25 top tourist destinations in Wayanad in 2022
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Wayanad is a beautiful area located in the northeastern part of Kerala. It has amazing tourist attractions such as waterfalls, tree houses, caves, wildlife sanctuaries, lush greenery and adventure spots. Spectacular hills and valleys offer visitors a captivating experience, as well as a variety of adventurous forest trails and mysterious ruins for thrill lovers. So, on your next trip to Kerala, go ahead and explore the fascinating tourist destination of Wayanad!
25 Best Places to Visit in Wayanad with Pictures:
1. Chembra peak:
If you live close to Wayanad, Chembra Peak is the perfect weekend getaway for hikers. Also, Chembra Peak is the highest peak in the Wayanad region at 2100 meters above sea level. It is located 8 km south of Kalpetta, near the town of Meppady. During your hike, you can see a heart-shaped lake that is believed to have never dried up until today. This peak offers you a beautiful panorama of the entire Wayanad district and parts of Calicut, Nilgiris and Malappuram districts.
emphasize:
- The mountain is surrounded by lush greenery.
- During the layover, you will come across a heart-shaped lake, one of nature’s beauties.
- Viewed from the summit of a small dam, the Banasura Sagar Dam is mesmerizing.
Things to do:
- Hiking is a priority.
- You can load your Instagram with beautiful photos, panoramas, landscapes, and of course photos of heart-shaped lakes.
- Enjoy greenery, chat with local friends, and sample their food along the way.
Best time to visit:
- Chembra Peak can be visited all year round. However, the best time to visit is from September to March, when the monsoons are just over, and the forests are lush and breezy.
registery fee:
- The hike to Chembra Peak is organized by Chempra Peak VSS and operated by the South Wayanad Forest Development Authority. The entry fee for a group of 10 is 500 rupees for Indians and 1000 rupees for foreigners.
time:
- Hike this peak all day from 7:00am to 5:00pm. The forest agency only allows 200 people, ie 20 groups per day. So make sure you get to the base early as they give out tickets on a first come, first served basis.
Peak season:
- The peak season to visit this place is after the monsoon, after September.
how can I get there:
- This place can be reached by road, rail and air. The nearest airport is Kalipur International Airport, 92 km from Chembra Peak, with good bus and taxi connections.
- You can reach this place by road from Bangalore or Cochin. Take the bus to Kalpetta and from there take a bus or taxi to the forest office.
- The nearest train station is Calicut, 79 km from the base of Chembra Peak. From here, several buses and taxis can be found to reach the base point.
Ideal travel time:
- It takes at least 3-4 hours to complete the hike from the base point.
2. Meenmutty Falls:
Meenmutty in Malayalam means where the fish is blocked. This breathtaking waterfall is considered to be the largest waterfall in the Kalpetta region and the second largest in the state of Kerala. This waterfall is located 29 km from the town of Kalpetta in the Wayanad district.If you’re the best at hiking and your adrenaline is pumping, climb over steep rocks and hike through dense jungle from the Ooty-Wayanad route to this waterfall
emphasize:
- Meenmutty waterfalls are the most important three waterfalls located near the Neyyar Reservoir area and give you an amazing view.
- The waterfall falls from a height of 300 meters and the scenery is magnificent. Nestled within the verdant forests of Mepadi, these stunning waterfalls make them the destination of choice for many hikers and explorers.
- With prior permission from forest officials, you can also camp here tonight.
Things to do:
- Adventurers have a lot to do here. Hike through the jungle, climb rocks, swim in pools at the bottom of waterfalls, and rappel.
- Photography is the best activity that can be done here. You can capture lush green deciduous forest, breathtaking waterfall, several climbers rock climbing, blue sky background and white sparkling water of waterfall.You can definitely create your Meenmutty fall album
- Hike through 2km thick jungle to this place and enjoy the greenery.
Best time to visit:
- The best season to visit any waterfall is after the monsoon. The best time to see Meenmutty Falls is from October to March.
- Monsoons can be very dangerous for hikers, and summers can ruin your trip with little or no water.
registery fee:
- There is an entrance fee to visit these beautiful waterfalls. Rs 30 for adults and Rs 15 for children under 5. The entrance fee is 60 rupees (children and adults) for foreign nationals and 75 rupees if you plan to bring your camera with you.
time:
- Forest officials and the tourism department have set some times to visit the place. It opens at 9:00 am and closes at 5:30 pm.
Peak season:
- The peak season to visit this place is after the monsoon, after September.
how can I get there:
- Kalpetta is the closest town to this beautiful place. From Kalpetta, several buses take you to the mouth of the lake, from where you have to hike 2 km on the Ooty-Wayanad highway. This walk will be tiring, but we assure you, it will be worth it.
Ideal travel time:
- Ideally, it will take 2-3 hours to complete all activities near the falls and return to Kalpetta.
