Wayanad Kerala is a nature lover’s heaven where nature never ceases to surprise visitors with its myriad gifts. The ethereal beauty of the hill station seems to multiply with the presence of spice plantations that dot the whole region. There are caves that date back to prehistoric times and attract quite a share of adventurers.
Adorning the northern hills of Kerala is the beautiful district of Wayanad, maintained by the District Tourism Promotion Council, Wayanad. This area is famous for its large number of camping and trekking trails, breathtaking waterfalls, caves, bird-watching sites, flora, fauna and an overall plethora of magnificent sights. This area has been a tourist favourite over the years. People are especially delighted by the range of exotic products including spices, coffee, tea, bamboo products, honey and herbal plants available here. Kanthanpara Waterfalls is one hotspot in Wayanad that attracts tourists from all over the world. Apart from these magnificent falls, Wayanad calls you to experience the stunning beauty of Karapuzha Dam, Pookode & Karlad Lake as well. If you are an adventure seeker, then Chingari Rock Adventure Center is a must-visit place for you. Another must-visit place in Wayanad is the Edakkal Caves. The caves are two natural rock formations believed to have been formed by a large split in a huge rock. The carvings inside are extremely beautiful.
If you are an avid trekker, then you must visit Wayanad Kerala as it is a trekker’s heaven, and anyone that hasn’t trekked through the enchanting trails of this forested land of the Western Ghats has surely missed a ton. Some popular treks to lure visitors to this place are treks to Lakkidi Viewpoint, Chembra Peak, Edakkal Caves and Neelimala Viewpoint.
Description Of Wayanad
The flora of Wayanad are characteristic of the Western Ghats and the plantation crops grown in the cool climate. A major portion of the district is covered by coffee plantations. Trees of the wild type like rosewood, anjili (Artocarpus) mullu murikku (Erythrina), several species of Classia and many other non-descript varieties are still preserved here and there, to give shade to the coffee plants. These trees give a resemblance of wilderness to the landscape of Wayanad. In a majority of coffee plantations, the age-old species shade trees are replaced by silver oak, which is suited to the cold climate. This tree grows quickly and its cultivation is widespread among coffee plantations for shade and for giving support to pepper plants. It is used for the plywood industry and thus it is useful for farmers. Of the 20864 hectares of reserve forests, the major portion is teak plantations. Tea is grown as an industry in large estates. However, among the forest products teak and Bamboo are the most widely grown items.
With the clearing of forests, the diverse and buzzing animal life, characteristic of the forests of Western Ghats, has vanished from Wayand. One can still see bonnet monkeys, loris, mongooses, jungle cats, wild squirrels, jackals, bears etc. in the limited forest area. Elephants, bears and other wild animals from the neighboring wildlife sanctuaries of Karnataka and Tamilnadu, stray into Begur forest range and the forests around Muthanga, which is 20 kilometers away from the town of Sulthan Bathery.
Agriculture is the backbone of the economy of the district. Most of the lands in the district are used for agricultural purposes. More than half of its population are engaged in agriculture in order to earn their livelihood. The chief agricultural crops in the district are Coffee, tea, cocoa, pepper, plantain, vanilla, rice, coconut, cardamom, tea, ginger, etc. Wayanad is known for its rice production. The two rice of the district namely Wayanad Jeerakasala rice and Wayanad Gandhakasala rice have their different properties. Another source of economy in the district is cattle farming.
Best Time To Visit Wayanad & Hill Station
The temperature in Wayanad remains more or less constant throughout the year, but the best time to visit Wayanad is between October and May. These months cover the winter and the beginning of the summer season. During the monsoons, the hill station receives the right amount of rainfall and the wet and humid weather might not be something tourists would be crazy for. So it is not always recommended except for those who wouldn't mind the rains only to be amidst the beautiful hill station covered with a green carpet of dense trees.
How to Reach Wayanad
Reaching Wayanad is easy as it is connected to all the major cities of the world and the cities within the country through various modes of transport. One can reach Wayanad through airways, railways and roadways.
By Air- The Karipur international airport at Kozhikode is the only airport situated within the vicinity of Wayanad. It is located at a distance of 100 km from the city. The airport has access to many international and domestic flights.
By Rail- The Kozhikode Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Wayanad. It is located at a distance of 110 km from the city. There is frequent and good connectivity of train services to Trivandrum, Kochi, Chennai and Bangalore.
By Road- Wayanad has a good network of KSRTC buses to the nearby cities. There are super fast buses running between Wayanad and Bangalore, Trivandrum, Mangalore and Kochi.
