KTDC Lake Palace

The check-in and registration for the boat shuttle to the island was quick and easy. It all takes place in the hotel Aranya Nivas next to the boat departure point in the main land. We like to thank the manager for his great support concerning the booking of another hotel! The usual boat ride to the island is around 10:30 / 11 am, but different times can be arranged too. We enjoyed the very warm welcome by the highly professional team. It was a very pleasant and relaxed stay. Each of the six heritage rooms with modern facilities have a veranda with comfortable seats and armchairs. There are also deck-chairs in the garden to enjoy the day passing by with views of the incredible surrounding landscape and wildlife (herds of bison, samba deer and elephants as well as lots of black storch and other birds). The complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner was lovely and very well prepared. Wherever we liked to receive our food (on the veranda with views into the Periyar Tiger Reserve, in the garden or inside the beautiful old building), the staff made it possible. What a great and peaceful place with more than 100 years of history! Don't be confused by one photo here on Google Maps that shows a pool which was uploaded eight years ago. There is no pool on the island! (Honestly, this is not a disadvantage.) We recommend, that the management of the hotel should get in contact with Google Maps in order to delete that photo with a pool.

This is a fantastic place to relax and unwind, surrounded by nature. The small number of rooms and the exclusive access via boat create a sense of tranquility and isolation, offering a welcome escape from the daily grind. The resort has an antique and royal vibe. The service is excellent. While the food choices are limited, they're tasty. Rooms are basic but well-appointed with the essentials. They offer a complimentary evening boating tour, but beyond that, there aren't many other activities. This is a minor drawback, but the overall experience is very relaxing and peaceful.

Period of stay: December 2023 I have been trying to book this since 2020 but got lucky only 3 years later. Booking experience was smooth as we prefer go directly to KTDC Corporate office at Mascot Square, Trivandrum. We got some good deals though it was a holiday season. I have said this before and will reiterate. Professionalism and customer friendliness of KTDC staffs should be taken as an example and must be emulated in all the government offices in state. When it comes to the location, KTDC properties don't disappoint me. This one, Tea County and Waterscapes Kumarakom are great examples. A former summer palace of the King of Travancore, this serene resort is on an island in the middle of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Reaching the resort from the mainland itself was a memorable experience - we parked our car in Aranya Nivas parking lot, finished the checkin process and took the ferry to the resort. That boat trip alone had set the mood right for the rest of our stay. Jungle, animal sightings, a palace with some historical background, politically significant Mullai Periyar resorvoir - there was a bit of everything for us to explore during our stay. Our favourite past time was either to roam around the property or just sit back and enjoy the view and animal sightings on the far bank. Don't forget to pack your binoculars. Property premises and rooms were nice and clean. Our room was furnished adequately and was void of insects, bugs and other visitors from the wild. Staffs assured enough fencing and other measures were taken to keep us safe. Food spread was minimal but tasty. Staffs were friendly and courteous. Mr. Aneesh, the care taker/manager always took care of our asks with a smile and assured to help us with booking next time. Such courtesies are always appreciated. We never missed our complimentary boat rides during the stay because those were the only things we could do outside the property. This one is surely on my list for future revisits. Suggestions: 1. Organise daily nature walk and mini jungle trek sessions 2. Club the stay here with a 1 night treehouse/jungle cabin/tent as a package.

We had a calm and pleasant stay at Lake Palace, Thekkady — the former summer palace of the Travancore royal family. The ambience and the food were excellent. The only disappointment was the checkout process. We were asked to check out, and the return boat arrived at 10:15 am even though the official checkout time is 11:00 am. With kids, this became a bit difficult, especially since the staff had informed us that the return boat would be at 10:30 am. It would be much better if the return boat was scheduled closer to 11:00 am so guests can enjoy the full experience, considering an hour here costs nearly ₹1200. Overall, we had an excellent stay at Lake Palace.

This hotel is in a beautiful location: in the middle of the lake and the jungle and if you are lucky you can spot wild animals from your terrace (we were not but we had some nice interactions with two different types of monkeys). Location aside, the rooms are a bit too shabby (for the price you pay): you feel like a old beautiful building that is not being maintained the right way. Service could be a little more careful in keeping things clean. Would be nice also if they were able to arrange some wildlife activities from there a part from the basic boat tour.

We had a wonderful stay at KTDC Lake Palace. The location and ambiance were truly serene, making it a perfect getaway to relax and enjoy nature. The entire staff was courteous and welcoming, with special appreciation for Mr. Raju, who was exceptionally friendly and took great care of us throughout our stay. His hospitality truly made us feel at home. Everything about the resort—from the cleanliness to the food and service—was excellent. The staff handled guests with patience and professionalism, even when faced with a couple of particularly rude guests who were unnecessarily insulting the team in front of others. Hats off to Mr. Raju and his staff for their calm and respectful attitude in such situations. Overall, it was an amazing experience, and I would highly recommend Lake Palace Resort, Thekkady, to anyone looking for a peaceful and well-managed place to stay.

We had a memorable stay at Lake Palace Thekkady. Check-in at Aranya Nivas was quick and smooth—though we were asked to arrive early for the 1:45 pm boat, the process took less than 5 minutes. A private boat transferred us to the property, where we were welcomed with a drink and served a tasty traditional Kerala lunch. Food throughout the stay was consistently good. We were fortunate to witness a herd of elephants and bison on the second evening. The real highlight, however, was the staff—extremely courteous, friendly, and helpful. Special thanks to Rajesh, Anish, Abin, and Mithun. Their warmth and professionalism rival any five-star hospitality. That said, the property does show signs of poor maintenance—torn tablecloths and bed sheets, mismatched lighting, and a dilapidated kids' play area with rusted, unsecured equipment. Still, staff went the extra mile, even setting up a DIY swing on a gooseberry tree, which our kids enjoyed most. There’s no Wi-Fi. According to staff, BSNL has reasonably good coverage, while Jio works only in one specific spot. Binoculars are provided but in poor condition—bringing your own would be wise. We’d gladly return for the hospitality alone, but the facilities are in need of serious attention.

One of the most scenic and serene locations in the world. Lake Palace is accessible only by boat, as it is deep inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve with no outside contact. Even electricity is from a generator. No WiFi. Most rooms don’t have mobile signal either. It is an exaggeration to call it Lake Palace because it is by no means palatial. It is more like a forest lodge with six rooms. Service standards are OK. Menu mostly has traditional Keralan dishes. As KTDC charges premium rate for Lake Palace, they should provide a dedicated boat to take guests to the hotel — instead of asking us to wait about 1-2 hours to board the next boat that takes tourists around the Periyar lake. They dropped us off on their way.