Staycations around Bangalore are one of our favourite ways to rejuvenate and relax between crazy life schedules. If you are a regular reader, you must have come with us on virtual tours of several staycations in the past. So, when summer vacations started this year, we decided to first do a small staycation. And then go for a longer trip. But having visited most of the places around Bangalore over the past several years, we had to expand our radius a bit. And as the search started for the perfect weekend getaway from Bangalore. Not very far, with a good climate in the month of April and comfortable stay options – Thekkady emerged as the natural choice.
Next we zeroed down on Elephant Court Thekkady because of it’s comfortable stay options and very strong reviews. Although we had been to Thekkady before on our first trip to Munnar – Thekkady – Alleppey. But our stay in Thekkady was very short that time. We arrived here by noon, went straight to boating on Periyar Lake & exploring Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Returned back to the hotel for an overnight stay and next morning started our drive to Alleppey.
The second time when we happened to plan our week long Kerala road trip itinerary, we couldn’t include Thekkady in it because of crunch of time. Instead, we ended up spending a few days in Munnar, exploring the coastline of Varkala, getting up and close with the Athirapally waterfalls. And visiting Kanyakumari for a day. However, Thekkady remained on the bucket list. So, this time, we decided to have a peaceful staycation in Thekkady at Elephant Court Thekkady. So, let me take you through our stay at Elephant Court Thekkady in this post.
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Bangalore to Thekkady Road Trip
Route taken :
Bangalore -> Krishnagiri -> Salem -> Namakkal -> Karur -> Periyakulam -> Theni -> Kumbum
The stretch of road till Namakkal which is part of NH 44 is extremely scenic. We had the luck of experiencing it’s beauty on countless trips earlier. It all started with our Bangalore to Kodaikanal Road trip and continued since. With several trips to Kodaikanal, Madurai, Rameshwaram, Karaikudi and Chettinad, trips to Kerala and several others. But I never seem to get over the natural landscape of this region.
From Dindigul, shortly after Namakkal, we took the route NH 183. The roads are in excellent condition throughout. And the beautiful scenic views of the mountains and lush green fields stretching far and wide continued to entice us.
The trip takes around 9 hours without break. However, even with a long breakfast break and few pit stops, we comfortably reached Elephant Court Thekkady by lunch time. The breakfast break was our usual favourite – H P Junction near Krishnagiri. And we had also packed some snacks from home. Because we knew after Dindigul there are not many food options available. But towards the last leg of our journey, we did find a restaurant where we stopped for lunch. Overall, the start of our staycation at Elephant Court Thekkady was with a very comfortable journey.
Arrival at Elephant Court Thekkady
We arrived at Elephant Court Thekkady by 3:30pm. The check-in process took around 15-20 minutes. Post checkin we moved to our room. The rooms in Elephant Court are built in the form of villas. Although they are very closely placed, unlike what we had experienced on our earlier stays in villa resorts like the Biera Mar Beach Resort during our workcation in Goa Ours was on the ground floor, with the entrance on one side facing the swimming pool and restaurant beyond it. The room was comfortable, with a king bed and an extra bed. And a balcony on the rear side that overlooked the rest of the property. We first settled ourselves and our luggage in the room. And after a little rest, set to explore the property.
Facilities at Elephant Court Thekkady
There are a lot of facilities to make for a comfortable staycation at Elephant Court Thekkady. These include –
- A number of different types of rooms to choose from including 2 bhk villa, 1 bhk villa and standard rooms.
- A multi-cuisine restaurant. Where breakfast, lunch and dinner is served. And all day menu is also available. I ordered milk for my kid twice daily and got it promptly. The service and quality of food both are excellent.
- Indoor recreation and games room along with kids play area on the rear side of the property
- An indoor library. Although it has a very limited collection of books, I wish they had more books for guests to engage.
- A swimming pool which is centrally located in the resort and is accessible from morning till evening
- Enough on campus parking for guest vehicles
- A boutique shop for buying locally made items
Apart from the above, Elephant Court also arranges for day trips from Thekkady. And tours to explore different parts of Thekkady. The resort was quiet busy when we arrived. And in the evening, we saw big group of guests – of different nationalities – returning from the day tours. This itself is a testimony to the popularity of Thekkady not just amongst Indian, but international tourists as well.
How we spent our days at Elephant Court Thekkady
On the first day, we spent our evening exploring around the resort and it’s facilities. And also went on a short walk in the neighbourhood. There is a small tour operator located right in front of the resort. And they arrange tours across Thekkady and beyond. Down the street, just 200 meters ahead, you will find a small local market. With plenty of boutique and souvenir shops and many food outlets as well as some general stores selling daily goods. There is a bus stop also here. We pretty much explored this neighbourhood for the first evening. And then had an early dinner and retired to bed.
