Best places to visit in Wayanad in Kerala

Chembra Peak is the highest peak located near Meppady town, in the district of Wayanad. Trekking this peak is the ideal passtime for the tourist who visit the area and the trek takes almost day. If you like you can also stay there in the temporary camps set up by the DTPC, District Tourism Promotion Council. THey also arrange for the guides, sleeping bags, canvases, huts and trekking implements for hire.

Lakkidi is one of the highest points with beautiful and picturesque scenery in Wayanad. Lakkidi is located at about 58 kilometers from Kozhikode and 5 kilometers from Vythiri. Lakkidi is the gateway to Wayanad and lies on top of Thamarassery at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level. From the foothills it is about 12 kilometers of the ghat road with 9 hair pin bends through thick and dense forests to lakkidi and it is a fascinating drive.

Lakkidi is believed to be the second highest rainfall receiving area in the country and so the scope for the water based activities is maximum in the region. Lakkidi attracts bird watchers from all over the world because of the presence of several varieties of birds and that too rare. Some of the birds seen in the region being peacocks, cormorants, bulbuls, egrets, peafowl, snipes and babblers. You can find elephants, leopards, sloth bears, sambars, tigers, spotted deer and Cheetahs as well.

Edakkal Caves are placed at about 3 kilometers from Ambalavayal which is located at about 25 kilometers from Kalpetta. Edakkal caves are not really a cave in the proper sense but a cleft in the hills about 96ft. long and 22ft wide. The cleft seems to be made due to some natural causes and is a fissure made by the corner of the rock splitting from the main one. The rock wall there contains some carvings of the humans, animals and the objects used by the humans and other symbols. These carvings are said to be of the pre historic times . After this discovery the history seems to have been rewritten about Wayanad and Kerala on the whole.

Kuruva Island is a 950 acres of evergreen forest on the tributaries of the kabini and is an uninhabited island. This island is an ideal picnic spot and is far away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. Kuruva Island is located at about 17 kilometers east of manathavady and about 40 kilometers northwest of Sultan Bathery.

Kuruva Island is an isolated area, the only monarchs of the area being an array of uncommon species of birds, herbs and various varieties of orchids

Pakshipatalam is located at an altitude of 1740 meters above sea level in the Brahmagiri hils at Thirunelli. This is a challenging tourist spot for every adventure lover. Pakshipatalam can be reached only after trekking for 17 kilometers through wild and thick forests. Thirunelli is also known for its Lord Vishnu temple You can find deep rock caves formed among the thick blocks of rocks near the end of the Brahmagiri where you can find the abode of various birds and wild animals. You will have to avail special permission from the Forest Department to visit Pakshipatalam. DTPC can arrange vehicles, guides, camping equipments etc for hire.

Soochipara waterfalls is located atVellarimala village near Chooralmala in the Meppadi panchayat of the wayanad district. and is an unexplored treasure of nature. The waterfalls ranges from 100 - 130 feet at different places is a treat to the eyes. Activities like boating , rafting, swimming and bathing are available at the pool below.

There are tree top huts available near the soochipara waterfalls which allows the tourists to have a unique view of the valleys and the other glimmering water bodies surrounding the area. The Sentinal Rock is about 200 meters in height and so very ideal for rock climbing and trekking in the area. This waterfalls is also known as Sentinal Rock Falls.

Muthanga wildlife sanctuary, also known as the Wayanad Sanctuary is located in the wayanad district of the Kerala state. The sanctuary has an area of 344 square kilometers and many wild animals like sloth bears, sambhar, elephants, monkeys, tigers, reptiles, deer, panthers, can be seen there. There are lots of varieties of rare birds in the sanctuary as well. the Wayanad / Muthanga wildlife Sanctuary is known for the Project elephant site. You can see herds of elephants roaming in the area freely frolicking in the water near the waterholes. There are various species of Deer, birds, monkeys also can be seen in the area.

Best time to visit the Muthanga wildlife sanctuary is during the monsoon time that is between June and October. This is an ideal destination for the younsters who are looking out for some adventure with holidays.

Pookot Lake is one of the popular attractions of the Lakkidi area. Pookoot lake is located at about 13 kilometers from Kalpetta and is undoubtedly a beautiful place in the wayanad region. Pookot Lake is a clear water lake with dense forests surrounding tha nearby areas. Only boating is allowed in the Pookot lake and swimming is not encourged due to the saftey reasons. Boating in the lake is a wonderful experience on its own. A freshwater aquarium is also there with a large variety of fishes as an added attraction. The weather and the climate make the area very pleasant aand gives you a visual treat which you will never be able to forget.

Other than the Boating facilities there is children's park as well as a shopping centre for the sptces and the handicrafts of the Wayanad region.

1. Misty Meadows, a Homestay with 4 executive rooms, has 3 star hotel facilities. All of the rooms have privacy and has lake views. The home prepared food is served to you in a private dining. For details contact

153/A Cheepram Road
Pakkom Vazhavetta
Wayanad, Kerala - 673 122
Mob : 09847846631 / 09562256023

Website: www.mistymeadowswayanad.com

2. Aashwas Holiday Home is located among the rubber and coffee plantations, in Thrikaipeta of the Wayanad district . You can have independent double bedded rooms, tasty Kerala / south indian food, car rentals etc. Experianced and english speaking guides are available.

For more details contact

Rajan : +91 9605165132
Aashwas Holiday Home
Trikkaipetta,
Wayanad Dist.,
Kerala, India
Email: info@aashwashome.com, aashwas@gmail.com
Website: www.aashwashome.com

3. Green Gates Hotel is located on a small hillock in Kalpetta of Wayanad district. They have well appointed and furnished cottages, rooms as well as a tree house with various amenities like a swimming pool, a games parlour, state of art fitness centre, children's playarea and many more.

For more details contact

Green Gates Hotel
T.B. Road, Kalpetta
Wayanad - 673 122, Kerala
Tel : 04936 - 202001/2/3/4
Fax: 04936 - 203975
Mob : 0 94476 40559
EMail : mail@greengateshotel.com / marketing@greengateshotel.com

4. Villa Kaffee Bohne is located in Kalpetta in Wayanad District. The Villa has three large bedrooms with attached bathrooms and a full kitchen. For more details call

Villa Kaffee Bohne
Landmark : opp. Reliance Petrol Bunk
NH 212, Kainatty
Kalpetta - 673122
Wayanad, Kerala
Sajan : +91 9400307932
Ratheesh : +91 9961762553
E-Mail : villakaffeebohne@gmail.com

If you are travelling to Wayand by air, the nearest airport is Karipur international airport at Kozhikode / Calicut which is about 100 kilometers from Wayanad. You can get transport buses and cabs to reach Wayanad from Karipur / Kozhikode.

If you are travelling by rail, you can reach Kozhikode railway station which is about 110 kilometers away. You can get transport buses and cabs to reach Wayanad from Kozhikode.

All kinds of buses are available, Volvo Ac sleeper buses are available from Bangalore, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram etc. They can take you directly to Kalpetta / Mananthavady etc in Wayanad district.

If you can drive down in your own vehicle that would be the best, since you would not have to depend on cabs and autos for moving from one place to another. You can also get tourist travel cabs / private cabs for the time you will be in Wayanad.