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It is hard to describe Lake Palace without sounding gushing and using every superlative possible.
This gorgeous six bedroomed hotel is set on the lake in the middle of the Periyar tiger reserve and wildlife sanctuary. It was the summer retreat of Indian kings, maharajas and their guests. You access it by boat from the pier, it takes about ten /fifteen minutes and then you are in your own little piece of heaven.
The accommodation is so charming with furniture from a past era. It is full board and each and every meal was delicious and different, served with charm and humour...you certainly get to know all the team and they are each and everyone charming.
There is no WiFi or internet but when you are sitting watching the Langur monkeys leaping from tree to tree, Brahminy kites soaring above our heads, bison, wild boar and sambar deer, it makes you realise how much you do not need WiFi 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Instead go on the trek, we saw an Indian hornbill in flight and two malabar squirrels. Take the bamboo raft trip, although you have to walk for 5kms there before you get to the raft, so not for the faint hearted!!! On our last night of four, my friend and I had just come off the little boat trip that takes you up the lake when two of our fellow guests called saying elephants, elephants.
When we got to the garden view point , there they were...Mum, Dad, aunty and the little baby just wandering down from the forest to the Lake side to have a drink and a wash. The other animals on the lakeside moved away slightly showing respect to these beautiful and magnificent creatures. Even the staff were excited saying that to see a family come down together was really quite special.
We arrived back from the boat at five pm and we sat and watched them until the light had faded and we could no longer see them. However it is a memory that will stay with all of us for ever.
If you want a special place to spend a couple of nights, a week, a fortnight or longer then Lake Palace more than fits the bill.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
As there are only 6 Room at lake palace, we had done online booking well in advance from KTDC site. To reach to lake palace, you have to do check in at KTDC Aranya nivas resort, where staff will help you to get in to the boat to take you to Lake palace (15-20 mins ride by boat).
Staff at lake palace is very courteous, helpful, soft spoken. On arrival, Mr. Anish welcomed us. I must say Anish is a kind person and share all the possible information about surroundings. They serve Kerala authentic food which was very tasty. You can spot bison, deer, wild boar from the resort. Bird Chirping is clearly audible early morning, best experience to feel the nature. We also saw elephants during our periyar lake ride.
Must recommended place to spend at least a night.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You must arrive into the National Park entrance with at least 30-45 minutes before the boats are leaving to the Lake Palace (you'll be on a general tourist boat but with reserved seats that you don't need to book ahead of time) from the sister hotel inside the Park. Arrive so you have time to get the boat that arrives lunchtime (lunch, dinner, and breakfast are included in the rate). On arrival, you'll go to your room, then to lunch., which is super tasty home cooking. Staff is absolutely wonderful and helpful. The views from the benches overlooking the lake are so lovely. There were always some animals grazing across the lake! We saw deer, many different kinds of birds, etc. The staff said the best time to see the animals is in dry season, March and April, I believe, but we were there in December and it was still excellent! After lunch you can do another boat ride with the tourists that will come pick you up. Later there is tea and then a nice dinner before an early bedtime. I woke up early and had a coffee and went down and sat by the lake on the boat pier, enjoying the literally thousands of birds chatting with each other. After breakfast it's time to pack up. I would recommend next time doing 2 or 3 nights if you can afford it, and also trying to book ahead of time some of the individual nature tours that are offered at the boat launch near the sister hotel (some are hiking, some boats). Or, book 2 nights here and 1 night at the sister hotel! Anyway, totally recommended!
