Wayanad

Natural Beauty

Kerala

20°C / Clouds

History
Places to visit
How to reach

There is no way that anyone would be able to resist travelling to an iconic blend of waterfalls, lakes, and hills, isn’t it so? And why not, as they really make for an extraordinary vacation getaway. The place which we are talking about here is just the kind of hill station which promises you with all of this exciting stuff.

Perched high on the Western Ghats, Wayanad is a hub of many different tribal groups. It is also famous for two of its unique temples - one of them being the Lava Kusha Temple and the second one being the Mirror Temple which is a Jain temple.

Wayanad was formed sometime in 1980 and it has the maximum tribal population in the state having about 8 scheduled tribes. Overall the district is a beautiful part of the state of Kerala and has many rivers and dams across which increases its beauty to an altogether different level.

Best Time to Visit Wayanad

It is a magical place where you can hope to find some really amazing moments of life. There are many many reasons to visit this adorable place. Everything from its monsoons, waterfalls, caves and other scenic views of nature is just so alluring that literally no one can ever feel a sense of disappointment travelling here. And if you are lucky then, visiting here you might get to enjoy and witness the amazing wildlife diversity consisting of bears, tigers, leopards, elephants.

The best time to visit Wayanad is the months of October to May. Unlike other months, the overall temperature is quite pleasant and you will be finding a lot of options to discover and explore this place.

History of Wayanad

Historians believe that human life existed in Wayanad more than 10 centuries even before Christ. Yes, the evidence of the new stone age civilization has been found in the recent discoveries and excavations. Apart from that, the Edakkal caves situated here, trace their roots back to around 6,000 years old engravings coming from the neolithic age. It is also said that during the ancient times, these lands were ruled by the rajas of the Veda tribe.

The Mysore Wodeyars and the British Rule

It was 1610 AD when Udaiyar Raja Wadiyar of Mysore had drove out the Vijaynagra General to become the ruler of the Bayalnad and the Nilgiris. Interestingly, the former Bayalnad is the Wayanad of the present times.

And when Wayanad was under the rule of the mighty Tipu Sultan, it was during that particular times when the British invasions had started. And soon enough the tussle for freedom commenced. The Britishers were successful in claiming Wayanad under the 1792 treaty of Srirangapatna. Regarding this, Tipu Sultan had to make an appeal to the governor-general to free it once again. It was only after keeping all the facts in check that finally Lord Mornington declared by proclamation that Wayanad had not been given to the East India Company under the treaty of 1792. And in its consequence, the British troops withdrew from Wayanad. But then sometime in 1803, they recaptured Wayanad and took it under the British rule.

Major Attractions in and Around Wayanad

1. Chembra Peak

Chembra is one of the highest peaks in the Wayanad Hill Range sitting at an immense height of 2,000 m. The peak has been encompassed by the lush and poetic greenery of the western ghats offering an alluring travelling experience to the tourists.

2. Banasura Sagar Dam

The Banasura Sagar Dam is one of the most spell-binding tourist spots to visit with your loved ones. And perhaps it is due to its alluring beauty that a great number of tourists visit this place on an annual basis.

3. Kuruva Island

Kuruva Island is quite replete with a diverse set of flora and fauna. And perhaps, it is this factor which makes these islands to be one of the most amazing travel options to go to if you are considering a trip to Wayanad.

4. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Visiting the Wayanad wildlife sanctuary should be on the top-most things to do in your list. This place is spread over an area of around 344 sq km and is also known by the name of Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary. It is quite an integral part of the overall Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. You would be surprised to know that it was from here that Pazhassi Raja had bravely fought against the Britishers.

5. Edakkal Caves

Travelling to these caves and exploring them feels like as if one might have come in the past to discover the journey of human footprints on these very lands. Being one of the oldest sources of the prehistoric inscriptions these caves are an absolute must-visit.

6. Neelimala View Point

It is a very good natural spot to unwind witnessing the verdant mountain views along with the stunning landscapes. The place is quite exciting as well as amazingly delightful to spend some quality time with your family and friends.

How to Reach Wayanad

To reach Wayanad, you will need to cover a total distance of about 2,476, 1,115, 2,188, 271 km from some of the prominent Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru respectively. Here are the details on how you can reach here by the following means of public transport.

By Air

The Karipur International Airport aka Kozhikode International Airport (CCJ) situated in Kozhikode is a good option to travel to Wayanad via air. It is located at a distance of around 100 km from the city and has access to many international as well as domestic flights. After you deboard at the airport, you would need to cover the above-mentioned distance via a cab.

From Madurai - Board IndiGo flights from Madurai Airport. The airfares start from INR 4,000-5,000
From Kochi - Board IndiGo, Air Asia, Air India flights from Kochi Airport. The airfares start from INR 4,000-5,000
From Trivandrum - Board IndiGo flights from Trivandrum Airport. The airfares start from INR 5,000

Here is a list of Indian cities from where flights are available to Wayanad

By Train

The Kozhikode railway station is the nearest railway station to Wayanad connecting the major Indian cities with it. It is located at a distance of around 110 km from the city. Swaraj Express, Poorna Express, New Delhi Shatabdi Express, Kochuveli Express are some good options to visit here. After you deboard the train, you will need to continue your journey by some means of public transport.

By Road

If you are planning a road trip then Wayanad has a good network of buses connecting the nearby cities. You can also travel to this place via private taxis or your own vehicle as well.

From Ooty - 110 km via NH181
From Mysuru - 131 km via NH766
From Mandya - 173 km via NH766

Frequently Asked Questions about Wayanad

Q: Where is Wayanad located?
A: Wayanad is located in the northern part of the Indian state of Kerala, in South India.

Q: What are the attractions in Wayanad?
A: Some of the popular tourist attractions in Wayanad include Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Banasura Sagar Dam, and Edakkal Caves.

You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here