On the second and third day of our staycation at Elephant Court Thekkady, we more or less fell into a routine. Wherein, post a sumptuous breakfast in the morning, we would take some rest. Roam around the green campus or settle in our room. And then head for the pool. After playing in the pool for almost an hour, the kids would have warm milk and we would all sleep off. Post the nap we would head for lunch. And post lunch, we went on walks to the neighbourhood or played in the indoor play area or chitchatted in our balcony till dinner time. It was a staycation in a true sense.
Although, we didn’t explore much of Thekkady on this trip as we had already done that the last time. But, if you are interested to explore around Thekkady, you can checkout the suggestions that I have put in the later section of this post.
Pros and Cons of staying at Elephant Court Thekkady
Pros of Elephant Court Thekkady
- The resort has most of the standard facilities.
- Staff is very courteous and service is really excellent. One of the top notch, which can easily beat the likes of Radisson Blu Mahabalipuram and Taj Fisherman’s Cove Chennai that we have experienced earlier.
- Food is excellent. Everything that we tried on the menu was mouth watering.
- There is a proper road to the resort, no mud road, no issues in driving upto the resort.
- The resort has enough car parking in the campus.
- Although, it feels secluded, but the town and other important facilities are not that far.
- Since the resort arranges for all important tour packages in the vicinity, it can act like your one stop shop for your complete trip to Thekkady.
Improvement areas of Elephant Court Thekkady
- Although, it is good to have, I would have loved it if the resort campus was more open. There are lots of villas built over the campus, utilising all the available space. As such there is not much open space inside the campus. If there were more lawns, sitting areas etc. then it would have elevated the experience further.
- I would definitely love to have more books in the library 🙂
General information on visiting Thekkady
Where is Thekkady located?
Thekkady is located in the Idukki district of the state of Kerala, India. As such, it is located centrally from the hills of Munnar and the backwaters of Alleppey, two other most most popular tourist locations in Kerala. It is also close to Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu, another very popular hill station of South India. Idukki district has many beautiful hills and resorts for staycation. Many of the popular ones are located in Thekkady.
What is the best season to visit Thekkady?
The best season to visit Thekkady is from October to February. During these months, the weather is cool and pleasant, making it ideal for sightseeing, wildlife safaris, and outdoor activities. Although the months of March and April form shoulder season. When we visited Thekkady in April first week, it was neither too hot nor too cold here. It was pleasant in the day and cool in the evenings. Once rains start in May, the landscape becomes vibrant and fresh. But outdoor activities may be limited due to rain. Ideal for nature enthusiasts who enjoy the monsoon atmosphere.
What are the places to see in Thekkady?
Some of the places of interest in Thekkady include Periyar National Park, a prominent wildlife sanctuary in the area. Located on the banks of the Periyar Lake. You can do a boating in the Periyar Lake and from the boat you can see wild animals roaming around in the Periyar National Park. Something that we experienced in our last trip to Thakkday. And it is also a popularly known for its dense forests, diverse wildlife, and picturesque landscapes. As such, Thekkady has several waterfalls, small lakes, trekking trails and beautiful routes to keep you busy for days.
A sample 4 days Thekkady Itinerary for your reference
Day 1: Do a spice plantation tour. Spice Plantation Tour in Kerala are one of the most popular activities and a must do. Watch a traditional Kalaripayattu (martial arts) performance at one of the local cultural centers afterwards in the evening.
Day 2: Morning visit the Periyar Tiger Reserve: Start early with a guided nature walk or a bamboo rafting experience. The early hours are ideal for spotting wildlife. Post which, proceed to enjoy a boat ride on Periyar Lake. This is a great way to see wildlife such as elephants, deer, and various birds in their natural habitat. And in the evening you can explore the local market and buy souvenirs or relax at your accommodation.
Day 3: In the morning engage in a full-day Border Hiking program organized by the forest department. This involves trekking through the park’s diverse habitats. Come back to hotel for a good relaxing lunch. In the evening, you can get a massage or spa done at your hotel. The ayurvedic massages and spas of Kerala are world famous.
Day 4: Today morning, visit the ancient Mangala Devi Temple, located deep inside the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, offering stunning views of the surrounding area. Thereafter, spend time at Elephant Junction, where you can enjoy activities like elephant rides, feeding, and bathing elephants. And in the evening, end your trip with a traditional Kathakali dance performance, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Kerala.
Overall, we had a very comfortable, laid back and relaxing staycation at Elephant Court Thekkady. And we will highly recommend the place to everyone who is looking for a similar staycation from Bangalore. Before we conclude, here’s some of our favourite staycations from the past trips –
A unique stay at Destiny Farmstay Ooty
Action packed staycation at Radisson Blu Temple Bay Mahabalipuram
Experiencing Taj Kovalam Chennai
A perfect staycation in Wayanad
Staying at Royal Orchid Brindavan Gardens