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Date of stay: December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My family and I stayed at the KTDC Lake Palace for 2 days recently. The Lake Palace, with only 6 rooms, requires advance planning in order to secure a booking. However, it is worth it! The rooms are situated on a tiny island inside the forest reserve to which one can only commute by a boat. Once on the island, it is easy to forget the real world given how serene and scenic the view is. The rooms are large, spacious, equipped with a modern bathroom, and accompanied by a porch. The rooms are on full-board basis, with a selection of dishes (veg and meat) served at each meal. The quality and taste of the food are exceptional and the staff is more than happy to accommodate small requests. Pro tip #1: You will be entitled to 1 trip per person per day on the safari boats. Take them, depending upon the weather. However, if you do not sight any animals, do not be disheartened. The benches on the Lake Palace ensure you continue to be in close distance of possible sightings, thus not making you dependent per se on the safari. Pro tip #2: The staff is happy to arrange a boat to the other part of the reserve, the one connected to the city, at your request. Don't hesitate to ask. This commute is not dependent on the safari timings. Pro tip #3: While KTDC has a spa inside the premises that is quite nice and more affordable than the other spas, it can be given a miss. Enjoy the view from KTDC Lake Palace as that is unique. Pro tip #4: An ideal stay is 2 days. Any less will leave you wanting and any more may make it far too boring. Pro tip #5: There is very poor internet connection in the Lake Palace. Do not expect to be able to work on your laptop while there. Pro tip #6: If you're looking to do any activities in Thekkady, ask the staff for recommendations. We lucked out with their suggestion of the spice garden!
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Date of stay: January 2023
Value
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
One of the most memorable moments of our Kerala trip was a stay at the KTDC managed hotel Lake Palace, Thekkady. Situated on a peninsula, the hotel offers one of the best experience of mother nature.
We stayed there on 11th Jan 2023 for 1 night and regret booking it for only 1 night... A minimum of 2 nights stay is a must to soak in the nature it offers.
The hotel is located inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve. We checked in at their office on land called Aranya Nivas and were taken by boat to the Lake Palace. It is surrounded by a man-made lake on 3 sides and the Periyar Tiger Reserve on the fourth side. The hotel has only 6 rooms that are well maintained with furniture from the British era. The hotel offers a complimentary boat ride that takes you around the huge lake and close to the wild life. We were lucky to spot 2 wild boars and few sambal deer grazing on the banks. We also saw a wide variety of birds.
The weather was cold and refreshing. We had to put on our sweaters. There was continuously chirping of birds, chatter of monkeys and an occasional trumpet of a wild elephant from the forest opposite to the hotel. We enjoyed the stay doing "Nothing."
I must compliment the manager Mr Kanakraj for taking good care of us. Lunch, dinner and breakfast served were delicious South Indian delicacies.
The best thing about this place is no cell phone signal and no wifi too... So one can truly unwind and detox !!
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Its a peaceful place to stay with nature all around and has only 6 rooms. Located in the middle of the lake and you are able to leave the rooms between 7.30 am (First boat of the day) and last boat to get back to the room is at 3.30 pm from the main land. During the day, boat leaves the room couple of times.
There are no activities at this island. All activities are at the main land.
Food is great, stay includes 3 meals a day. Most of the time lunch will be missed, if we go to the main land for any activities, it's hard to come back for lunch.
We are from Tamil Nadu, we requested south Indian Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian food. It tasted like home cooked meal.
The place is maintained by the Government. For a property maintained by Govt, they have excellent service.
No Internet or phone service.
Check in has to be before 3 pm, last boat to the hotel leaves at 3.30 pm.
It's a quiet place for a relaxed vacation. Most of the activities KTDC offers and other activities available in the area are restricted by the timings of the first and last boat to the "Lake Palace".
The park area closes for guests at 5 pm and guests staying within the park has nothing to do past 5 pm, other than staying in the hotel.
If we want to enjoy this place, plan activities within the park based on boat timings.
There is also another accommodation within the park called "Aranya Nivas", where activities can extend till 5 pm.
We were able to see wild animals and lots of birds during our 2 day stay.
Staff were extremely helpful and the park is clean and maintained very well.
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had an amazing time at the Lake Palace this week. To be honest we didn’t have very high expectations since the place is government run. But from the moment we were greeted at the boat jetty by the manager Binoy, until we left two days later we were treated like royalty.
The property itself is just beautiful with water all around. The views from the rooms and the lawns is stunning. Although we were not lucky enough to see any elephants or tigers, we had herds of bison’s, sambar deer’s and wild boars give us a show everyday on the bank right across the lawns.
The rooms were exceptionally clean and comfortable. But what made our visit truly memorable was the staff. Everyone of them was attentive, courteous, and eager to help. Two staff members who stood out were Anish & Pradeep. KTDC should train all their staff to be like these two.
