Kerala · Travel guide
Wayanad
Misty highlands, ancient caves & coffee country
Weather in Wayanad
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Set high on the Western Ghats where Kerala folds into Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Wayanad is a plateau of perpetual mist, spice-scented air and forest that still hides elephants. It moves slowly: coffee dries on courtyards, jeep tracks climb to tea-fringed peaks, and the prehistoric carvings at Edakkal remind you people have been climbing these hills for millennia.
Why go
Trek Chembra Peak past a perennial heart-shaped lake to the highest point in Wayanad.
Read 6,000-year-old petroglyphs carved into the Edakkal Caves.
Spot elephants and gaur on a dawn safari through Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Muthanga / Tholpetty).
Wake to coffee and cardamom on a working plantation homestay.
Best season
October to May
Post-monsoon months are cool, green and clear — ideal for trekking. The monsoon (June–September) turns the falls thunderous but leeches and closed trails make hiking hard.
Getting there
- By air
- Calicut (Kozhikode) International Airport is the nearest, ~95 km / 3 hrs via the Thamarassery ghat road. Kannur airport is a similar distance.
- By rail
- Kozhikode is the closest railhead; pre-book a cab or take a state bus up the hairpins to Kalpetta.
- By road
- Kalpetta, Sulthan Bathery and Mananthavady are the main bases. The ghat climb has nine sharp hairpin bends — go in daylight.
Highlights
Chembra Peak trek
A half-day climb (permit + guide at the forest check post) past the heart-shaped lake to 2,100 m of ridge-line views.
Edakkal Caves
A short steep hike to Neolithic petroglyphs etched into a natural rock cleft above the valley.
Soochipara & Meenmutty falls
Tiered waterfalls in the rainforest — Soochipara has a natural pool for a cold dip in season.
Banasura Sagar Dam
India's largest earthen dam, with speedboats over a reservoir of half-submerged islands.
Sponsored
Featured stays & camps
Campsite
Banasura Hill Camp
Tented stays under the stars by Banasura Sagar
₹1,800–₹3,500/night
Resort
Edakkal Heritage Resort
Plantation-view cottages near the Edakkal Caves
₹2,500–₹5,000/night
Join a crew
Upcoming trips to Wayanad
Typical budget ₹1,800/head
Sleep here
Stays near Wayanad
Travelling solo to Wayanad?
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From the journal
Wayanadguides & stories
Local tips
Carry a light fleece — even summer evenings on the plateau turn chilly.
Forest treks need a permit and open only within fixed hours; reach gates early.
Buy estate-fresh coffee, pepper and wild honey directly from plantations.
Mobile signal is patchy deep in the estates — download maps offline.
Make it happen
Plan your Wayanad trip
Find a group heading to Wayanad, or start your own and bring a crew along.