For a comfortable mix of acitivy and lazyness!

282 kms from Bangalore

What’s in it for me?

• Treks, watefalls and safaris: Safaris at Wayanad lead you into the not-too-dense forest to sight deer, elephants, boars, sambars and the much speculated leopards. It’s a peaceful, not-too-wild looking forest that seems almost tame. Neverthless, safaris in the forest pack in their fair share of fun. Night safaris are particularly interesting, thought sighting animals is a bot more difficult.There are quite a few waterfalls in and around wayanad. We recommend the Chethalayam falls; not too big and just right for a quick dip. But be warned, it’s crowded! The trek upto the eddakal caves is an easy one that leads you into ancient, airy caves which now have iron stairs to make the climb into them easier. There are a lot of treks you can explore at Wayanad. Though walking along the winding hilly roads amidst lush green tea plantations is trekking enough!
• Driving around: Wayanad is not too big, neither is it too small. It offers immense possibility to those who enjoy drives. The best drives will take you up and down and all around the team plantations before bringing you back to where you started. It’s lovely to explore the region just before full-fledged monsoons.
•  The Chain Tree: Legend has it that during the British era there was a villager who helped the British enter Wayanad through a shortcut or a secret route. He helped them find spices in Wayanad before the Portuguese could. In return the British decided to kill the villager, lest he reveal the same route to the Portuguese. It’s believed that the villager’s spirit started to haunt that route and kill anyone who used it. After a lot of hardship, his spirit was captured and locked in a tree. This tree still stands in Wayanad today with a chain and lock around it which is believed to keep the spirit safely locked within. The tree is a must-see when you visit Wayanad. Ask any local for directions to the “Chain Tree”!

What about shelter?

There are too many homestays in Wayanad, so finding accomodation will not be a problem. We particularly recommend Wynberg Resorts in Vythri run by a gentleman named Vamshi. It’s hospitable and cosily tucked into a luxurious estate. The resort has cottages, tents and a tree house. It is a little bit on the expensive side. Per night, per person (inclusive of food)- Rs. 1500-1800 depending on the season. But you can be certain, it’s well worth the money.

How’s the grub?

You will end up eating all meals in the resort you stay at. Food at Wynberg was outstanding. From the traditional Kerala breakfast of Puttu (made of rice) to Fish Fry with coconut and the very tasty avial, meal times were very much awaited. Conversations about the history of Kerala, with the owner Vamshi, made meal times even more interesting. On the last day, when we had to leave early, they were nice enough to pack us a BIG lunch, complete with tissues and plastic spoons!

How much do I have to shell out for the trip?

You will hardly spend on anything beides the stay. So depending on the resort you’re staying at, calculate your expenditure. We spent about 5ooo per head for 3 days, inclusive of shopping for souveniers.

How do I get to Wayanad?

Driving to Wayanad from Bangalore is one of the easiest and best drives. So much so, we once reached Wayanad by mistake while trying to get to Masinagudi! It takes about 6 hours and is mostly plains, with very less uphill driving. There are buses, but a drive is definately more enjoyable.