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Wayanad in Kerala tourism

Wayanad is in Kerala State and the main cities in Wayanad region or Wayanad District are Kalpetta, Mananthavady, Sultan Bathery and Valavayal. Kalpetta is the main city in Wayanad and is the Capital of Wayand District. Wayanad is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in India.

The most important thing about Wayanad in Kerala is that it is an environmentally clean State without any polluting industries. Wayanad in Kerala is famous for its tea and coffee plantations. Most of Wayanad is virgin forest area and there are many indigenous tribal people living in the outskirts of the jungles in Wayanad. These tribal people are very friendly.

Wayanad is included in the UNESCO heritage site Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the Nilgiri Hills of Western Ghats is a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO in 2012.

The areas of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve are Bandipur national parks, Mudumalai, Mukurthi and Wayanad. These areas obtained the World Heritage Site Status due to it unique wildlife which includes 316 species of butterflies and over 350 species of birds and hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles and fish. The wildlife mammals in wayanad include tigers, elephants, Nilgiri tahr mountain goat and the Lion-tailed macaque. There are very rare plants in Wayand Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve with many unique medicinal plants which grow nowhere else in the world and 175 species of native orchids.

There is evidence of the existence of a civilization in Wayanad from about 6000BC which is as old as the Indus Valley civilization and older than the Egyptian Civilization from the time of the Pharos. Wayanad is a beautiful place with cool mountain climate and many points of interest in Wayanad like water falls, lakes, native jungle people and natural river island with unique vegetation and animal life. Calicut International Airport in Kerala is about 48 miles or 75 Kilometers from Wayanad and Cochin International Airport in Kerala is about 170 miles or 275 Kilometers from Wayanad.

How to reach Wayanad directions

Nearest airport to Wayanad is Calicut Karipur International airport which is about 50 miles or 80 kilometers to Kalpetta in Wayanad. There is no railway station in Wayanad. The nearest railway station to Wayanad is Calicut or Kozhikkode (CLT) and it is 44 miles or 72 kilometers from Kalpetta the main city of Wayanad in Kerala. Nearest airport to Wayanad is Calicut Karipur International airport which is about 50 miles or 80 kilometers to Kalpetta in Wayanad. The following list has the approximate distances to Wayanad from main cities around Wayanad.


The best route to drive from Bangalore to Wayanad is Bangalore - Mysore - Gundulpet - Munthanga - Sulthan Battery or Sultan Bathery and the best route to take driving from Chennai to Wayand is Chennai-Hosur-ElectronicsCity-Kenegeri-Shrirangapatna-Elivala-Hunsur-Nagarahole NP. It should be noted that from Mysore to Wayanad there are three possible routes and you should take the route depending on where you are driving to in Wayanad.

If for instance you are driving to North Wayand destinations like Mananthavadi, Kuruva Island, Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary or Thirunelly Temple the best route to take is Via Hunsur and Nagarhole National Park or Via HD Kote and Nagarhole National Park. Bothe these roads lead to a small village in Wayanad called Kattikulam. If your final destination in Wayanad is Kalpetta or Vythiri for destinations like Edakkal Caves, Pookot lake or Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, then the best route to take is from Mysore to Wayanad Via Gundlupet and Sulthan Bathery.

On how to reach Wayand by train the best option is to go to the nearest railway station to Wayand which is Calicut or Kozhikkode (CLT) and it is 44 miles or 72 kilometers from Kalpetta the main city of Wayanad

What is there to see in Wayanad Kerala

Some of the most interesting places to visit in Wayanad Kerala are:

Banasura Sagar Dam

Banasura Dam in Wayand is about 13 miles or 20 Kilometers from Kalpetta, the main city of Wayand. The Banasura Sagar Dam in Wayanad is an important tourist attraction not only because the Wayanad Banasura Dam is the largest earth dam in India, but also for the superb views surrounding the dam area. The reservior submerged many peaks of the surrounding hillocks and their peaks stick out of the water forming little islands in the lake. Boat rides are available in the Banasura Sagar Dam Lake.

Banasura waterfalls

This is the third highest water falls in Wayanad and is only about 300 feet or 100 meters high and is on the scenic Banasura Hill.

Chembra Peak

Chembra Peak is the highest point in Wayanad. It is 6900 feet or 2100 metres above sea level. The Chembra Peak is near Meppady about 6 miles or 9 kilometers from Kalpetta the capital of Wayanad in Kerala. Chembra Peak is only for trekkers to climb up, no roads lead up to Chembra Peak.

Edakkal Caves

Edakkal is the place where they have prehistoric rock engravings and is about 15 miles or 25 kilometers from Kalpetta and 6 miles or 10 kilometers from Sultan Bathery on the road to Mysore from Kerala.

