Located 65 km from Kochi and 12 km from Kothamangalam in Ernakulam on the northern bank of the Periyar River, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary was the first bird sanctuary in Kerala. Thattekad literally means "flat forest", and the area is an evergreen low-land forest situated between the branches of the Periyar River, the longest river in Kerala. Dr. Salim Ali, one of the best-known ornithologists, has described this sanctuary as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India.

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary came to light in the year 1983 on the recommendations made by Salim Ali.

Spread over 25 sq km, it gives shelter to over 500 species of birds and rare birds such as Indian pitta, orange-headed thrush, large-billed leaf-warbler, Jerdon's nightjar, Indian cuckoo, oriental darter, cormorants, whiskered terns, collared scops owl, Ceylon frogmouth, grey-fronted green pigeon, yellow-browed bulbuls, and lot more.

Edamalayar forest is located about 15 km from Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary. This is also an evergreen forest located above the Edamalayar River. The mountain hawk eagles are found in this forest. Other birds in this forest include dark-fronted babbler, brown-cheeked fulvetta, brown-backed and white-rumped needletails, and emerald green pigeons.

Explore & Experience in Thattekad–

• Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
• Bhoothathankettu Dam
• Edamalayar Dam
• Bird watching
• Nature walk
• Boat cruise