Located on the southern tip of the Deccan plateau, Wayanad district in the north-east of Kerala is known for its rugged terrain of the Western Ghats, dense forest, jungles and deep valleys. This district was formed on November 1, 1980 as the 12th district by carving areas from Kozhikode and Kunnur. Kalpetta is the district headquarters and the only municipal town in the district.
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Earlier known as Mayakshetra, the district evolved into Mayanad and finally into Wayanad. Some of the tourists spots in the district include Chembra Peak which is the highest peak in Wayanad and trekking to the top almost takes a day. The Kuruva island is known for its rare species of birds, orchids and herbs. Lakkidi is the gateway to Wayanad and travellers can get a bird’s eye view of the deep valley of the south with its winding roads.
Pakshipathalam in the Brahmagiri hills at Thirunelli, is a challenging tourist spot for any adventure seeking tourist. Pazhassi Tourist Resort at Mananthavady is a good picnic centre in north Wayanad. Boating facilities for tourists are available here.
Nearby is Vythiri which is one of the beautiful hill stations of Kerala, located at about 100 km from Kozhikode about 1,300 metres above sea level. This place is famous for its lush green coffee plantations, tea, cardamon, pepper and rubber.
The main attraction of Vythiri is its adventure offerings like tree houses, sanctuaries, Edakkal caves, situated on Ambukuthi Hills about 10 km from Sultan Bathery. It was formed due to a large split in a huge rock, and the resulting landscape represents the world’s richest pictographic gallery of its kind.
For wildlife lovers, the destination has one of the best sanctuaries of Kerala, the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. Rich in bio-diversity, the sanctuary is an integral part of the bigger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, created to conserve and protect the natural resources of the region.
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