KTDC Lake Palace Thekkady

With only a few rooms and boat access, this place feels quiet and cut off from everyday life, which makes it a lovely place to unwind in nature. It has an antique, almost royal feel, and the service was excellent. The rooms are simple but have what you need. Food options are limited, though what we ate was tasty. There's a complimentary evening boat tour, but not many other activities. For us that was a small drawback in an otherwise peaceful, relaxing stay.

We went in December 2023, after I'd been trying to book since 2020. We finally got a place three years later. Booking was smooth because we went directly to the KTDC Corporate office at Mascot Square, Trivandrum, and even got some good deals during the holiday season. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: the professionalism and customer friendliness of KTDC staffs should be an example for government offices across the state. The boat ride from the mainland set the mood for the whole visit. We left our car in Aranya Nivas parking lot, checked in, then took the ferry over to the island resort. The former summer palace of the King of Travancore is a serene place in the middle of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Between the jungle, animal sightings, the palace's history and the politically significant Mullai Periyar resorvoir, there was plenty to take in. We mostly wandered around the grounds or sat looking across at the far bank. Bring binoculars. The premises and our room were clean and nicely kept, furnished with enough for a comfortable stay. We didn't find insects or other visitors from the wild, and staffs said fencing and other safety measures were in place. The food selection was small but tasty, and the staffs were courteous and friendly. Mr. Aneesh, the care taker/manager, handled our requests with a smile and said he'd help with booking next time. We appreciated that. The complimentary boat rides were the only activities outside the property, and we made sure not to miss them. I'd happily return. A couple of ideas: daily nature walks and short jungle treks would be nice, and a package pairing a stay here with one night in a treehouse, jungle cabin or tent could work well.

Our stay at Lake Palace, Thekkady, was calm and pleasant. It's the former summer palace of the Travancore royal family, and both the food and ambience were excellent. The trouble was getting away. Staff told us the return boat would come at 10:30 am, but it arrived at 10:15 am and we were asked to check out then, even though the official checkout time is 11:00 am. With kids, that was difficult. Since an hour here costs nearly ₹1200, it would be better to schedule the boat closer to 11:00 am so guests can enjoy the full stay. Still, we had an excellent time at Lake Palace.

The setting is the real draw, right out on the lake in the jungle. We didn't spot wild animals from our terrace, though we did have nice encounters with two kinds of monkeys. For the price, the rooms felt too shabby, like a beautiful old building that isn't being looked after properly. Cleaning could be more careful as well. It would be nice to have some wildlife activities arranged from here beyond the basic boat tour.