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Wayanad – an introduction
The largest plateau region of Kerala, the one where the mighty eastern and western ghats guarding the peninsular India meet is what best describes Wayanad. It is a large district in Kerala, landlocked and covered in dense green forests, wildlife sanctuaries, tea gardens spanning miles and miles, lush green paddy fields, beautiful hills and waterfalls and natural lakes. So, in short, Wayanad is natural beauty at it’s best!!
Top regions of Wayanad
Wayanad district is broadly divided in 3 major regions :
- Sulthan Bathery in the east
- Kalpetta in the south west
- Manthanvaadi in the west and north west
Each of these regions is beautiful by all means, has several comfortable homestays, hotels and luxurious resorts. But, if you want to explore all the places to see in Wayanad in one trip, you will need to stay a few nights in each of the three regions and then explore around. We are sharing in a later section below a sample day by day itinerary to explore all the top places to see in Wayanad along with recommendation on where to stay in each region.
As for us, since we live in Bangalore which is not very far from Wayanad. So, Wayanad makes for a perfect weekend getaway from Bangalore for us. As a result, we are exploring Wayanad region by region over different trips. And for the same reasons, we didn’t include Wayanad in our week long trip exploring Kerala. Years back, on our first trip to Wayanad we stayed in a resort in north west of Wayanad. And on our way back to Bangalore from there, we visited Edakkal caves – the most famous of the places to see in Wayanad. But located in South east Wayanad district!! So, I must say, I had no understanding of the whole geography of the region at that time.
In April 2023 , we did our second trip to Wayanad and our first staycation trip to Wayanad. This time, we stayed for one night in the Manthanvaadi region, in Thirunelli Village at the Mayookham Resort. And visited the nearby Thirunelli Temple, one of the top places to see in Wayanad. And for the second night we stayed at Raindrops Resort in Sulthan Bathery. While returning from here to Bangalore, we crossed the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and spotted some animals there.
Sulthan Bathery is closed to Bangalore and thus attracts the most number of tourists. However, this area has a main town that has developed fast over the last few years. So, I will encourage my readers to explore further in the south, north and west of Wayanad. As these areas are still unexploited, full of dense greenery and solitude. Also, The Banasura Hills and Banasura Sagar Reserve are two very stunning regions in the west of Wayanad, located in Manthanvaadi region. So, these are the next top places to see in Wayanad in our bucket list. And then comes the Vayithri village in Kalpetta region. Full of forests and beautiful waterfalls, the Vayithri region is also home to several top resorts in Wayanad.
Best places to see in Wayanad
Having set the context on different regions of Wayanad, now lets get started with the top places to see in Wayanad.
Bamboo Forest Park – a one of a kind among places to see in Wayanad
Wayand tops the bamboo growing regions of Kerala. And as such, there are several grooves or rather forests of bamboo in Wayanad. But the one near Sulthan Bathery is very famous among tourists. And this bamboo forest is developed like a park. Which is perfect for a slow walk in the middle of the nature, with tall bamboo trees from either side making an arch. The pathway runs along a narrow stream leading all the way to the kabini river and the Kuruva Island.
Kuruvadweep – a unique one among places to see in Wayanad
The Kuruvadweep or Kuruva Island is another beautiful place to visit in Wayand. Actually, it is a natural island formed by the looping stream of Kabini river. And one can reach here through a small ferry ride of some 5 minutes. Also, the Kuruva Island is famous habitat for many species of flora and fauna found in this region of India. Overall,. it makes for a relaxed picnic getaway from the hustle and bustle of the cities.
Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary – one of the many places to see in Wayanad for wildlife
Wayanad region is abundant in several wildlife sanctuaries. Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary is one of them. This wildlife sanctuary is located on the Kodagu road, 20km from Manthanvady. A safari is offered in this wildlife sanctuary in a jeep. Wherein you have the opportunity to site several animals including tiger, panther and elephants.
Thirunelli Temple – a historical site among places to see in Wayanad
Thirunelli Temple is one of the oldest temples of Kerala and India. It is said that the God Brahma created this temple and dedicated it to lord Vishnu. The outer structure of the temple is almost in ruins now but the main shrine is intact. And the reconstruction is planned soon. The temple is located in a very scenic location with dramatic backdrops of mountains. Visiting here on my trip to Wayanad reminded me of my visit to temples located in similar backdrop on my trip to Bhutan and also in Palampur.
