Exploring Wayanad and Around: First ever long-winded drive with buddies !

Jan 26, 2018

2 min read

While working for a private company in Info-park Kochi, the extremely adventurous(long self driven trips were not much common in our circle)group of six comrades planned for a weeks drive during December with a feeling to unwind ourselves.

The trip was planned to cover major spots in Wayanad, the north-eastern part of Kerala best known for its climate, rich and diverse flora and wild fauna.

Exploring Wayanad and Around:

Chembra Peak
Banasura Sagar Dam
Pazhassi Kudeeram(Tomb)
Kuruva Island
Meenmutty Waterfalls
Soochippara Waterfalls
Edakkal Caves
Pookode Lake
Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary
Bandipur National Park

Chembra Peak

Visiting time: 7am to 5 pm

Trekking time : 7am to 2 pm

Range Forest Officer: +91 8547602680 (Meppady), + 91 4936-282001

Entrance fee: Adults ₹20/-, Students ₹15/- and Foreigners ₹30/-

Camera- Adults: ₹40/-, Foreigners ₹80/-

Trekking 10 Members: Adults - ₹750/-, Additional Charge ₹75/- :Foreigners- ₹1500, Additional- ₹300/-

The Chembra Peak located at about 20 Km from Kalpetta, is a good choice for a week-end day-long trek with family and friends.

The spot, stationed at a height of about 2,100 msl gives a perfect soothing feeling if you are an admirer of natural beauty and loves adventure.

Night camping/stay is not allowed at the premises as there is a threat of sneaking wild animals.

Starting from Infopark, Kochi
Towards Chembra Peak
Near Chembra Peak
Chembra VSS office
View on the way to Chembra
Innova Parked before heading towards
The scenic view, way to Chembra
Trekking starts Chembra
The mountainous view from Chembra
After a bit of trek on Chembra
Climbing Chembra
View from Chembra
Over Chembra peak
Chembra peak - the view
Chembra the view
Forest on top of Chembra
Heart-Shaped lake Chembra
Down hill Chembra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S5EBrHmDGM

Banasura Sagar Dam

The dam is popular as the largest earthen dam in India and the second largest in Asia. Located at about 30km from the Vythiri resorts, the dam has entertainment activities like boating, water-ball activity, fish Spa, horse riding etc.

Boating across Banasura Sagar Dam
Towards Banasura Sagar Dam
Banasura Sagar Dam, the earth Dam

Meenmutty Waterfalls(Wayanad)

The place offer a small trek and the endpoint is not so great as it had less water over Soochippara Waterfalls.

Trek towards Meenmutty waterfalls
Towards Meenmutty waterfalls
Rest area near Meenmutty waterfalls
Meenmutty waterfalls

Pazhassi Kudeeram

Visiting time: 9 am to 5 pm(Monday Holiday)

This place has historical monuments including Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja's Tomb and a museum alongside. The tomb is situated at Mavilanthodu, where he was cremated. The ruler was the last one in the region, who revolted strongly against the British rule.

Pazhassi Kudeeram
Pazhassi Kudeeram (Tomb)
Pazhassi Kudeeram(in set)
Historical Pazhassi Museum
Historical Pazhassi Museum

Edakkal Caves

Visiting time: 10 am to 4:30 pm

These natural caves are stationed at 25 km from Kalpetta in the Wayanad district. A little bit of tiresome trek is involved towards the caves but its worth for a visit due to its historical importance and as this is the only known place you could find stone age carvings in South India, famous for its pictorial cave paintings, considered to be of 6000 B C

Towards Edakkal Caves
Entering Edakkal Caves
Edakkal Caves
Edakkal Caves view
Edakkal caves in the Ambukuthi Hills
Edakkal caves entrance
Brahmi characters inscriptions
Literally means 'a stone in between'
Edakkal caves in Sultan Bathery
Edakkal caves pathway

Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary shares border with Karnataka (Bandipur National Park) and Tamilnadu (Mudumalai Sanctuary). Traveling by the forest jeep is better than traveling in your own vehicle as the roads are rough, easy navigation is possible only by a four wheel drive.

Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary
Muthanga resthouse
DSC00959

Ooty (Udagamandalam)

At a distance of 89 km from Coimbatore, one of the best Hill stations in India aka Udhagamandalam is located. It is the capital of Nilgiris district in the state of Tamilnadu.