ONLINE INDIATOUR: WAYANAD-Forestry and most greeny

Wayanad - A beautiful hill station lies on Western Ghats mountain ranges at a height of 700 to 2100 m above sea level. Wayanad is an amazing tourist place located at the north eastern part of Kerala, attracts millions of people yearly from all over the world.

This green paradise fascinates nature lovers and adventure tourists. A large area of Wayanad is covered by dense forests.

Kalpetta is the headquarters of Wayanad district.Wayanad is the district with highest share in the Tribal population (about 36%) of Kerala mainly consists of Paniyas, Kurichiyans, Kattunayakan and Adiyas. A larger percentage of people here are migrants from other parts of Kerala and the neighbor states.

Most of the people here are depending agriculture for livelihood. Cash crops like Coffee, tea, cocoa, plantain, pepper, vanilla etc. and rice are the main crops.

There are various places of ecological, touristic, religious and historic importance in Wayanad.

Edakkal Cave

Edakkal Cave is an important tourist attraction, three kilometres away from Ambalavayal which is 25 kilometres from Kalpetta. Edakkal cave is in the Ambukuthy mountain.It is only a cleft about 96ft. long and 22ft wide in the rock. It is a fissure made by a corner of rock splitting off from the main body due to some natural causes. The rock wall contains some interesting carvings, which represent human and animal figures and objects of human use and symbols. These carvings speak of a highly civilized people of pre-historic age.

Edakkal cave

Edakkal Cave Rock Carvings

Muthanga Wild Life Sanctuary

Muthanga is 16 kms. east of Sulthan Bathery, is located near to Karnadaka border. Wild forests covering an area of 345 sq kms form the Muthanga wild life sanctuary, the biggest abode of wild animals in Malabar. Elephant, tiger, cheeta, spotted deer, bison wild bear, etc. are found in this sanctuary. The forest Department has facilities for providing elephant rides to tourists.

Lakkidi

The entry-point to Wayanad, about 58 kms away from Kozhikode, receives one of the highest rainfalls in India. One of the highest locations in Wayanad, Lakkidi also commands a picturesque scenery. The 12 kms.long journey from Adivaram to Lakkidi through ghat road with nine hairpin bends through thick forests is a fascinating experience.

Pookot Lake

Pookode Lake is a famous tourist centre near Lakkidi. It is a natural fresh water lake, has an area of 8.5ha and the maximum water depth is 6.5m located at three kms.south of Vythiri. There is an aquarium and a green house here. Boating facilities are also available here. Spices and handicraft items are arranged here for sale. The lake has an area of 8.5ha and the maximum water depth is 6.5mtrs.

Pookode Lake

Chembra Peak

Chembra peak, the highest hill in Wayanad near Meppady town. Trekking to the top of this hill takes almost a day. Tourists can also stay one or two days at the top of the peak in temporary camps. District Tourism Promotion Council provides guides, sleeping bags, canvases, huts and trekking implements on hire. The scenic beauty of Wayanad, which is visible from the top of Chambra Peak is very exhilarating.

Banasura sagar Dam

This is the largest earth dam in India. The geography here is that many islands will be formed in the upstream of the dam when the dam is full. These islands with the background of the Banasura hill will provide a hypnotizing sight to the tourists.

Banasura Dam

Kuruva Island

The Kuruva island, 950 acres of ever green forest on the tributaries of Kabani River, is an ideal picnic spot, far away from the disturbances of city life. The island is uninhabited. Rare species of birds, orchids and herbs are the sovereigns of this supernal kingdom. It is 10 Kms. away from Mananthavady.

Pakshipathalam

Pakshipathalam is a challenging place for any adventure seeking tourist on the Kerala Karnataka border. To reach Pakshipathalam seventeen kilometres have to be covered through wild forest. Special permission has to be obtained from Forest Department to go to Pakshipathalam. The deep rock caves, formed among the thick blocks of rocks at the northern top end of the Brahmagiri, are the abode of various birds and wild beasts.District Tourism Promotion Council arranges vehicle, guides, camping equipments, etc. for the tourists on hire.

Soochippara waterfalls, Kanthanpara waterfalls and Sentinel Rock waterfalls are waterfalls in the Meppadi - Ambalavayal region. This water falls and its surroundings are spectacular and tranquillising.

Sulthan Bathery is famous for its fort built by Tipu Sultan. The tomb of Pazhassi Rajawho fought the British with the help of Kurichiya warriors, is in Mananthavady.