Vilangad Water Falls – one of the places to see in Wayanad for that music of water
A beautiful waterfall located on the border of Kozhikod and Wayanad districts of Kerala, the Vilangad Water Falls is a must visit among places to see in Wayanad, particularly if you are in this region. If you want to visit here, or any other waterfalls in Wayanad, the best time to visit will be post monsoons in October or November when the water volume is at its best. We followed the same strategy when we visited the majestic Athirapally waterfalls on our week long trip to Kerala.
Mudikkal waterfalls
Yet another beautiful and unexplored waterfall of Kerala, the Mudikkal Waterfall is located in Ernakulam District, on the border of Wayanad. If you are in this region, do visit this waterfall in Wayanad.
Pakranthalam Churam View Point
The Pakranthalam Churam is a stunning view point located almost on the border of Wayanad and Calicut district of Kerala. One can get spectacular views of the surrounding dense forests, lush green mountains and some beautiful valleys on the plateau of Wayanad from this view point. And that is what makes it a must visit among the places to see in Wayanad.
Banasura Dam view point
If you ever searched on the internet for Wayanad, there is a 100% chance you have seen this drone shot of the beautiful Banasura Reserve in Wayanad from the Banasura Dam View Point. It is almost like the signature of Wayanad. And why not! The views of the region are so stunning from this view point, unlike any other place in Wayanad or in India that I have seen. Reminds me of the emerald lake in Ooty that we witnessed while staying at Destiny Farmstay in Ooty.
A view of the stunning Banasura Reservior above!!
Banasura Lake – the best of the places to see in Wayanad
After viewing the Banasura Reserve from the Banasura View Point, I am sure no one can resist going down to the Banasura Lake. The Banasura Lake is one of the biggest lakes in Wayanad. A pristine lake with several small islands in between. Once again, I couldn’t help but draw comparison to the boating that we did in Rangnathittu Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka. There also, there were several islands in the river. And boating in such a setting is a different kind of experience altogether.
Wayanad tea museum
The tea of Wayanad is very famous. You will see a lot of lush green tea gardens just like how you see in Munnar, particularly in the south and west regions of Wayanad. So, it only makes sense to have a tea museum on the list of places to visit in Wayanad. The Wayanad Tea Museum south of Banasura region is a perfect place to learn the history of tea cultivation in Wayanad, along with a knowledge of the different tea species grown here. And take a virtual trip about how the tea cultivation has evolved in this region over a period of time.
Lakkidi view point – a must among places to see in Wayanad
Yet another beautiful view point located atop a plateau hill in the Lakkidi district is the Lakkidi view point in Wayanad. It gives a stunning view of the plateau far and wide. And one can see as far as across the border of the Wayanad district from here. As you move from Wayanad tea museum to Chembra Peak, you can stop at Lakkidi view point on the way. So, add it to your list of places to see in Wayanad.
Chembra Peak
The Chembra Peak is the highest peak of the Wayanad district. It is located at an elevation of 2100 meters above the sea level. It is also one of the most popular trekking areas in Wayanad. But if you want to go up there in a vehicle, you must have a jeep like vehicle as the path is not very even and well laid out. However, you reach the Chembra Peak, once there, you will be stunned by the mesmerizing views all around it.
Glass Bridge 900
Located in the Vayithri village of Wayanad, the glass bridge 900 is a glass bottom bridge as the name implies. And is a famous spot if you are looking at that little rush of adrenalin walking on a glass bottom bridge which feels like walking in the air.
Soochipara Waterfalls
The next stop on your list of places to see in Wayand is Soochipara Waterfalls. It is the only three tire waterfall in Wayanad district. I had visited a similar waterfall near Bangkok on my trip to Thailand. And one near Munnar in Kerala. Post monsoons when the volume of water is highest in the waterfalls, it makes for the best time to visit here. The waterfall is located in the middle of dense forests!!
Meenmutty water falls
Perhaps the most visited waterfall in the Wayanad district, the Banasuramala Meenmutty waterfalls is located very near to the Banasura Dam in the Banasura Reserve of Wayanad. Trekking through stone steps one can get upclose to this watefall. And post monsoons, the waterfalls assume enormous volume. so, undoubtably, that is the best time to visit here.
