Best places to visit in Wayanad
Best places to visit in Wayanad
Wayanad, a verdant district in Kerala's northeastern highlands bordering Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, is a treasure chest of biodiversity, ancient tribal culture, and misty plantation landscapes. The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, shelters elephants, tigers, leopards, and a spectacular variety of birds. Bamboo rafting on the Kabini River, exploring the prehistoric Edakkal Caves with their neolithic carvings, and trekking to the majestic Chembra Peak — the highest in Wayanad — are experiences that make this district an extraordinary eco-tourism destination.
Chembra Peak
→Chembra Peak is the highest peak in Wayanad, Kerala, rising to 2,100 meters in the Western Ghats. Famous for the heart-shaped Hridaya Thadakam Lake midway through the trek, this popular day hike through tea estates, grasslands, and shola forests offers sweeping Nilgiri Hills panoramas, making it one of South India's most photographed and beloved trekking trails.
Edakkal Caves
→Edakkal Caves are extraordinary ancient rock shelters in Wayanad, Kerala, featuring rare Neolithic petroglyphs and engravings dating back over 5,000 years. Located on Ambukuthi Hill at 1,200 meters, these prehistoric caves offer fascinating archaeological insights into early human civilization in South India and a thrilling climb rewarded with stunning views of the Wayanad plateau.
Soochipara Falls (Sentinel Rock)
→Soochipara Falls, also known as Sentinel Rock Waterfalls, is a spectacular three-tiered waterfall in Vellarimala, Wayanad, Kerala, cascading 200 meters through dense tropical rainforest. Famous for cliff jumping and swimming in natural pools at its base, it is one of Kerala's most thrilling and visited waterfall destinations, ideal for adventure and nature tourism.
Banasura Sagar Dam
→Banasura Sagar Dam is India's largest earthen dam and Wayanad's most scenic reservoir, set against a dramatic backdrop of the Banasura Hills in Kerala. Offering boating amid rocky islets, trekking to Banasura Peak, and stunning mountain reflections, this picturesque dam and surrounding landscape is one of Wayanad's most popular and photogenic tourist destinations.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
→Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is a key part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in Kerala, spanning 344 sq km of evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. Home to the largest population of Asian elephants in India alongside tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and rare birds, it is one of South India's most biodiverse and important wildlife conservation areas.
Pookode Lake
→Pookode Lake is a serene freshwater lake surrounded by subtropical evergreen forests near Vythiri in Wayanad, Kerala. Set at 770 meters, this scenic lake shaped like a map of India offers pedal boating, lakeside walking trails, a children's park, and a freshwater aquarium, making it one of Wayanad's most popular and family-friendly natural attractions.
Kuruva Island
→Kuruva Island is a protected and pristine river delta island in the Kabani River, Wayanad, Kerala, spread across 950 acres of dense tropical forest. Accessible only by bamboo raft, this eco-sensitive zone is home to rare birds, medicinal plants, and diverse flora and fauna, offering one of South India's most unique, unspoiled, and immersive eco-tourism experiences.
Meenmutty Falls
→Meenmutty Falls is one of Kerala's largest and most spectacular waterfalls, cascading in three tiers for over 300 meters through dense forest near Kalpetta in Wayanad. Accessible via an adventurous 2 km trek through the Western Ghats wilderness, the falls reward trekkers with a breathtaking natural spectacle and is a top off-beat Wayanad adventure destination.
Thirunelli Temple
→Ancient temple in Brahmagiri hills.
Lakkidi Viewpoint
→Lakkidi Viewpoint is the gateway viewpoint to Wayanad on the Thamarassery Ghat Road in Kerala, marking one of India's most scenic and historic mountain passes with 12 dramatic hairpin bends. From this misty viewpoint at 700 meters, travelers are welcomed by a canopy of ancient trees, a legendary chain rock, and panoramic views of the Wayanad Plateau.