There is very poor cell coverage at the property which is perhaps a blessing as you get to really unwind. But one of the members of our group had an urgent Zoom meeting to attend. We asked the Manager if there was anything he could do to help. He immediately arranged for a boat to pick up our friend and took him to the Arya Nivas property where there was better coverage. This is the kind of service that makes you stand out.
I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Thekkady. You can’t go wrong.
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Date of stay: January 2021
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lake Palace KTDC Thekkady surpassed all expectations and etched beautiful memories in our hearts! The view from the resort was truly mesmerizing, offering serene vistas of the lake and surrounding hills. Surprisingly, the absence of wifi turned out to be a blessing as it brought our family closer, allowing us to cherish quality time together.
As guests of Lake Palace, we were treated like royalty during the complimentary boat trip. The staff pampered us, making us feel like premium guests. The morning ambiance was simply magical, with a calming blue hue engulfing the surroundings. Our excitement peaked when we spotted a majestic tiger near our room, its powerful roar sending shivers down our spines. And to add to the thrill, we also caught a glimpse of a magnificent leopard during our boat trip back!
The food was a delightful culinary journey, offering a delicious fusion of local Kerala flavors. The employees' warmth and hospitality made our stay even more special. Lake Palace KTDC Thekkady is a haven where nature, adventure, and exceptional service blend seamlessly, making it an absolute must-visit destination for everyone!
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Watch out for tigers in the night and watch out for monkey in the Morning.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
About: The resort used to be the summer palace of Maharaja of Travancore. It is surrounded by Periyar Ricer from three side and forest from behind. You can actually see wildlife sitting in the resort on the other sode of river. We saw few dears and Bisons. The view is really mesmerising
How to reach: We took a taxi from Kottayam to Thekady. From there you need to take a boat to hotel. In monsoon, there was a prohibition on boats in rivers after 5 pm so last boat to hotel was till 4pm only. Check these things while you are planning to travel. Plus there will be no network in the hotel, nor there is any wifi…. Only BSNL works….
Staff and Hospitality: Staff here was super polite and very helpful. Specially Devon and Rajesh ensured a comfortable stay. The staff is well versed in Malayalam and will be good if you have one Malayalam speaking person in your group. They understand english too.
Food was really home like they have mix of south indian and north indian in every meal. Ranjeith did a fabulous work in Kitchen.
All in all it is a must stay hotel on trip to Kerela.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is one of a place where you can experience Palace stay, Jungle Stay No wifi stay and No disturbance stay. This place is surrounded by water( lake) hence no approach by outsiders to disturb your privacy. Room was very cool with only fan and no AC . Felt like AC was on when Kerala temp was 42+ . Nice view from room. We saw Elephants and bison from our room and also during our breakfast next day. No need to go on boat trip to see animals as it is seen in the property itself. We saw deers as well as group of monkeys in the evening. Nice photo opportunity. Food was ok. Kerala style. Non veg dishes chicken 65. , fish curry were tasty. Morning breakfast poori was good, dosa was not that great. Staff was very good, humble and service was superb. Aranya Nivas KTDC hotel near boat jetty staff was very welcoming. They help you to board the boat to lake palace. Cons: Cobwebs in ceiling and other areas are noticeable. Day time some flies were which irritates your eyes. Seasonal they say. All in all a good stay
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
March is pretty warm and no rain, So you would not need warm or waterproof clothes. I didn't go for trekking but some of the other people staying there at the time went and as per them it was a moderate trek so any normal trek shoes will be fine. They can arrange beer though they dont have a bar. You can carry your own alcohol too. they do allow outside alcohol.
the first boat ride would start around 7/ 7:30. The boat is the same that takes others on a ride to the lake after dropping/ picking guests.
not aware of bamboo rafting?
There are more places to choose from in the Thekkady area.
PRICE RANGE
₹14,985 - ₹16,660 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
ktdc lake palace thekkady hotel thekkady, hotel lake palace
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Lake Palace
LOCATION
IndiaKeralaIdukki DistrictThekkady
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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