Wayanad –The Hidden Hill Station of Kerala

Wayanad is an enchanting hill station situated in the Western Ghats of Kerala. Also known as the 'Green Paradise' of Kerala, Wayanad is one of the best hill stations in Kerala and also one of the least expensive summer getaways in India. Situated at an altitude ranging between 700m to 2100m, Wayanad is known for its rich tribal heritage, lush green forests, lakes and hill ranges. Wayanad is one of the popular weekend getaways from Bangalore & Mysore. Kalpetta, Sulthan Bathery and Mananthavady are the largest towns in Wayanad district and are the base stations for visiting different tourist places in Wayanad. Wayanad is not as crowded as its peers like Munnar and it is renowned as one of the cheapest hill stations in Kerala. With several rain forests, Wayanad is also one of the wonderful monsoon destinations in India and also one of the famous Kerala tourist places.

Wayanad was formed in 1980 as the 12th district in Kerala by carving out areas from Kozhikode and Kannur districts. The name ‘Wayanad’ is derived from Vayal Nadu which means the land of paddy fields. It has a rich history and the hills of Wayanad have several evidences of the New Stone Age civilization. It was the British who introduced cash crops, laid roads and developed Wayanad significantly. The culture of Wayanad is mainly tribal oriented. Wayanad is the biggest foreign exchange earners of Kerala with its production of cash crops like pepper, cardamom, coffee, tea, spices and other condiments.The district stands 1st in pepper cultivation and coffee plantation in the state. It is often called the spice garden of the south, the land of paddy fields, and the home of the monsoon.

Besides typical sight-seeing, Wayanad also offers a wide range of opportunities for bird watching, jungle walk, nature walk, trekking, forest safari, kayaking in bamboo forest etc. Situated at an altitude of 6,900 feet,Chembra Peak is one of the popular trekking tails in Wayanad. Chembra Peak is the highest peak in Wayanad & third highest in South India. There is a heart shaped lake on the way to the top of Chembra Peak and is the major attraction here. Chembra Peak trek is a challenging task and recommended for experienced trekkers. Prior permission is required from the Forest Range Office at Meppadi for trekking to Chembra Peak.

Wayanad is ringed on three sides by wildlife sanctuaries, among them are Bandipur, Muthanga and Nagarhole. Wayanad is also your best chance to sight wildlife, especially wild elephants. It is also home of significant tiger population of Nilgiri Biosphere reserve. Muthanga and Tholpetty offer jeep safaris, but sightings of wild cats are rare.

Wayanad is blessed with vast expanse of tea plantations. In the salubrious weather of the hill station, the lush tea buds bloom perfectly. Take a long walk through the lush green plantations of Kerala that produces some of the favorite blends of tea in the country. Primarily located in the Kalpetta region, most of these plantation areas are run by the primitive tribal population.

Wayanad Tourism is blessed with scenic hills, wildlife, adventures and waterfalls. Meenmutty Falls, Soochipara Falls, Pookote Lake, Banasura Sagar Dam, Chembra Peak, Thirunelly Temple and Lakkidi are the top places to visit in Wayanad. The district also houses the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary with four ranges namely Sulthan Bathery, Muthanga, Kurichiat and Tholpetty.

Wayanad has pleasant weather throughout the year and is one of the popular destinations of Kerala Tourism.Best time to visit Wayanad is from September to May while the peak season is from October to March. It usually takes 1-2 full days to explore this area.

He is an travel blogger by passion. He is also a travel and food lover.