Plan your trip · Thekkady
What's on in Thekkady
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Thekkady — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Thekkady right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.
The year in Thekkady
Thekkady's calendar runs through most of the year, with the busiest weeks in the clear, comfortable months and a quieter stretch in the heaviest rain. Broadly, Oct – Mar is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.
Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.
Signature to Thekkady
Periyar boat season
🗓️ October–MarchThe lake cruises and the forest trails work best in the dry months, when animals come to the water.
Planning: First boat of the day is the one worth booking; tickets are limited and go at the counter early.
Across Kerala
Onam
🗓️ August–SeptemberTen days of flower carpets, feasting on a banana-leaf sadya, and snake-boat races on the backwaters.
Planning: The state effectively stops for it; book houseboats and trains well ahead.
Nationwide
Diwali
🗓️ October–NovemberThe biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.
Holi
🗓️ MarchColoured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.
Navratri and Dussehra
🗓️ September–OctoberNine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.
Eid al-Fitr
🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each yearThe end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.
Makar Sankranti and Pongal
🗓️ mid-JanuaryThe harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Thekkady's calendar is quieter than Kerala's big temple towns, but two events are special to the area. The Chitra Pournami festival, usually in April or May, is the one day of the year when the Mangala Devi Kannagi Temple opens, and devotees from Kerala and Tamil Nadu travel up to the border hilltop. In April, the Thekkady Flower Show in Kumily fills a large ground with thousands of potted plants and flowers, sometimes running into early May.
Kerala's festivals are celebrated here too. Onam, in August or September, brings flower carpets and sadya feasts, and Christmas, Diwali and Eid are all marked in Kumily's mixed community. Festival dates follow local calendars and change each year, so check them before you book.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Thekkady
- Check the year's permit and jeep arrangements before planning a Chitra Pournami visit.
- Start very early on Chitra Pournami, as queues for the jeeps are long.
- Carry water, a hat and sun protection for festival days in April and May.
- Book rooms early for Onam, Christmas and New Year.
- Expect heavy traffic through Kumily during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season.
- Keep your belongings secure in crowded areas.
Questions
Thekkady — FAQ
What are the main festivals in Thekkady?
The Chitra Pournami festival at the Mangala Devi Kannagi Temple and the Thekkady Flower Show in Kumily are the two local highlights. Onam, Christmas, Diwali and Eid are also celebrated in the town.
When is the Thekkady Flower Show?
The Thekkady Flower Show is usually held in April, sometimes running into early May, in Kumily. Check the dates for the year before you plan your trip.
Can tourists attend Chitra Pournami at Mangala Devi?
Yes, the festival is open to devotees and visitors, but access is only by authorised jeeps or permitted vehicles, and numbers can be controlled. Check the year's arrangements with the local authorities.
Is Onam a good time to visit Thekkady?
Yes, if you want to see flower carpets and try a festival sadya. It is also a busy holiday period in Kerala, so book rooms and activities well ahead.