Wayanad

The natural scenic beauty of Wayanad and its rich natural resources offer several opportunities for adventure tourism. The hills rocks and valley which make the very unique character of Wayanad provide a lot for catering to the ever increasing demand for adventure tourist.

Wayanad-homestays
Chembra peak: Trekking to the Chembra peak is one of the risky tourist endeavors. Chembra peak is the highest peak in Wayanad at 2100m. above mean sea level. It is14 kms. west of Kalpetta. Trekking to the top of this peak takes almost a day. Tourists can also stay one or two days at the top of the peak in temporary camps. District Tourism Promotion Council provides guides, sleeping bags, canvass huts trekking implements on hire charges to the tourists. The scenic beauty of Wayanad which is visible from the top of Chembra is very challenging and thrilling. The blue-eyed water in the lake at the top of the hill never dries up even in the peak of summer. All along the steep and slippery way to the top of the hill, the whispering of the flowing spring which sprouts from the top of the hill accompanies the tourist. If he is fortunate enough, on his way he may come across a passing wild beast, maybe a leopard who may instantly hide behind the bushes. Camping in the night with campfire and sleeping bags at the top of the peak in shivering cold is everlasting experience

Meenmutty Water Fall: 12 kms. east of Meppadi. Waterfalls to a depth of more than 500m. in 3 steps. Trekking equipments are available at Tourist Information Centre, Kalpetta.

Banasura Dam – The largest earth dam in India
15 kms north-west of Kalpetta, this large expanse of water bounded on one side with magnificent hills has a heavenly charm.

Wayanad Homestays| Hotels Wayanad
Rivers: Kabani river, one of the three east flowing rivers of Kerala, is an important tributary of the river Cauvery. Kabani and its tributaries constitute a powerful river system in the landscape of Wayanad. Panamaram rivulet takes its origin from the perennial lake called, ‘Pookode lake’. It flows swiftly through mountain gorges and joined by other streams, tumbles down into Panamaram valley. Six kilometers further from Panamaram, this river joins with the Mananthavady rivulet, originating from the lower regions of the peak ‘Thondarmudi’. From this confluence onwards, the river is known as Kabani, a mighty, perennial river which after entering Karnataka State, joins with the river Cauvery. Almost entire Wayanad is drained by the Kabani river and its tributaries, namely, Panamaram river, Mananthavady river and Thirunelli river.

Pakshipathalam: Pakshipathalam in Bramha Giri hills at Thirunelly is a challenging tourist spot. It is 7 kms. north-east of Thirunelly temple and is situated 1740m. above mean sea level. To reach ‘Pakshipathalam’, 17 kms. have to be covered by wild forest. The deep rock caves formed among the thick blocks of rocks at the northern top end of the Brahmagiri is the abode of various birds and wild beasts. To go to ‘Pakshipathalam’ special permission has to be obtained from forest department. DTPC (District Tourism Promotion Council) arranges vehicle, guides, camping apparatus etc. to the tourists on hire charges.

Landscapes of Wayanad

This is Wayanad at its wild best — nestled along the southern belt of the Western Ghats. With over 26 per cent of the total area covered by dense forests, it is probably one of the finest trekking trails in this part of the country, hear the gentle sound of water rippling over rocks.

Wayanad Hotels | Wayanad Homestays
Paddy Fields: The name Wayanad is derived from the expression ‘Vayal Nadu’ – The Village of Paddy Fields

Wayanad Homestays
Plantations of Wayanad – The Green drive: The road is surrounded on both sides by lush green tea plantations and the odd teak. The sight of the sprinklers shooting water in the air and plantation workers picking leaves is a sight for jaded urban

Temples of Wayanad

Relics and edicts found in various parts of wayanad speak of an important prehistoric era.

Wayanad Homestays
Thirunelli Temple (64 kms of Kalpetta): Nestled amidst mountains and forests, the ancient riverside temple of Thirunelli is a fine specimen of classical Kerala temple architecture.

Wayanad hotels and resorts
Thrissilery Siva Temple (50 kms of Kalpetta) – The stunning temple of rather perfect architectural proportions, many myths connected with the temple tank here, which curiously enough never dries up!

Wildlife in Wayanad

Wayanad HomestaysChain tree: The large Ficus tree bound by a prominent chain is the source of a dramatic local legend. As the tale goes an Adivasi youth named Karinthandan was instrumental in guiding a British Engineer through the difficult mountain terrain into Wayanad. Eager to take credit for the discovery, the engineer conveniently killed his guide, whose soul, according to the legend, constantly haunted subsequent travelers. It is further believed that a priest chained the troublesome spirit into this tree.

Wayanad Hotels| Budget Hotels Wayanad.
Nature’s make: The deers , monkeys, sambars, pigs, bisons, snakes etc in the forests of Wayanad gives you a wonerful exploring in the wilds. Have a great experiance by watching theses animals roam in the forest.

