Exploring Wayanad with Discover Wayanad – Tech Travel Eat
At a distance of 73 km from Kozhikode, 246 km from Kochi, 180 km from Thrissur, 168 km from Palakkad, 118 km from Ooty and 442 km from Trivandrum, Wayanad is a hill district in Kerala formed in 1980 by carving out areas from Kozhikode and Kannur districts. Kalpetta is the headquarters of the Wayanad district and it is one of the best hill stations in Kerala and also a wonderful summer getaway from Bangalore, Mysore & Kozhikode cities.
Wayanad is also one of the top Kerala tourist places to visit. The name Wayanad is derived from Vayal Nadu which means the land of paddy fields. It is a picturesque plateau situated at an altitude ranging between 700 to 2100 meters nested among the mountains of the Western Ghats on the borders of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka States. The culture of Wayanad is mainly tribal oriented. This district is one of the biggest foreign exchange earners of the State with its production of cash crops like pepper, cardamom, coffee, tea, spices and other condiments. Banasura Sagar Dam, Edakkal Caves and Soochipara Waterfalls are among the must include places in your Wayanad Tour Package.
Wayanad has a rich history and the hills of Wayanad have several evidences of the New Stone Age civilization. There are pictures and pictorial writings on the walls of both the caves of Ampukuthimala, which lie between Sultan Bathery and Ambalavayal, that provide crucial information about the past era and civilization. In ancient times the land was ruled by the Vedar Rajas. Later Wayanad came under the rule of Pazhassi Raja of Kottayam Royal Dynasty. After becoming the King of Mysore, Hyder Ali invaded this land and brought it under his control. However, it went back to the Kottayam Royal Dynasty during the reign of Tipu Sultan. Finally this region came under the British rule.
Wayanad has a pleasant weather throughout the year and is one of the popular Kerala Tourism destinations. Famous Wayanad tourist places include Waterfalls (Meenmutty Falls, Soochipara Falls, Kanthampara Falls), Dams / Lakes (Pookote Lake, Banasura sagar dam, Karappuzha Dam), Wildlife Sanctuaries (famous Wayanad WLS), Peaks / Trekking Destinations (Brahmagiri / Pakshipathalam, Chembra Peak), Hill Stations (like Lakkidi) and several Pilgrimage centers (like Thirunelly Temple).
Wayanad is also famous for Tea and Coffee plantations. Sulthan Bathery and Mananthavady are the largest towns in Wayanad after Kalpetta and these three towns are the base stations to visit different parts of the Wayanad district. Wayanad has the least population density in Kerala. The famous tribal events and folk dance performances by tribes are hosted between February and May. Onam, during August- September, Maha shivaratri and Vishu are the important festivals celebrated in Wayanad.
Kozhikode International Airport (85 km from Kalpetta) is the nearest airport and Kozhikode Railway Station is the nearest railway station 73 km away from Kalpetta. Wayanad is well connected by bus from Kozhikode, Kannur, Ooty and Mysore. There are regular bus services to Kozhikode from major cities like Bangalore, Chennai and Trivandrum.
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.
