Neelimala View Point And Chain Tree Wayanad

Neelimala View Point

Promising one of the most enthralling trekking experiences in Wayanad tourist places, Neelimala View Point is a must visit for adventure aficionados. It presents some amazing trails that cross the most picturesque landscape of Western Ghats. Tourists are in for a charming surprise as Neelimala View Point offers gushing streams and verdant valleys on the way up to the hill. This place is a splendid tourist spot where you can appreciate the company of nature with the misty clouds and its pristine ambience. The beauty of this popular trekking and camping site is accentuated by the Meenmutti waterfall that brings out the most wonderful view of the place.

Drives to Wayanad are full of many memorable vantage points that offer one mesmerising views of the valley below. The Neelimala viewpoint is easily among the upper echelon in the district. Here, one gets a pristine view of the great Meenmutti Waterfalls,causing people to throng to this destination in large numbers.

The trek up to the viewpoint is just as beautiful as the destination itself. You are surrounded by plants and flowers of all varieties and hues along, with the refreshing aroma of coffee giving you company the entire way. Small birds chirp merrily and urge you to the summit. Soon the setting changes and the mighty Western Ghats appear at their finest. The clouds seem closer and the valley appears to extend indefinitely from this point. From the mist covered slopes to the massive boulders in interesting formations around you, you get to choose whichever slice of nature you wish to explore. This area is today a popular picnic spot. The aura of exclusivity and wonder surrounding the place is the perfect reason to make the trek. The white waters of Meenmutti crash into the ground with a deep roar that serenades every single visitor. It is a delightful feeling, as nature exists here in its purest form. A visit to Wayanad is incomplete without soaking in this magnificent sight.

Chain Tree

Chain Tree is a popular Ficus, which has many myths associated with it. According to one of the legends, the road up was built by a foreign engineer but the route was given to him by a local tribal youth who was shot to death by the engineer.

His spirit is said to have stuck to the tree causing many accidents on the hair pin curve. Another story says that when the British first came to Wayanad, the Adivasi Mahouts took them to the top of the mountains. As the Portuguese were close behind them, they did not want the Mahouts to go back and get the Portuguese. Hence they killed the Mahout whose spirit lived in the area causing accidents. A local priest later chained the spirit to the tree with a chain over it.

Chain Tree is located along the national highway near the Pepper Wayanad Gate hotel and is an interesting tourist spot for the visitors to Wayanad. Chain Tree is a Ficus tree with a massive steel chain hanging on it. This is a quick stop for many travellers from Kozhikode to Wayanad and the chain on the tree has a (fictitious) story to tell. The tree has grown up and is about 25 feet tall now, giving good shade all over the place. It is said that the chain bound on the tree is growing along with the tree. A small temple (named "Changala Muneeswaran Kovil'') has been built adjacent to the tree. The deity of the temple is none other than the adivasi chieftain who was killed by the English engineer.

You can see a small tea shop under the shade of the tree, selling tea, cool drinks and snacks to the travellers who stop by the tree to pay respect to the soul bound on the tree. The chain tree looks no different from other similar trees except for the steel chain sunken deep into the trunk and hanging from a tall branch. A lot of people stop by just because they are curious about the chain on the tree. If you are travelling this route, it may be worth stopping by to take a 5 minute break under the shade of the tree.

How To Reach Neelimala View Point, Wayanad

Reaching the Neelimala View Point is not very difficult. One can take an auto, bud, or book a cab to reach the Neelimala View Point – Wayanad. Once you are in the Vaduvanchal district in Wayanad, you can take any local transport to reach there. In order to reach Wayanad, you can get down at the Kozhikode Railway Station and take a taxi from there. It is at a small distance and you can reach Wayanad from there. If you are planning to travel by air, the nearest airport is the Calicut International Airport. It is around 95 km from Vaduvanchal and you can book a cab or board a local bus from here.