3. Banasura Sagar Dam:
Banasura Sagar Dam is one of the main tourist attractions in Vythiri, Wayanad district. This is one of the largest earth dams in India and spans the Karamanthodu, a tributary of the Kabini River that flows eastward. Along with Banasura Lake, this dam is nestled on Banasura Hills and offers stunning views from a bird’s eye view. The hills of Banasura are named after the son of the famous ruler King Mahabali. Along Lake Banasura, you can see islets dotted with islets that make for an incredible sight during the monsoons. As part of India’s Banasura Sagar project, the dam provides irrigation, drinking water and electricity to surrounding villages.
emphasize:
- This is an earthen dam, and the Bund of the dam is covered with lush green plants, giving a feeling of intoxication.
- The dam is located on Mount Banasura and the hike to the summit of Banasura offers you a diverse flora and fauna and a wide stream.
- This is where you can find Banasura Hill Resorts, an earthen resort. They have a wide range of accommodation options, including log cabins and earthen rooms, but if you’re traveling on a budget, to say the price of staying here might dig a hole in your pocket.
Things to do:
- Kerala Tours offers boating on Lake Banasura. Boating here is adrenaline rush as they also offer speed boats.
- You can load your Instagram with beautiful photos, panoramas, landscapes, and of course pictures of beautiful dams and lakes.
- Hiking is another option you can use to reach the top of Mount Banasura.
- Horse racing and camel rides are also available if you need to book in advance.
Best time to visit:
- Banasura hills and dam can be visited all year round, but the best time is from November to May. During the monsoon, engineering officials will not allow you to go up the dam due to the influx of the river. In summer, you’ll find less water where you can play sabotage.
registery fee:
- The entrance fee to visit the dam is 10 rupees per person and the photography fee is 20 rupees. If you want to do the speedboat, the fee for a group of five is 450 rupees.
time:
- Officials allowed access to the dam from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.Also, boating and all other activities will end at 5:00 pm
Peak season:
- Most people go to this place during December and January.
how can I get there:
- This tourist attraction can be reached from Kalpetta town 22 km away, Mananthavady town 21 km away and Sulthan Bathery 43 km away. Taxis and buses are regularly available.
- The nearest airport and railway station are in Calicut, 95 km from Banasura Sagar Dam.
Ideal travel time:
- It takes a whole day to get to this place from the nearest town.
4. Chethalayam Waterfall:
Chethalayam Waterfall is located in the small village of Chethalayam, 45 km from Wayanad and closer to the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. This seasonal waterfall is considered a beauty of nature and a favorite picnic spot for tourists.
emphasize:
- This waterfall is known for its panoramic, massive current that falls from the top of the rock.
- For adventure lovers, this is the perfect place to hike.
- On your way to these waterfalls, you can see a variety of birds and animals such as gorals, elephants, sambar, sloth bears and bison.
Things to do:
- Chethalayam waterfall is considered to be small so trekking here is very easy.
- This waterfall is close to the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary; you can see many wild animals and some exotic flora and fauna.
- It is also possible to swim at the bottom of the waterfall.
- Don’t forget photography. You can load some scenic photos of beautiful waterfalls, exotic flora and fauna on your phone or camera.
Best time to visit:
- This is a seasonal waterfall, so after the monsoon is the best time to visit this place. Don’t go to this place in summer because you will find the waterfalls dry up.
registery fee:
- One of the best things about visiting this place is that there is no entrance fee.
time:
- Some say this place is open 24 hours, but the tourism department has arranged some hours. It opens at 6:00 am and closes at 5:00 pm.
Peak season:
- The peak season for this place is from October to December.
how can I get there:
- This tourist spot is 45 km from Wayanad. State transport buses are available from Wayanad bus station.
Ideal travel time:
- You can cover the place in 1-2 hours.
5. Tirunelli Temple:
Tirunelli Temple is an ancient temple located in Wayanad on the side of Brahmagiri Hill. This temple is dedicated to Looorrrd Maha Vishnu. The word Tirunelli comes from the word Nelli of the Amla tree. It is said that when Lord Brahma passed by, he recognized the statue of Sri Maha Vishnu under the gooseberry tree.
emphasize:
- One of the remarkable features of this temple is that it is located at an altitude of 900 meters above mean sea level.
- Ancient Hindu mythological texts say that Lord Brahma found the idol of Vishnu under the Amra tree. Hence the name of the temple is Tirunelli and the name of the mountain is Brahmagiri hills.
Things to do:
- This is a pilgrimage center. Sightseeing is also possible.
Best time to visit:
- The temple can be visited all year round except during eclipses.
registery fee:
- Most temples in Kerala have no entrance fee.
time:
- Temple hours are 5:00am to 12:00pm and 5:30pm to 8:00pm
Peak season:
- There is no peak season to visit this temple. This temple usually has fewer pilgrims throughout the year.
how can I get there:
- The temple is located in the town of Tirunelli, 38 kilometers from Wayanad. There are many national transport buses from Wayanad to Tirunelli.
Ideal travel time:
- It takes 1 hour from Wayanad to Tirunelli. Overall, it takes 3-4 hours to complete the tour.
6. Pakshipathalam Bird Sanctuary:
Pakshipathalam Bird Sanctuary is one of the important reserves in Tholpetty, a small village near Wayanad. The word Pakshi refers to birds, hence the name Pakshipathalm. Nature lovers and lovers find this place lovely looking for reasons to stay and extend their trips. The road to this temple is…