Wayanad is located in the northeast part of the Indian state Kerala. It’s in the Western Ghats where the state borders to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Most people head there for one of the two reasons, they either want cooler weather than the coast or just a more relaxed pace than Kochi or Kozhikode. And Wayanad doesn’t disappoint at all as you can find both pretty easily. It doesn't need a lot of planning if you know how to get there.
Getting There
Getting to Wayanad is not straightforward like directly arriving in a city. The place has no airport or station of itself. You will definitely need to so some road travel. It's about 65 km from Kozhikode, around 280 km from Bangalore, and roughly 115 km from Mysore to reach Wayanad. Kozhikode International Airport is the nearest airport to the town and Kozhikode Railway Station is the nearest main place to take the train. From either of those you will need a taxi to complete your last mile travel. Some local buses also run on the route, but they make a lot of stops and take forever to reach. You can book taxis using online cab booking apps or visit the desk right outside the airport and station exits. Most taxi providers allow you book online or by phone. This is a better thing to do during busy months like December to February. Wayanad is packed with people for this time of the year. So, if you are travelling with family or a group then getting an outstation taxi from Kozhikode or Bangalore is the best option.
Getting Around Once You're There
Once you arrive in the town then exploring Wayanad is the next big thing. The attractions are pretty spread out so you will need a reliable mode of transport to visit all the places either hire a taxi where local driver can also be your guide of the town. Chembra Peak, Edakkal Caves, Banasura Sagar Dam, and the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary are few main places most travelers visit and each of them takes about 20 to 45 minutes to reach. Local taxis in places like Kalpetta, Sulthan Bathery, and Meppadi offer daily and half-day deals as well at very good rates. They sometimes even end up being more affordable than just paying per trip. It's often easier than sorting out cabs yourself later.
What to See
Chembra Peak tops out at just under 2,100 meters. People trek there for the heart-shaped lake. Heads up, the forest department caps daily visitors. You have to get permits ahead of time, either from the Kerala Forest Department or an approved local guide. You can see old Neolithic carvings at Edakkal Caves. It's a short, steep climb up, but the views over the valley are pretty wide open. Banasura Sagar Dam is bigger, the largest earthen dam in India. It's a more chilled half-day option, and you can go boating on the reservoir. Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary is a good spot for seeing animals. Jeep safaris are the way to go, and it's really best to book those first thing in the morning. Go to the sanctuary's own counter for tickets, not those unofficial guys outside the gate.
Best Time to Visit
From October to May, the weather is usually clearest, making trekking easier. The monsoon hits from June to September. Everything gets super green, and the waterfalls are roaring. But, landslides can shut down roads without much warning. So, if you're going then, check road conditions first and give yourself some extra time.
Where to Stay and What to Eat
You can find places to stay pretty much everywhere. There are homestays on plantations around Vythiri and Meppadi, or resorts near Kalpetta with nice views of the hills. Sometimes booking directly with smaller homestays gets you a better price. Plus, they often know more about the local roads and what's going on than those big online booking sites. For food, try the small local places. They serve Kerala-style meals, often with bamboo rice, which is a Wayanad thing. You'll also find the usuals like appam, stew, and fish curry, the same stuff you get all over the state.
