Spices have always been an important cog in the machinery that has propelled the odyssey of human history. It is what motivated Columbus to find an alternate sea route to India, in the process ended up in the North American continent and the rest we know.

The spice trade is as old as three thousand years and all manners of spices were traded. From the infamous black pepper to the ever-useful nutmeg.

The best spices in the world come from a little-known town of Thekkady in the State of Kerala. With rolling hills and a temperature just about right to grow every kind of spices under the sun – literally- Thekkady has earned the honour of being the ‘land of spices’.

Spice Plantations, Thekkady

Sterling Thekkady will provide you the best out of the world experience by taking you on an unforgettable trip through an actual spice plantation.

Clove tree in a spice plantation, Thekkady

As you take a walk along the streets of Kumily or the winding pathways among the plantations, the thing that strikes you first is the lingering aroma in the air. The scent may be of cloves, nutmeg, pepper, cinnamon or cardamom and sometimes a fragrance that combines the scents of two or more spices. The geographical and climatic peculiarities of Kumily such as the cool climate and its elevation from the sea level make it ideal for spice cultivation.

One of the major spices produced in the area is cardamom. The variety, Cardamom Small, botanically known as Elettaria Cardamom, is the one that is mostly grown here. The thick shrub-like cardamom plant usually grows at an altitude of 600 to 1200 metres from mean sea level (msl). Kerala contributes about 70 percent of the national production of cardamom with the major chunk coming from the plantations of Kumily.

Set amidst an amazing landscape of Thekkady, the Green Park Ayurvedic & Spice Plantation is an ecological park with so much of nature within. This park is 100 percent eco-friendly and has honeybee colonies, natural fish aquarium, artificial paddy field, suspension bridge, fruit plantation, etc. The spot is a kingdom of nature and here travelers would feel the freshness of life along with the passage of time.

Green Park Ayurvedic and Spice Plantations
Image Source: justdial,com

Green Park gives tourists a chance to spend some time in the vicinity of nature and learn about different kinds of Ayurvedic plants and spice plantation. Traditionally built tree houses in the perfect wooden ambience give an unbeatable experience to the tourists. Here you would have plenty of opportunities to pose in front of the largest suspension bridge. It is the largest suspension bridge in the private sector which is around 200 meters long and 20 feet tall. Tree houses are the unique identity of Green Park.

Once the tour is done, our renowned chefs from the Periyar Restaurant will give a demonstration on how best to use the spices seen during the trip to make lip-smacking dishes such as the Nadan Kozhi Curry (Chicken Curry), Mushroom Mappas and many more. Coriander and pepper powder are the main ingredients for the gravy of both these recipes.

Nadan Kozhi Curry
Image Source: vimmysrecipeworld

Pro Tip: While making Mushroom Mappas, add Pepper Powder at the end of the preparation, it will enhance the taste.

Mushroom Mappas
Image Source: oishirecipes

The authenticity and exotic nature of these spices is the biggest secret to delicacies across Kerala.

Plan a visit to Sterling Thekkady, explore spice plantations, indulge in some of the great culinary experiences and make the most of your trip to Thekkady.

Drop us a comment & and we will help you with a discount code for your stay with us.