Wayanad

Wayanad is one of those places where the journey itself keeps interrupting the destination.

A waterfall appears beside a forest road. Mist suddenly covers the hills. Tea and coffee plantations stretch across the slopes. A quiet lake appears between the trees. Then, a few kilometres later, the landscape changes again.

Located in the Western Ghats of northern Kerala, Wayanad is known for its forests, waterfalls, reservoirs, viewpoints and tribal heritage. But it is not only a nature destination. The region also preserves traces of a much older past through archaeological remains, local traditions and museum collections.

My travels through Wayanad have taken me to waterfalls, dams, viewpoints, an adventure destination and a museum that tells a very different story of the district.

This page brings them together.

Viewpoints and Adventure

900 Kandi

900 Kandi has become one of Wayanad's popular adventure destinations.

The journey itself involves rough roads and forested surroundings before reaching an area known for off-road rides, trekking and its famous glass bridge.

The name has an interesting meaning too. Thollayiram means 900, while kandi refers to a patch of land.

Lakkidi ViewPoint

Lakkidi sits at the top of the Thamarassery Ghat and is appropriately called the Gateway to Wayanad.

From the viewpoint, the winding ghat road can be seen descending through the Western Ghats. Mist often moves across the valley, sometimes hiding the entire view within minutes.

Do not be disappointed.

Wait for a while. Wayanad weather often changes the scenery faster than we expect.

Karinthandan Statue

Karinthandan is remembered in local tradition as the tribal man who helped identify the route through the difficult Wayanad hills that later became associated with the Thamarassery Ghat.

His story has become closely connected with Lakkidi and the famous Chain Tree nearby.

The statue remembers a man whose name deserves to remain part of the story of this mountain route.

Waterfalls

Kanthapara Waterfalls

Kanthanpara, near Meppadi, is one of Wayanad's smaller waterfalls.

It may not have the scale of some of the better-known cascades in the district, but the short forest walk and green surroundings make the visit enjoyable in their own way.

Sometimes, smaller is enough.

Meenmutty Waterfalls

Meenmutty is a much larger experience.

The three-tiered waterfall drops through the forest landscape and is reached through a trekking route. The character of the falls changes considerably with the season, becoming far more powerful during periods of heavy rain.

Here, the walk and the waterfall belong together.

Lakes and Dams

Banasura Dam

Banasura Sagar is one of Wayanad's best-known attractions.

The large earthen dam is surrounded by hills, and when the reservoir is full, small islands appear across the water. Boating and the mountain backdrop make this more than just a visit to a dam.

Karapuzha Dam

Karapuzha offers another reservoir landscape, but with a quieter character.

The water spreads between low green hills, and the surrounding area has gradually developed into a recreational destination. The views around the reservoir, particularly towards evening, are worth slowing down for.

Pookode Lake

Pookode is a natural freshwater lake surrounded by evergreen forest near Vythiri.

Boating is popular, but I found the walk around the lake equally enjoyable. Water on one side and thick greenery on the other make it a pleasant place to slow down after a day of driving through Wayanad.

History and Heritage

Heritage Museum

Nature gets most of the attention in Wayanad.

The Heritage Museum at Ambalavayal reminds us that the district has another story.

Its collection includes archaeological objects, hero stones, tribal artefacts, tools and sculptures gathered from different parts of Wayanad. Together, they reveal something about the communities that lived in these hills long before Wayanad became a popular tourist destination.

That is why I would not restrict a Wayanad trip to waterfalls and viewpoints alone.

Look at the hills.

Enjoy the forests.

But spend some time with its history too.

Wayanad has enough of all three to keep bringing us back.

Happy travelling.