Edakkal caves – one of the best places to see in Wayanad
One of the many natural caves that you will find around Wayanad is Edakkal Caves. But what sets them apart is several carvings on the stones here and some paintings that are from the pre historic era. You can take several steps up to the caves to see the center of the cave. Read this post on our visit to Edakkal Caves.
A complete Wayanad trip itinerary to explore the Wayanad district
Here’s a 6 days itinerary for Wayanad covering all the above mentioned places to visit in Wayanad. The itinerary can be broken into smaller ones, one for each region of Wayanad. And explored over 2-3 different weekends.
Day 1 : Exploring the Sulthan Bathery region
Start your trip by entering into Wayanad from Sulthan Bathery. And continue north. Stop to visit the Bamboo Forest Park on the way. Then visit the Kuruvadweep next. Stay overnight near Kuruvadweep at Kuruva Island Resort or other nearby resort.
Day 2 : Exploring Manthanvaadi region
After breakfast, checkout from your resort in Kuruva Island region. On your way, your first stop is one of the wild life sanctuaries of North Wayanad. Stop for a safari in Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary or Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. And then visit Thirunelli Temple next. After visiting the temple, stay overnight in a resort near the temple like Mayookham Resort.
Day 3 : Move towards west – central Wayanad in Manthanvaadi region
Post breakfast, checkout from the resort and continue towards west – central Wayanad. Places to explore today include : Vilangad Water Falls, Mudikkal waterfalls and Pakranthalam Churam View Point in the same order. Stay overnight in the region in a resort like Wayanad Village Resort. You can either first go to the resort, dump your luggage and then go sightseeing. Or, you can first do the sightseeing and then finally reach the resort to stay overnight.
Day 4 : Move to Banasura Reserve – the most beautiful water reserve in Wayanad
Checkout from resort and visit the Banasura Dam area today. Top places to see in this region include Banasuramala Waterfalls, Banasura Dam view point and Banasura Lake. After exploring these places, stay overnight in a resort that gives excellent views of the reservior. The whole reservior region is surrounded by luxury resorts. Banasura Hill Resort , Contour Island Resort or Mountain shadows resort and even Taj Wayanad are some famous names. Enjoy a beautiful and pampering stay in one of these resorts overnight.
Day 5: Move to Kalpetta, exploring further places to see in Wayanad on the way
Checkout from the resort post breakfast and proceed to Vayithri resort in Kalpetta region, or, any other resort in the region. On the way today, you can stop at the Wayanad tea museum and Lakkidi view point – two of the top places to see in wayanad.
Day 6 : Kalpetta to Sulthan Bathery via several places to see in Wayanad
Today, post breakfast, checkout from your resort towards Sulthan Bathery. On the way visit Chembra Peak, Glass Bridge 900, Soochipara Waterfalls, Meenmutty water falls and Edakkal caves. Stay overnight in Sultan Bathery in a humble homestay.
Day 7: Checkout from your accommodation and continue your journey back home.
Today will be the last day of your Wayanad trip itinerary. Post breakfast, you can checkout from your accommodation and drive home. You can stop for some shopping on the way back home from Sulthan Bathery. And carry some souveirs, and a lot of everlasting memories with you back home from your Wayanad trip.
Or, you could explore each of the above map areas on a separate trip if you live at a 5-6 hours driving distance from Wayanad like we do. Also, do note that the above only covers the top and famous places to see in Wayanad. Apart from these, there are several other less explored and less known natural caves, trekking paths and waterfalls, hills and lakes and picnic spots that you can enjoy in each of these regions of Wayanad.
General tips on visiting Wayanad
- Best time to visit Wayanad is from October – May . June – September are heavy rain months and hence it becomes difficult to reach several tourist spots in Wayanad around this time.
- There are 3 main regions of Wayanad, each one can be separately visited on micro weekend getaways from Bangalore.
- Browse here to see list of places to stay in Wayanad.
- Wayanad is famous for its fresh and authentic spices. You can purchase spices from here.
- Another thing that Wayanad is famous for is bamboo products. Handicrafts made of bamboo are available in several local shops.
- Driving or taking a bus is the best way to reach Wayanad. There is no airport in this region.
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