Situated on the lush green banks of the river Periyar, adjoining the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in Kerala, the Periyar River Lodge is an ideal getaway for nature lovers, bird watchers or just about anyone who needs a break from the humdrum of urban life.

 

Designed to synchronize with the ethnicity and traditional style of Kerala architecture, this serene retreat, built largely of teak wood, offers spacious guestrooms with a large comfortable lounge as well as sunlit verandahs that present an unhindered view of the river and the forest beyond on the opposite bank. Shown below is the view of the Periyar River in front of the Lodge.

 

As Kerala’s largest and longest river, the Periyar is the state’s source for not just drinking water and hydroelectric power, but an inspiration for many a poet and writer.

The Thattekad or Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, named after the world-renowned ornithologist, the late Dr. Salim Ali (1896-1987), is just over one and a half hours drive from the port city of Cochin(60 Kms). Dr Ali, often called the "Birdman of India," described Thattekad as the “birders paradise” with its teak, mahogany and fruit-bearing trees that are home to nearly 270 species of birds.

Located in the midst of such tranquillity, we at the Periyar River Lodge hope to impart to our guests an unforgettable experience with this impressive connection with nature and untainted vision of rural Kerala with our personalized and high standards of service.

Location Map

Activities

• Bird-Watching                                                            With the Periyar River Lodge situated in the midst of Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, bird watching is naturally one of the main focus of activities at the lodge. A trip through this sanctuary would certainly be a treat for any bird watcher with its over 270 species in the relatively small area of 25 sq kms.
• Adventure Tour                                                          The caretaker at the Lodge, who is also a tour guide, will accompany all guests on their adventure tours.
• Boating & Rafting                                                            A trained guide will accompany guests on all boating and rafting activities.It is compulsory to wear life-jackets provided by the lodge during all rafting and canoeing activities.
• Bamboo Rafts
• Country Boats
• House Boats
• Canoes
• Bicycle Tour (INR 100 Per Person)                                Bicycle tour, accompanied by our guide, to the nearby plantations (rubber, cocoa, vanilla, pepper, etc.) to get an insight into the farming methods. If anyone is remotely interested in agriculture, this should be a real treat.
• Evening Campfire (INR 100 Per Person)                     A campfire, along with dinner outdoors, can be arranged upon request.
• Fishing                                                                            Fishing with line rods on country boats or on the banks of the Periyar adjoining the Lodge.
• Swimming                                                                         A tranquil swim in the Periyar just in front of the Lodge. With the river shallow (only about 4-5 feet deep) and the sandy riverbed, the river here is a great place to have a swim, especially since the Periyar river in these parts is still untainted and unpolluted before it flows to the towns and cities much further downstream.
• Library                                                                     Catch up on some interesting reading... we do have an in-house library that has a limited collection of literature on bird-watching and interesting aspects of Kerala.
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Accommodation

The Periyar River Lodge is aesthetically built, with the 75-year-old basic structure in teakwood still in immaculate condition, and an added extension to this basic wooden structure to expand it into a traditional 'nalukettu'.

The architectural concept of a 'nalukettu,' of an open courtyard in the middle of the house with the four wings of the house built around this open courtyard, is a genre of ancient Hindu architecture in Kerala that was used to accommodate the erstwhile joint-families.

The Lodge contains 2 bedrooms, each of which is configured with either a double bed or two single beds, with attached en suite bathroom with all modern amenities.

The bedrooms are completely made of wood with large wooden windows overlooking the river.

In keeping with this distinctive architecture, the bathrooms have open-air rooftops and provide facilities of a modern urban setup.

A spacious lounge separates the two bedrooms, with the open central courtyard beside it. There is a clear view of the Periyar River in front of the Lodge from this lounge.

Towards the rear end of the 'nalukettu' is the dinning room and attached pantry....

Built around the lodge is a large verandah where guests can relax on the traditional 'Charu Kasera' (leaning chair) or the comfortable swing, for an unfiltered view of the Periyar River amidst contiguous hills and the luxuriant green forests.

Service

We hope to impart an experience of Kerala, both relaxed and personalized, with high standards of service. We have an in-house cook and caretaker to attend to the needs of our guests. Our caretaker (English-speaking) oversees all requirements that our guests have including organizing specific treks or tours that suit our guests’ interests to ensure they have a comfortable and memorable stay.

Cuisine

We believe in keeping things simple but delicious. The menu has both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options to choose from a limited list. The cuisine, essentially Keralite, gives our guests the opportunity to savor some of Kerala’s well-known tastes and flavours. Alternatively, for those guests who seek to spend most of their time outdoors, we do provide packed breakfast and lunch. Our guests would need to inform us in advance of any special dietary requirements to enable us to make appropriate arrangements.