The etymology of the word Wayanad is Vayal (paddy) Naad (land); “Land of Paddy Fields”. Wayanad is one of the most exquisite hill stations of Kerala — exotic landscapes with aesthetic locales. Wayanad boasts of having vast and diverse attractions to offer, from wildlife sanctuary to adventurous trails, from thrilling treks to some of the most picturesque waterfalls and much more. It is an ideal getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city life. Wayanad is bestowed with an ethereal charm and aesthetic beauty by Mother Nature. It is just 5 hours drive from Bangalore and fits the bill perfectly for a perfect weekend getaway from Bangalore. In this post, we give you a low down of the places to see in Wayanad.
Let escape to God’s Own Country Kerala and Kerala’s most popular and beautiful hill station — “Wayanad“.
– Route from Bangalore to Wayanad-
We started our journey at 8:00 AM from Bangalore.
293 km, 5 hours 30 Mins
-
Kozhikode-Mysore-Kollegal Hwy/NH 212
– Stay –
We stayed at Vythiri Meadows. The homestay is located at Vythiri town and is a perfect hideaway for families. There are a total of 10 independent villas with an individual parking area for every villa.
– Places to See in Wayanad –
Day 1:
Lakkidi Point
Lakkidi Point is one of the highest locations in Wayanad. It is situated at 700 meters above sea level. The vantage point offers dazzling views of the surrounding cliffs and valleys. The lofty mountain peaks, luxuriant vegetation and the bird’s eye view of the deep valley below with its winding roads are a treat for the eyes.
Pookot Lake
Pookot lake is one of the most sought-after tourist spots of Wayanad. It is a natural freshwater lake, surrounded by evergreen mountains. Boating facilities are also available in this lake.
(Timings: 8.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.)
Day 2:
Banasura Sagar Dam
Largest earth dam in India and the second largest in Asia. Undisturbed and engulfed amidst the hills, this dam is an absolute piece of beauty. The enthusiastic ones can walk up the dam and the lazy ones can rely on the jeep service right up to the top.
Soochippara Waterfall
Known as Sentinel Rock Waterfalls — situated near Meppadi is nature’s treasured gift. The waterfall is very popular and the most crowded one.
Distance: Around 30 km from Vythiri and 20 km from Kalpetta.
Kanthanpara Waterfall
Kanthanpara waterfall is the only waterfall in Wayanad for which you don’t have to trek. A narrow path from the road leads directly to the waterfall. Since the place is less popular than Soochippara falls it is calmer and hassle-free.
Day 3 :
Meenmutty Waterfall
Kerala’s second largest waterfall and the one most unspoiled 3-tired waterfall is located 29 km from Kalpetta. Meenmutty is a combination of words Meen (fish) and Mutty (blocked).One of the largest and most spectacular waterfalls in the Wayanad District.
This trek to the waterfall will take you through the beautiful & bountiful forest of Wayanad.
Jain Temple
The ancient site that was once the center of the spice trade stands dilapidated now. 
Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Kerala. It is bestowed with lush green forests and rich wildlife, located very near to the Karnataka border.
Elephant, spotted deer, bison, tiger, wild bear, etc. can be found in this wildlife sanctuary.
Good To Know
Best Time to Visit: October – May
Activities: Vantage Points, National Park, Dam, Waterfall, Bird Watching, Jeep Safari, Wildlife Sanctuary, Treehouse
Other Tourist Attractions:
Thirunelly Temple
Pakshipathalam
Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary
Kuruva Dweep
Edkkal Cave
If you don’t fancy driving around and exploring on your own. You can also opt for Kerala Tour Packages.
Where to Stay :
Hotel price can go from INR 500 – INR 30,000 depending on your choice and facilities.
Vythiri Resort
The Windflower Resort & Spa Vythiri, Kalpetta, India
Banasura Island Retreat, Kalpetta, India
You can check more Hotels in Wayanad – HERE
How to reach Wayanad:
Nearest Railway Station: Kozhikode railway station is 60 km from Vythiri.
Nearest Airport: Bangalore, Mysore and Calicut International Airport are the nearest airports to Vythiri. Kozhikode(Calicut) is well connected by air to all major Indian and International cities.
Road : Driving distances from Bangalore: 282 Kms, Kozhikode (Calicut): 60 Kms, Kalpetta: 15 km, Ooty : 140 km, Mysore : 140 km, Bandipur – 110 km, Mudumalai – 110 km.
Other: You can opt for public transportation or car rental depending on your budget.
NOTE
If you do find our article useful in planning your trip, don’t forget to send a note/picture of your trip to us ( Email: thetalesofatraveler@gmail.com) for our Testimonial section.
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the waterfall capture is beyond amazing !! Gush of water .. refreshing !! Nice and very informative post
Thank you so much.
Wow.. I can’t tell which of the pics is my fav.. the place is so inviting 🙂
Thank you so much. 🙂
What Tanjore is to Tamilnadu, Vayanadu is to Kerala. Nice write with tons of info.
Thank you so much.
Wow Swati you actually took time and patience to write a post apart from just the pics. Great! And pics as usual awesome!
Thank you so much.
A lovely and very informative post with some great pics..tempting, Will plan a visit sometime soon hopefully !!
Thank you so much.
Great Great Description woit lovely photographs.. 🙂
Thank you so much.
Sounds like you had lots of fun!! 🙂
Yes, I had awesome fun. 🙂
While I was in Kerala, I went to Coorg and there was always a debate of whether Coorg was better or Wayanad. Feel like revisiting Wayanad to check the difference.
You should definitely plan to visit Wayanad.
There are a lot more places to visit in wayand
Yes definitely there are.
Hi i gone throught your blog.Having good information.Thanks for sharing useful information
Thanks.
Thanks for liking our post.
Thanks.
Great pics and nice article. Edakkal Caves is also a wonderful place to visit in Wayanad.
Many thanks for your kind words.
Good and informative post.
Thank you so much.
Good pics. If you are interested to go to Wayand, South chalo is offering good offers from August to November packages like Wayanad tour packages and Wayanad holiday packages.
Thanks.
Great Write up and Amazing Images.
Thank you so much for your kind words.
Wow Such a lovely post. Wayanad is the best places to visit in Kerala. I am planning to visit Kerala from last few months but not able to go. Can anybody suggest me which month is suitable for me for a Kerala trip. I want to explore backwaters of Kerala, Munnar hills, Kovalam beach. Thanks for the great information.
Thank you so much for your kind words. Generally, it’s better to visit Kerala during winter time.
awesome post
Thank you so much.
It’s really informative . Wayanad silverwoods offers best deals and packages with affordable rate.
Thank you so much.
wayanad is my fav place i was visit 4 times thanks for this beautiful and wonderful post
Wayanad is one of the best place to enjoy vacation with family. Last year I have visited and it gives a lot of wonderful experiences. Article helps me a lot to understand the best places in Wayanad. Images are superb!
All. places of waynand are awesome. thanks for sharing this great article. this is more helpful for the traveler.
I am planning to visit Wayanad in may and June. When I read this bog , I am so excited about Wayanad. Wayanad is nice place to see with your partner.
Wayanad is a lovely place 🙂
Wow!!! amazing post, after reading this post I am also willing to visit wayanad
I’m a Keralite, and Wayanad is my favorite destination years back. About a decade back, I used to work in Kozhikode, down from the hills of Wayanad, and Wayanad was the place I would escape to in order to get away from the stress. Food list of places here, though I might add Chembra peak to the list if you are up for a reasonable hike.
Amazing blog. Thank you for sharing
I want to visit Wayanad for my next trip thanks for sharing us great information.