Wayanad: The land of hills & spices

When people think of Kerala they usually think of famous places like Kumarakom, Munnar and, Thekkady. Most have not heard of Wayanad, one the most beautiful hill stations in the country. I

When people think of Kerala they usually think of famous places like Kumarakom, Munnar and, Thekkady. Most have not heard of Wayanad, one the most beautiful hill stations in the country. I remember the days when I used to look forward to my summer vacations to visit new places with my family. Every time my mother would mention her hometown as a tourist destination, my brother and I would scoff because we thought all of Wayanad was contained in her ancestral home. It was just last September when we finally decided to see what the rest of Wayanad looks like and were we surprised! It was like a Pandora's box had opened up.

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The best thing about going to Kerala is the three-day train journey. Though you can take a flight to Kozhikode, I have always preferred the train journey. From Delhi to Kozhikode, the train crosses almost 36 stations in around four states. Once you reach Kozhikode, you have the option of taking a KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transportation Corporation) bus (which is faster) or you can hire a car. Wayanad is a good 76 kms from Kozhikode city.

I have been to a lot of hill stations but the road to Wayanad is one of the most adventurous yet exciting road trips. Your choice of transport has to navigate nine hairpin turns which are quite steep and dangerous. With each passing hairpin, you go higher and higher. The view of the beautiful mountains above and the lush green forest below is magnificent. The weather just added to the excitement of this trip. It was getting colder as we gained in altitude. We halted every half an hour to enjoy the scenic beauty and to click pictures.

Hidden away in the hills of this land are a number of indigenous tribes colloquially known as the Adivasis. En route, you will come across a large Ficus tree, bound with a long chain. It is called the Chain Tree and has an interesting story behind it. The story goes that the British explorer who discovered the area took help from an Adivasi youth to navigate the treacherous Wayanad hills but tragically murdered the youth so he could claim the entire credit for doing so. The tortured soul of the youth was then chained to this tree by a local temple priest.

About Wayanad

The name Wayanad is derived from 'Vayal Nadu', where Vayal means Paddy and Nadu the land, making it a "land of paddy fields". Wayanad also has inexplicable mountain caves, thundering waterfalls, large tracts of forest land, ancient ruins, tree houses, jungle trails and exotic wild life. It is a perfect place for both nature and adventure lovers. Wayanad is also the land of spices. Coffee, turmeric, rubber, ginger, cocoa are grown here.

Gazing back into history

Wayanad boasts a vibrant history. During ancient times, this land was ruled by the Rajas of the Veda tribe. Later it came under the control of the Pazhassi Rajas of Kottayam. Hyder Ali, after becoming the king of Mysore, invaded the land and kept it under his control. However, during the period of Tipu Sultan, it returned to the Kottayam Royal Dynasty.

You will see pictures and illustrations on the walls of the Ampukuthimala caves which are reminiscent of the New Stone Age civilizations. The modern Wayanad district, formed in the year 1980 has its headquarters in Kalpetta. Kalpetta happens to be my mother's home town. So we saved money on resorts and stayed at my grandparent's place during the whole trip. We also didn't need a guide as my uncle took us around everywhere. Here are some interesting places we visited:-

Alluring attractions


Travel Tips

Getting there

By Air -

Closet airport