Nearest Attractions

Apart from the long stretches of beaches saturated with tourists, Malabar welcomes you to less populated virgin beaches to relax. Is that not what you are searching for ? Lets enjoy the magic of Malabar with a positive, relaxed mind. Marco Polo described north Kerala as "great province of Malabar" Its was this same malabar where Vasco da Gama landed in India at Kappad. A beautiful beach resort where one can watch dolphins playing around in the sea in early mornings and soak in the evening breeze.

Budget hotels wayanad
Bekal Fort: The Bekal fort in Kasargod is an imposing structure standing on a headland that runs into the Arabian sea. Over 300 years old, the fort was built by Shivappa Naik of the Ikkeri dynasty. It was occupied by Haider Ali in 1763 AD and later came under British control. Just outside of the fort there is a mosque built by Tippu Sultan. At the entrance is an Anjaneya temple and in the middle is an observation tower. There is a structure from where one can view the sea. There are many underground passages too. The magazine inside the fort is closed to the public. Some of the nearby places of tourist interest are Pallikere beach, Bekal Hole aqua park, Kappil beach, Chandragiri Fort, Chandragiri Cruise, Anandashram, Ananthapura lake temple, Valiyaparamba backwaters (an enchanting resort fed by four rivers and dotted with numerous little islands) and Ranipuram. An hours drive from Kozhikode (Calicut) gets you to Wayanad, an extensive stretch of Greenland sprawling over an area of 2131 sq km. The ghat section to Wayanad is an attraction to tourists who like to drive. The green ghats en route to Wayanad have nine hairpin bends, each turn taking one to a higher altitude offering a better view of the picturesque plains below. This route explored by a tribal was developed by the British.

House Boats: An unique attraction. The accommodation arranged in houseboats provide the tourists a pleasant and tranquil atmosphere on board and to experience the scenic beauty of our land. This has an advantage of moving long distances covering attractive tourists places. There are different packages available on houseboats. A cruise through the backwaters provides ample opportunities to explore the natural life of the Malayali village folk with their warm hospitality.

Beypore: Beypore (10 km south of Kozhikode): Located at the mouth of the Chaliyar river, Beypore, one of the prominent ports and fishing harbors of ancient Kerala was an important trade and maritime center. Ancient Beypore was much sought after by merchants from Western Asia, for its shipbuilding industry. The boat building yard here, famous for the construction of the Uru (the Arabian trading vessel), boasts a tradition of almost 1500 years. A pier that runs into the sea is an attraction at Beypore. If lucky, you get to see playful dolphins in the sea at early mornings and dusk. It is a pleasant place to unwind oneself. Make sure you leave before it gets dark and this place gets a little secluded and unsafe in the night.

Wayanad Budget Hotels
Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary: Kadalundi is a haven for migratory birds. Terns, gulls, herons, sandpipers, whimbrels and other exotic birds flock to this place in November and return home in April. Kadalundi bird sanctuary is an important naturally formed bird sanctuary in India. This place gets its added attraction from not being commercialized yet. Thus allowing the birds to have a peaceful and safe time. A must visit place in Malabar.

Kozhikode Beach: A nice place to relax, enjoying the setting sun. This place is a hangout place for most of the people at Calicut. To add to its beauty is the old lighthouse situated at the beach.

Backwaters: Unexplored, unspoiled, the backwaters of Kozhikode hold great promises of enchanting holiday options. Elathur, the Canoli Canal, and the Kallai river are favorite destinations for boating. Kadalundi, with its beautiful bird sanctuary, is a charming site. Korapuzha, the venue of the Korapuzha Jalotsavam is fast becoming a popular water sports destination. These backwaters are perfect bet for houseboat cruise

Guruvayoor Temple: Considered to be one of the most sacred and important pilgrim centers of Kerala. Its main attraction is the Sree Krishna temple. This historic temple is shrouded in mystery. According to belief, the temple is the creation of Guru, the preceptor of the Gods, and Vayu, the God of winds. The eastern nada is the main entrance to the shrine. In the Chuttambalam (outer enclosure) is the tall 33.5 m high gold-plated Dwajasthambam (flag-post). There is also a 7 m high Dipastambham (pillar of lamps), whose thirteen circular receptacles provide a truly gorgeous spectacle when lit. The square Sreekovil is the sacred sanctum sanctorum of the temple, housing the main deity. Within the temple, there are also the images of Ganapathy, Lord Ayyappa, and Edathedattu Kavil Bhagavathy. Guruvayoor is just four hours drive from the resort.

Pazhassiraja Museum and Art Gallery: This museum is one of the oldest museums in Malabar. This museum has a vast collection of ancient murals, antique bronzes, old coins, excavated earthenware, models of temples, megalithic monuments like dolmonoid cysts, umbrella stones etc. Adjacent to the museum is the Art Gallery, which exhibits an excellent collection of paintings by Raja Ravi Varma and Raja Raja Varma.