Thekkady (Periyar) to Kumarakom
Your options
Ways to make the journey
3.5–4 h
The road from Kumily runs west through Vandiperiyar and Peermade, past tea estates at Kuttikkanam, then descends the ghat through rubber plantations to Mundakayam, Kanjirappally and Kottayam. From Kottayam it is about 16 km to Kumarakom. We stop at Kuttikkanam for its old summer palace and tea, and arrive at the lake in time for an afternoon on the water.
4–4.5 h
For a memorable arrival, we can drive to a jetty near Kottayam and take a private boat for the last stretch through the canals to your resort or houseboat. This adds some time but turns the end of the journey into a short cruise.
Worth a stop
- Peermade and Kuttikkanam tea estates
- Ammachi Kottaram, the old summer palace at Kuttikkanam
- Rubber plantations near Mundakayam
- Kottayam town
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
How long is the drive from Thekkady to Kumarakom?
About 3.5 to 4 hours for 125 km, with a short stop. The first half is winding hill road through Peermade and the ghat; the second half crosses the plains via Kottayam, where traffic can be slow at rush hour.
Can we go directly from Thekkady to a houseboat?
Yes. Houseboats usually board around noon, so leave Thekkady by about 8 am to reach a jetty near Kumarakom or Alappuzha by 12. We often arrange for the boat to collect you from a Kumarakom jetty to save time. The boat waits for you at the jetty.
Is there a train from Thekkady to Kumarakom?
There is no railway in Thekkady. Kottayam, 16 km from Kumarakom, is the nearest station, but you would still need to drive down from the hills. A private car is the only practical option. The drive itself is part of the experience, through tea, rubber and old towns.
What is worth stopping for on the way?
The tea estates of Peermade and Kuttikkanam, the old Travancore royal summer palace at Kuttikkanam, rubber plantations with tapping demonstrations near Mundakayam, and the old churches of Kottayam. A coffee stop in the cool hills breaks the drive well. Each stop is short and easy.