Five Spice Trails Worth Taking in Thekkady

Thekkady sits inside Kerala’s spice belt, and a good plantation walk tells you more about the region’s history than most museums. Here are five worth building an afternoon around.

• Cardamom Hill Reserve — terraced cardamom under a forest canopy, best visited early morning
• Vandanmedu pepper estates — vines climbing native trees rather than trellises
• Murikkady spice gardens — a compact, guided two-hour walk covering a dozen spices
• Kumily clove plantations — smaller and quieter, good for slow mornings
• Periyar tea and spice cooperative — ends with a tasting and a look at how spices are graded

Most guided walks run two to three hours and end with fresh coffee or tea. Wear closed shoes — the ground stays damp under the canopy even outside monsoon.