The hills of southern Idukki are called the Cardamom Hills for a reason. Around Kumily — the town at the gate of Periyar Tiger Reserve — the forest shade is planted with cardamom, and pepper vines climb every tree. For centuries these were the spices that drew Arab, Chinese and European ships to the Kerala coast.
A spice plantation visit is the classic second activity in Thekkady after the lake. It is also the most useful: after an hour with a good guide you will know what a cardamom pod looks like on the plant, why pepper comes in black, white and green, and what fresh nutmeg, clove, cinnamon bark, vanilla and coffee look like before they reach a jar.
Top things to do at Thekkady Spice Plantations
Take a guided spice garden walk
Small family-run gardens along the roads out of Kumily, towards Murikkady and Vandanmedu, offer walks of 45 minutes to an hour and a half for a modest fee. The best are real working farms. Many visits end in a shop, which is fine — just compare prices in town before buying in bulk. The Thekkady day tours build a plantation into the day.
Shop for spices in Kumily
Kumily’s main street is lined with spice shops selling cardamom, pepper, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, local tea and coffee, and home-made chocolate. Buy whole spices rather than powders, ask for the most recent harvest and check that packets are sealed.
See Kathakali and Kalaripayattu
Several small theatres in Kumily stage hour-long evening shows of Kathakali, Kerala’s masked dance-drama, and Kalaripayattu, its ancient martial art, usually in back-to-back sittings. Arrive early for Kathakali to watch the make-up being applied.
Drive into the tea and cardamom hills
Jeep trips from Kumily climb to viewpoints such as Parunthumpara and to tea estates on the Vandiperiyar side. For a longer day, continue to Ramakkalmedu or Vagamon.
How to get to Thekkady Spice Plantations
- Base: Kumily, on the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border, 4 km from the Thekkady boat landing.
- From Kochi or Madurai: see the routes for Periyar — roughly 4–5 hours from Kochi and 3.5–4 hours from Madurai.
- Locally: most gardens are 3–15 km from town; go by autorickshaw, hired jeep or with a tour.
Insider tips
- Cardamom is harvested in rounds, mostly from about August to February, so there is something to see on the plants for much of the year.
- Drivers and guides often earn commission at particular gardens and shops. That is normal; it simply means you should feel free to say no.
- Check your home country’s customs rules before buying seeds, plants or large quantities of spice.
- Skip elephant rides. If you want to see elephants, the lake is the place.
Tours that include Thekkady Spice Plantations
These guided trips cover Thekkady Spice Plantations or combine easily with a visit:
Private tour from US$77 Wilderness & Culture: One-Day Tour of Thekkady with Jeep
A full Thekkady day put together for you: a jeep trip into the hill country, a spice plantation, the boat on Periyar Lake and a Kathakali performance in the evening. It saves arranging each piece yourself.
- Jeep ride through the hills around Thekkady
- Spice plantation visit and Periyar Lake boat ride
- Evening Kathakali dance performance
Private jeep tour from US$34 From Thekkady: Jeep Safari & Periyar National Park Visit
A flexible day out from Thekkady that mixes an off-road jeep drive and the Parunthumpara viewpoint with a tea factory, a spice plantation walk and boating on Periyar Lake. Shorter and longer versions are offered, so check which stops your option includes.
- Off-road jeep safari and the Parunthumpara viewpoint
- Tea factory visit and a spice plantation walk
- Boat ride on Periyar Lake
