Kerala still holds some surprises up
her green sleeves... one such surprise is the captivating hill station of
Wayanad. Almost every conceivable inch of the mist -wrapped undulating hills
of Wayanad is veiled by lush rainforest that stuns the eye of the beholder
with its varied shades of green. Beauteous orchids, spicy pepper, berries,
coffee, cinnamon, fragrant cardamom, tall stands of bamboo and rubber are
the very part of the spectacular land of Wayanad.
Take an interlude in the lap of nature............
The Recipe Of Beauty
Wayanad has many spots that can lure your
heart at the very first sight. To mention some of them:
Chembra Peak - This peak is the highest point in the Wayanad Hills,
just 24 km from the Vythiri. You can enjoy trekking to the top of this peak.
The District Tourism Promotion Council in Kalpetta organises treks ex-
Kalpetta to Chembra Peak.
Pakshipathalam - This is a challenging tourist spot, situated
at about 1740 m above the sea level. The area around is the abode of several
birds and wild beasts. To go to 'Pakshipathalam' special permission has to
be obtained from forest department.
Meenmutty Water Fall - This waterfall provides a mesmerising view to
all the tourists visiting here. Water falls to a depth of more than 500 m in
3 steps.
Pookote Lake - This small and placid Pookote Lake is a great picnic
spot . Half of the lake is covered with lotus flower. In the vicinity of the
lake, lies the children's park, a spices and handicrafts emporium and a
fresh water aquarium. One can also enjoy boating in the lake.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary - The Wayanad wildlife sanctuary came in
to being in 1973. The sanctuary is an integral part of the Nilgiri biosphere
reserve, which has been established with the major objective of conserving
the biological heritage of the region. The sanctuary is very rich in flora
and fauna.
Thirunelly Temple - The Thirunelly temple is a marvel temple
architecture. The shrine is shielded with 30 granite columns and the ground
is paved with huge square pieces of granite. The emerald green water of the
Papanasini river flowing around adds to the charisma of the place.
Wayanad - An Adventurescape
The hills, rocks and valleys give an
unique shape to Wayanad , which makes it prompt to provide for exceptional
adventure experiences. Mountains and forests intersperse to create numerous
outback trails, trekking routes and opportunities for other adventure
sports. Apart from these you can also enjoy-
Rock Climbing-The cliff face of Soochipara Falls is ideal for rock
climbing.
Trekking - Wayanad proves to be a good ground for wanderlust
trekkers. The Chembra Peak offers an exhilarating 4-hour trek from the base
of the mountain.
Boating - You can enjoy boating in the Pookote Lake.
Set Free Your Pockets
Shopping is an ambrosial experience in
Wayanad. The land is traditionally rich in handicrafts. Because of the
abundance of coconut grooves here, wood, coir and coconut shells are the
base of most of the handicrafts. Several artefacts made of teak, deep -wine
rosewood and fragrant sandalwood may arrest your senses. Buffalo horns are
also used in making many articles of beauty. Bamboo mat paintings and
Kathakali masks are also quite popular among the tourists. There are also a
number of shops of spices which one can take back home to add a unique
flavour to the routinal food prepared.
Hungry?
Apart from he hotel restaurants there aren't many stand
alone eating options in Wayanad. One can get a wide variety of luscious food
ranging from Malabar-style biryani to sea food in Wayanad's restaurants.
Some of them are:
- New Form Restaurant
- Kalpetta Restaurant
- Haritha Giri's Kuruva Restaurant
- Rain Country
- Vythiri Resort Restaurant
Accommodation
Wayanad boasts of its various luxurious and
comfortable accommodation options:
- Vythiri Resorts
- Rain Country Resort, Heritage Hotel
- Hotel Green Gates
- Jungle Park Resort and Tree Houses
- Hotel Haritagiri
- Green Magic Nature Resorts
- Greeshmam Resorts
- Stream Valley Cottages
- Tranquil Resorts
- Annappara Resort
