Thattekkadu Bird Sanctuary is named after Dr. Salim Ali, who spent his life studying about birds. During his studies in Thattekkad, he identified several new species that were unknown to the scientific community. Today Thattekkad is one of the best places for bird watching. It is located in the North eastern part of Ernakulam district of Kerala state in India. There are some tour operators who arrange Kerala tour packages The ideal time for bird watching is early in the morning. Many bird watching enthusiasts come here for watching different species in their natural habitat. Almost one hundred and sixty different species are found in this sanctuary. This bird sanctuary is the largest in Kerala state. It is situated on the banks of the river Periyar. It is also situated on the eastern side of Bhoothathankettu dam. The still water of the dam, beside the mountains, gives a calm and soothing appearance. It is a place of unmatched natural beauty. Boating facilities are sometimes available. As the availability of boating is dependent level of water in the dam and many other external factors it is not always available. There is a nominal entry fee to enter the sanctuary. It is not possible to take your vehicle into the sanctuary. So the visitors have to travel by foot within the sanctuary. The internal path ways of the sanctuary takes the visitors through forests. This place is also frequented by leopards, elephants, porcupines, python etc. During the trip you may even come across several tall trees. The branches of these trees are inhabited by many species of birds. If you have binoculars it will be of great help in bird watching. Very close to entrance there are some interesting information about birds and the sanctuary.

The sanctuary is located at a distance of thirteen kilometers from Kothamangalam town. The nearest airport is Kochi International airport. The nearest railway station is Aluva. This sanctuary is well connected by road to the airport and railway station. To reach Thattekkad it is necessary to travel first to Perumbavoor town. From there travel towards Kothamanagalam town. It is only about twenty minutes drive from this town.

It is advisable to have food from Kothamangalam town before traveling to the bird sanctuary as there are no good restaurants at Thattekkad. Some visitors also carry food with them.

Accommodation may not be found nearby. There are some accommodation facilities in Kothamangalam town. For bird watching this place is ideal. Both foreign as well as local tourists travel to Thattekkad to spend some time there.

Kerala Tour Packages
Visit hill stations, beaches and back waters in Kerala.