Kerala is called ‘God’s own country’ for more than one reason. Known for its backwaters and serene beaches which offers a soothing experience; the other side of Kerala which expels an adventurous beauty with its lush greenery are the hill stations. Of all the hill stations in Kerala, Wayanad with its spectacular beauty has one too many unexplored mountain treks, dams and untarnished lakes to offer apart from the coffee plantations, paddy fields and tea estates. Wayanad Trekking lets you experience the beautiful landscapes while letting us into the deep forests, cross the pristine rivers, revering the waterfalls and conquer its mountain peaks.

Wayanad can undoubtedly be called trekking heaven for its hilly landscape. It has a variety of trekking options that can cater to the needs of a wider mass from less challenging to the most adventurous trekking trails. Trekking enthusiasts might be looking for options to improve fitness, as a getaway to clear one’s mind or to immerse oneself in the natural beauty. The air so pure, the ambience so pristine that it could cleanse our minds and the ravishing beauty of natural abundance all comes together to provide a rejuvenating experience.

Apart from trekking, Wayanad also is home to various natural and picturesque tourist attractions.

A few of the best trekking trails and Kerala Tourist Places Wayanad are listed below :

1.Phantom Rock / Cheengeri Mala

This tourist attraction that resembles a Phantom skull is popular for the unique natural archeological structure and beautiful landscapes which satisfies nature lovers and photography enthusiasts. As it is not an extremely adventurous trek, it can attract the ones who would like to experience trekking without being overly adventurous. What welcomes the ones atop the mountain is the scenic view of Karapuzha reservoir and surroundings.

2. Edakkal Caves

Known as one of the oldest human settlements ever found, Edakkal caves are part of a naturally formed rock shelter with one boulder wedged between two others. Its walls display prehistoric engravings of wider scale indicating animals, human figures, day to day life and so on. Apart from the drawings, the caves contain ‘Muniyaras’ – the ancient burial sites – from where pottery and earthen wares from various time periods were discovered.

3.Banasura Sagar Dam

Considered to be India’s largest earthen dam, Banasura Sagar Dam is built entirely using huge rocks and stones and named after ‘Banasura’ the asura king’, the son of Mahabali. Boating and trekking in Banasura Sagar dam while basking in its natural beauty is the main attraction that attracts tourists to the dam.

4.Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary

A visit to this wildlife sanctuary which is home to a variety of plants, birds and animal species lets us catch a glimpse of these in its natural habitat and full glory. A wildlife jeep safari is organized twice a day for this purpose.

5.Chembra Peak Trek

Standing at an elevation of 2100m, Chembra peak is the tallest in Wayanad. The Chembra peak has Niligiri hills of Tamilnadu and Vellarimala of Kozhikode as neighbours. From its summit, an enchanting view of the whole of Wayanad, parts of Nilgiri, Malappuram and Kozhikode will be a delight like no other. Another major attraction on the way to the summit is its heart shaped lake named as ‘Hridayathadakam’.

6.Pakshipathalam Hiking Trail

Pakshipathalam gets its name from the fact that it is home to a wide variety of rare bird species and bats. Lying in the Brahmagiri hill range, this trek can also be taken from Karnataka by the Irpu falls. The trekking trail leads us through the lush evergreen forest and leads to the deep caves which displays the biodiversity of the region.

7.Brahmagiri Trek

A trek leading deep inside the Brahmagiri wildlife sanctuary has multitudes to offer enroute like grasslands, rivers, and lush green forests. Bordering Wayanad and Kodagu, this is a steep climb with cool water bodies along the way. The summit has rich wildlife and is thickly forested, which is the reason why wildlife sightings are more common along the trek.

8.Kalladi Forest

The trek through Kalladi is a walk amidst the lush green forest which has huge trees and shrubs at the same time in equal measures. A unique trek along the tea gardens, cardamom forests and spice towns are what makes it a memorable experience.

9.Tusharagiri Waterfall

Tusharagiri literally translates to snow-capped mountains gets its name from the misty crown formed on the peak due to the three waterfalls. It can be reached from both Kozhikode and Wayanad.

While planning to embark on a trekking trail, it is always a good option to choose the best forest resort for staying some days in wayanad where nature and convenience merge together making the days spent most memorable. There is no place better to enjoy the wilderness to its fullest and purest, where you get to be away from urbanism and rejuvenate yourself with nature being the healing pill.