of their Kerala holiday package. They can also reach out to the official Periyar Reserve website for booking-related details and queries.

ALSO SEE: Thekkady Tour Packages

Bamboo rafting in Thekkady is a full-day program that starts at 8 AM and ends at 5 PM

• Assembly point: Tribal Trackers Office near Bamboo Grove, Periyar
• Time slots: 2

• • Slot 1: 7.30 AM to 12.30 PM
  • Slot 2: 9 AM to 2 PM
• Reporting time: 7:15 AM (15 minutes prior)
• Capacity: Minimum 2 persons | Maximum 6 persons
• Meals: Packed breakfast/lunch
• Charges: INR 2,000/- per person | INR 4,000/- per trip
• Park entry and bus charges are extra
• Wearing life jackets is mandatory
• Children below 10 are not allowed.

Tips & rules to follow on a bamboo rafting tour in Thekkady

• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes and carry an extra pair of clothes
• Essentials to carry: A valid ID card, flashlight, umbrella, personal toiletries, a towel/hand towel, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, hat/cap
• Animal sighting is purely a matter of chance. Be patient.
• Do not litter.
• Remember that the animals have the right of way in the forest.
• Do not provoke animals, and keep a safe distance.
• Appreciate the sights and sounds of the forest.
• Dress in colors that complement the surroundings.
• Do not disturb animals while taking photographs.
• Do not feed wild animals.
• Respect local customs.
• Avoid talking loudly or playing loud music.
• Don’t honk, drive under the posted speed limit, or startle the animals.
• If you’re camping, recycle your waste and bring back all non-biodegradable trash to throw in a proper trashcan.
• Don’t pluck plants. Cutting, deseeding, or pulling out roots of flora is prohibited.
• Smoking and lighting fires are prohibited. Accidental forest fires result in permanent damage.
• According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, carrying firearms or flammable materials is strictly forbidden and is penalized by law.
• Obey instructions of guides and forest officials.

ALSO SEE: Adventure Tourism in Kerala

Bozidar traveled with us on a 14-days Kerala tour before having a grand New Year’s Eve celebration in Munnar. The Thekkady bamboo rafting tour was one of the highlights of his trip.

Now it’s your turn to be a part of the enriching experience of bamboo rafting in Thekkady! Book your tour with us and immerse in this truly offbeat adventure deep in the wilderness of Thekkady’s Periyar Sanctuary and lake! Don’t miss this opportunity to explore a mosaic of rich habitats and indulge in a beautiful encounter with the natural wonders of God’s Own Country to satisfy the nature enthusiast in you!