Tourist attractions in Wayanad

Forest Road in Wayanad

The Wayanad district in Kerala, India has many tourist attractions.This district is divided into three towns, Kalpetta, Suthan Bathery, and Mananthavady.

Bandipur National Park

Bandipur National Park in southern Karnataka is a 874-sq.km forested reserve known for its small population of tigers. Once the private hunting ground of the Maharajas of Mysore. The park is also home to Indian elephants, spotted deer, gaurs (bison), antelope and numerous other native species. The 14th-century Himavad Gopalaswamy temple offers views from the park's highest peak.

Towards Padinjarethara

• Banasura Sagar Dam – 24 km – considered the largest earthen dam in India
• Kayakkunn Ancient Stone Temple – 22.1 km
• Philately and numismatics museum – adjacent to Banasura Sagar dam
• Karalad Lake – 16 km
• Soochipara Falls, also known as Sentinel Rock Falls – 20 km
• Meenmutty Falls – 25 km – 2 km jungle hike to spectacular waterfall
• Kanthanpara Falls – 22 km
• Kurumbalakotta- Monolith hill in Kerala
• Chembra Peak – 17 km – a 2100-meter peak, the highest in the area
• Neelimala View Point -near Meenmutty Falls – 27 km
• Sunrise Valley – a place to watch the rising and setting sunset amid dramatic mountain scenery – 22 km
• Mango Orange village near Pandallur has undulating tea estates.

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  Soochippara
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  Chembra
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  Chooralmala
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  Mooppanad

Toward Sulthan Bathery Kayakkunn Ancient Stone Temple – 21.9 km Karapuzha Dam – 17 km Edakkal Caves – 28 km Chethalayam Falls – 37 km Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary – 42 km Wayanad Heritage Museum, Ambalavayal – 25 km Uravu – an NGO that works in the area of indigenous sciences and technology. They run a successful bamboo crafts design and production center, along with a bamboo nursery – 12 km Sulthan Bathery Jain Temple – 24 RARS (Regional Agricultural Research Station) – 25 km Phantom Rock – 26 km

Toward Mananthavady

• Kayakkunn Ancient Stone Temple – 16.6 km
• Kuruva Islands – 40 km
• Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary – 59
• Pakshipathalam – 71 km
• Pazhassi Raja's Tomb – 35 km
• Thirunelli Temple – 64 km
• Papanasini, Thirunelli – 64 km
• Pallikkunnu Church – 19 km
• Korome Mosque – 47 km
• Jain Temples (Ruined) at Punchavayal and Puthenangadi (near Panamaram) – 20 km
• Valliyoorkav Bhagavathi Temple – 24 km
• Seetha Lava-Kusha Temple – 50 km
• Thrissilery Shiva Temple – 50 km
• Brahmagiri – a 1608-meter peak (Actually, situated within borders of Karnataka State) – 61 km
• Paingatteri Agraharam – a settlement of Tamil Brahmins organized in the classic architectural typology of row houses – 28 km

RARS The Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) is located in a town called Ambalavayal, and is part of the Kerala Agricultural University.

This research station primarily conducts agricultural research on:

spices tropical fruits sub tropical fruits vegetables hill paddies RARS also has a nursery with a large collection of rare roses and ornamental plants, visitors can purchase seeds and saplings at the sales counter.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Wayanad Sanctuary at Muthanga is contiguous to the protected area network, with Nagarhole and Bandipur of Karnataka to the north-east and Muthumalai of Tamil Nadu to the south-east. Rich in bio-diversity, the sanctuary is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which has been established with the specific objective of conserving the biological heritage of the region. The sanctuary is rich in flora and fauna. The management lays emphasis on scientific conservation with due consideration for the general lifestyles of tribals and others who live in and around the forest.

The vegetation is predominantly moist deciduous forest with small stretches of swamps, teak forests, bamboo and tall grass. Amidst such fertile and varied flora, this region hosts several rare herbs and medicinal plants. Due to the decent amount of watering holes in the area, Muthanga has a large population of pachyderms and has been declared a Project Elephant site. Some other animals that can be found there are jungle cats, panthers, civet cat, monkeys, wild dogs, deer, spotted bears, bison, gaurs, cheetah, wild bears, peacocks, owls, jungle fowls, woodpeckers, babblers, and cuckoos. The reserve is also home to a small population of tigers.

Edakkal Caves

The three Edakkal Caves are located at a height of 1000 m on Ambukuthi Mala near Sulthan Baterhy . The new stone age pictorial writings on the walls of these natural caves at Edakkal are the evidence of the civilizations that existed in the regions in the pre-historic times.

The caves can be accessed only by a 1 km trekking trail from the nearest parking area.

Other Attractions

The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Museum and Library in Kalpetta, is a boarding house near the Jain Temple, where Gandhi took rest during his visit. The museum is located at Puliyarmala, about 4 km from Kalpetta.

The Anantnath Swami Temple at Puliyarmala is one of the very few present-day Jain temples in Kerala.

Myladippara Trekking Centre

Myladippara is a cliff located to the east of the Civil Station, adjacent to the new NH bypass road. A trek to the Myladippara offers a charming experience, making it a great destination for tourists.

5 km from Sulthan Bathery, one can go trekking 400 m (1,312 ft) to reach Thovarimala Ezhuthupara, where one can see stone age pictorial writings on a rock.