1. Is Tour of Thekkady (TOT) a race or a tour?
TOT features two parallel formats:
Tour Category – A non-competitive endurance ride allowing participants to enjoy the scenic route and finish within the overall cut-off time. No intermediate control timings are enforced.
Race Category – A competitive endurance race with a shorter distance and stricter cut-off times.
2. Is TOT conducted on fully closed roads?
No. Tour of Thekkady is an open-road, mass-participation endurance event with a mass start. Essential traffic management will be facilitated by the Police and trained volunteers at key junctions and critical sections of the route.
As the event scales, we may introduce partial road closures in the future. Until then, all participants are required to strictly follow traffic rules and ride responsibly throughout the course.
(For reference, the UCI Gran Fondo World Series defines “Open Roads” as competitive mass-participation events with mass starts where riders must comply with traffic regulations for the entire duration. Source: https://ucigranfondoworldseries.com/en/regulations/ )
3. Why are the race and tour distances different?
The Race Category ends at 145 km on a flat section. The following 15 km is a downhill stretch ending in Kumily town, which is unsafe for a high-speed sprint finish.
Tour riders complete the full 160 km route. Race finishers will also proceed to the event venue after completing their race distance.
4. Is there a minimum age to participate?
Yes. Participants must have completed 18 years of age on the day of the event.
5. Do I need a support crew to complete the race or tour?
A support crew may be helpful if you are aiming for a podium finish.
Otherwise, the event’s en-route technical assistance is generally adequate for most riders.
6. How long is technical and hydration support available en route?
Support will be available until 4:00 PM across the entire route.
7. Is food available en route?
The organizers do not provide food along the route. However, several restaurants and cafés are available, and detailed information will be shared during the event briefing.
8. How is the road condition?
The route is generally well-maintained. A detailed road condition report will be provided during the event briefing.
9. How do I reach Kottayam?
Kottayam is well connected by:
Rail: Station code KTYM
Road: Frequent bus services from major cities
Air: The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport (87 km)
10. How do I return from Thekkady to Kottayam after the event?
Many riders choose to stay overnight in Thekkady and ride back to Kottayam via Kuttikkanam (approx. 107 km).
Others return the same day by sharing hired taxis.
11. Where can I stay in Kottayam or Thekkady?
Both Kottayam (and Kumarakom, 14 km away) and Thekkady offer a wide range of accommodation—from luxury resorts to budget stays.
Kumarakom is famous for its backwaters, while Thekkady offers multiple trekking and nature experiences at the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
12. What is the traffic like along the route?
Riders will clear the busy areas of Kottayam, Pala, and Muttom before peak traffic hours.
Except for the Kattappana–Puliyanmala stretch (approx. 7 km), the route generally experiences low to moderate traffic.
13. How is the weather during TOT?
The event falls in early summer, with temperatures around 25–28°C.
Climbing towards the high ranges offers cooler conditions. Occasional evening showers are also possible.
14. Does the Government support this event?
Yes. The Government of Kerala, through the Department of Tourism, provides institutional support for promoting the event. The Police assist with traffic management at critical sections, and PWD supports route maintenance.