There are two caves in Edakkal which has attracted international attention because of the prehistoric engraved pictures and writings carved on the walls of the caves. These carvings are said to be from about 6,000 BC. Those interested in seeing these pre-historic writings in Edakkal caves should be prepared to walk for at least an hour to reach the caves from the nearest spot a car or bus can be driven to.

Kuruwa Dweep or Kuruva Island

Kuruva Dweep Island has an area of about 1000 acres and formed between 2 tributaries of the Kabani River in Wayanad. The whole area is protected forest area and vistors are allowed to walk in these jungles where there are no dangerous wild animals, only small animals and rare birds with some unique plants and herbs. Getting to the island is by special bamboo rafts called changadams.

Lakkidi

Lakkidi in Wayand is on the Thamarassery Ghat Pass and has great views. Lakkidi has the highest rainfall in Kerala. Vythiri is the nearest town to Lakkidi.

Meenmutty Waterfalls

The Meenmutty waterfalls is over a 1000 feet or 300 meter high waterfall and the highest in Wayanad. You need to walk about a mile or 1.6 Kilometers to reach the spot of the waterfalls. During heavy rains visitors are not allowed because of the risky slippery walk.

Mutanga Wildlife Sanctuary

Wyanad Mutanga Wildlife Sanctuary has enjoyable jeep safari ride across the jungle and you get to see wild animals. Depending on your luck you may spot shy animals like tigers and leopards. During the monsoon time only a few animals can be seen, so the best time to visit Wyanad Mutanga Wildlife Sanctuary is the during high summer months in Wayand Kerala during the months of April and May.

Pakshipathalam

Pakshipathalam in Wayanad has a lot of birds, several species of birds make Pakshipathalam a unique place for anyone interested in birds or an ornithologist. Pakshipathalam is not accessible by road and the only way to get to this peak, which is at height of 5700 feet or 1740 meters, is by foot. There is a cave in Pakshipathalam which according to legend says that Hindu saints called Rishis used these caves to sit in meditation. Now it is the home of many species of birds including the birds whose nests are used to make Birds Nest Soup. Pakshipathalam is about 25 miles or 40 kilometers from Mananthavady in Wayanad.

Pookot Lake

Pookode is a small fresh water lake surrounded by the edge of a forest at about 800 meters above sea level and situated about 9 miles or 15 kilometers from from Kalpetta and about 2 miles or 3 Kilometers from Vythiri in Wayanad. Boat rides are available.

Soochipara Waterfalls also called Sentinel Rock Waterfalls

The Soochipara Waterfalls is about 600 feet or 200 meters high and is the second biggest in Wayanad. Soochipara waterfalls is in a village called Vellarimala which is about half an hour drive from Meppadi in Wayanad. You need to walk about a mile or 1.6 Kilometers to reach the spot of the waterfalls. During heavy rains visitors are not allowed because of the risky slippery walk.

For a list of Tourist attractions in Wayand with description it is best to use the Google link here. Click for Google Maps list of Tourist attractions in Wayanad.

May be you want a list of the water falls in Wayanad with their description. Nothing beats the google link to Wayanad Waterfalls. Click for Google Maps list of all water falls in Wayanad

Hotel and Accommodation finder in Wayanad with prices

For the best hotel rates in Kerala we suggest you use the Kerala Hotel booking App through the Kerala map at the bottom of this page. This is very useful in comparing hotel rates in Kerala. In addition here is a more detailed map of Hotels and Resorts in Wayanad. Browse through this map to find the perfect place for a wonderful hoiday in Wayanad.

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You can also choose to stay in the Homes of certified Government of Kerala Families, who has modified part of their residence with a hotel suite like room and provide home cooked meals. Homestays in Kerala are very popular with tourists to Kerala. Here is a map to locate comfortable Home stays in Wayanad region of Kerala

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Hotel Resorts in Wayanad with website link

Hotel Resorts are more like a five star hotel with large open grounds around it with big gardens or it could be in the middle of a coffee or tea estate. Facilities will include ayurvedic massage, local conducted tours, etc. We have provided a map here which shows the best resorts in Wayanad. click on any resort in the map below and it will take you to a page with complete details of the selected Wayanad Resort.

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Best Hotels in Kerala

Here we are giving the links to some of the best hotels in Kerala in and around famous tourist spots in Kerala. Please make use of the direct links to get some of the best hotel deals in Kerala through the world's leading hotel booking site Booking.com

Compare Hotel prices in Kerala and book online

The map below from Booking.com is super helpful to compare Hotel rent in Kerala. These Hotel prices in Kerala are updated every hour by the world's No.1 hotel booking website www.Booking.Com and you can be assured of the best Kerala Hotel rates. The map is also very useful even if you just want to compare hotel prices in Kerala. Please make use of the Kerala Hotels map from Booking.com below.

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Search tool for Hotels

You can use the following tool from Booking.com to search select and book hotels in Kerala or India or anywhere in the world

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