The tourist centre at Thekkady offers two-hour boating trips, arranged by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, at the artificial lake near the sanctuary. A herd of elephants or a wandering family of deer are common sights near the lake. In the hot months of March and April, visitors stand a better chance of viewing wildlife as the animals come to the lake frequently for drinking water. You may be able to spot herds of Gaur, Sambar and wild boars in the grasslands adjacent to the shores. A variety of avian fauna such as darters, egrets and kingfishers can be seen resting on dead tree trunks that stick out over the lake. During your boat ride, there is also a high probability of observing the antics of the Smooth Indian Otter.
Other wildlife watching methods |