The first time I took the winding ghat roads to Wayanad was way before the social media era. And, I have been to Chembra, Soochippara, Phantom rock, Muthanga sanctuary and many such wonderful places and popular tourist spots in and around Wayanad. But this time I was intentionally skipping the usual places and thought of taking the not-so-familiar paths.

Wayanad holds a surprise to you everytime you visit the place, the more you explore, greater the chances of finding something new. With plantations blanketing its hills, and paddy fields spread over its valleys, Wayanad is coloured in the greenest of greens. This North Kerala destination rubs shoulders with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, making it an idyllic place for a weekend getaway for techies from Bengaluru and families from Tamil Nadu. But, Wayanad is not just a weekend destination, it holds hidden treasures which needs to be explored in detail.

The misty environs of Wayanad offer a wide range of trekking opportunities, plantation visits and wildlife tours. If you like adventure and want to spend the day, enjoying leisure pursuits, you will not be disappointed here. Wayanad is not just for those who want to relax quietly.

The Journey Uphill

When I was moving uphill, all I could see was the luxuriant plantations of coffee, tea, cardamom, pepper and rubber strewn all over the surrounding hills. The wonderful aroma of herbs, the gurgling streams on the way, small waterfalls, huge rocks, the mist-clad mountains and the green canopy of the luxurient forest added magic to the journey. I chose to stay at Kalpetta, which can be called ‘the heart of Wayanad’ as many of the destinations are easily accessible from here.

The day one was a bit adventurous with me trying my hand at some adventures at Karlad experiencing Kayaking, rock climbing, paintball, archery, boating, land zorbing etc. The Karlad camp also houses a conference hall and several camping tents, making it a great offbeat location for corporate trips. I took a stroll along the quiet camping site and found it very interesting and relaxing to be under the shades of unknown trees.

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Post lunch, I thought of trekking to two small, but spectacular hills – Kaattukunnu and Saippukunnu in the Banasura hill ranges. To climb up the hill, you need to take permission from the Vaarambatta Vana Samrakshana Samithi. The trek to Kaattukunnu starts near Meenmutty waterfalls. On the way up, I came across Bappanamthodu, a small creek, which has refreshingly cool and clear water. It is from here the actual climb starts and all I could see was grass as tall as six feet and no trekking path. What awaits you up there is the sight of unimaginably lush greenery all around, the spectacular hill of Banasura, the dam and the lake – a view which is worth all the pain. I decideed to lay down on the grass atop the Kattukunnu and take as much as fresh air to trek up to the Saippukunnu, which seemed very near from where I stood. after spending a couple of minutes, I decided to trek to Saippukunnu. After almost three kilometres of trekking, I landed up at the three stones, which gave Saippukunnu its name. The myth is that the three stones are a foreigner couple and their child/pet who were cursed for some reason and became stones. I spent that quite evening with the foreigner couple and their pet sipping some green tea, which I was carrying with me.

By 4 in the evening, I managed to climb down and on the way back stopped at Kunkichira lake, which is a beautiful eco-tourist spot surrounded by thick Periya Reserve forest. It is bordered by forest on one side and by different plantations on other sides. A statue of Kunki, the tribal woman who supported Pazhassi Raja, can also be seen in the middle of the lake. Kunkichira is a bird watchers’ paradise. A stroll along the forest boundaries will take you to a huge ground which looks double the size of a cricket stadium, where you can find enormous varieties of birds. It was time to call it a day and I started back to the hotel making plans for the next day.

Day two started with a trek to the nearby Mayilaadippara located on the Kalpetta Bypass road, just after Hotel Paradise. It was very difficlut to identify the trek path, as there was no such clear markings or signages. The steep climb was also a bit difficult but the view and the breeze up the hill will take out all the worries and pain.

The next destination was Wayanad’s best kept secret, Thollaayiram, located just after Kalladi Makham on the Soochippara road from Meppadi. Thollaayiram can be accessed only on a two-wheeler or a four-wheeler. I opted to walk as there were no four-wheelers available. Though the climb was a bit tough, I assure you that you will never get tired walking through the dense forest, with mist all around at 12 in the noon. I could see elephant trails and a group of spotted deer on the way. The next destination was Chooralmala – Mundakkai area. I had no particular plans to go to a specific place here and so I thought of exploring the place. On the way, at the junction my cab was stopped by villagers to warn me about the wild elephant spotting in the nearby area. I decided to take the village roads with coffee and cardamom plantations on both sides, leading to a thick forest. All I could hear was the distant gurgle of a stream hidden somewhere behind the bushes.

And, there he was – my first sight of a wild elephant in this trip. He was staring at me, and to be frank, I was a bit scared and stood still holding my breath. This was my first close encounter with a tusker. I guess it got bored looking at me and moved back into its place. Seeing this, I started moving further in the opposite direction. After a five-minute walk, I almost bumped into another one, a much closer encounter this time. There was no need for me to get scared because I was almost sure what was going to happen to me. He took a step towards me, nodded his head and there I was, the brave one, standing in front of him with eyes shut as if I was not willing to see what was going to happen to me. And, when I opened my eyes after what seemed to be ages, he was not there. I ran towards the base where my car was parked.

I was literally scared and was thrilled at the same time. First I thought I will call it a day and return to the room, but then coming back, the sound of the hidden stream made me change my mind and head to Seethammakkund, the deepest natural pond in Wayanad. I could see the towering Vellarimala on the other side of Seethammakkund. It was refreshing to spend some time at the place. And at dusk, when the mist from the hills above engulfs Seethammakkund, it feels like magic. It is a picture that will be etched in my heart forever.

After such an eventful day two, I prefered a peaceful day three at the Priyadarshini Plantations in Mananthavady. Priyadarshini Tea Environs is a tea estate, tea factory, tea museum, forest reserve and tourist resort all rolled into one thrilling package. The 992 acres of Priyadarshini is fully manned by the youth selected from the tribal community and trained in community tourism. Since I was not prepared for a trek and was not in a mind to be adventurous again, I skipped the Vishwas Point Trek here. I was told that his popular trekking route takes you to the highest point in Priyadarshini. Thirunelli temple is easily accessible from this point.

How to Reach

Air: Nearest airport: Kozhikode (Karipur)

Rail: Nearest railway station: Kozhikode

Road: Well connected by roads from Kozhikode (distance: 97 kms); Ghat (72 Km from Kalpetta), Ooty (120 Km from Kalpetta) and Mysore (140 Km from Kalpetta)

Where to Stay

CGH Earth’s Wayanad Wild at Lakkidi
Olives Homestay at Kalpetta
Priyadarshini Tea Environs at Mananthavady
Pranavam Homestay at Pozhuthana in Vythiri

Where & What to eat

1980s for lunch (Kerala thali is special)
Wilton Restaurant at Sultan Bathery (Lunch and Dinner – perfect place if you are a non-vegetarian)
Malabar Restaurant at Vellamunda
Mintflower at Chungam
Coffee Grove at Vythiri for vegetarians
Ethnic Food Courts at Edakkal Caves and Pookkot Lake for tribal food