Wayanad

Introduction and history: Wayanad is one of the beautiful tourist destinations situated in an elevated picturesque mountainous plateau in Western Ghats. The name Wayanad has been derived from the expression ‘Vayal nadu’ - the village of paddy fields. History of Wayanad traces back to Rajas of the Veda tribe, which later Rajahs of Kottayam royal dynasty and later under Hyder Ali. After hard fought battles with the British it finally came under the control of them, where they made this location for cultivation of tea and other cash crops. This laid the basic blocks for Wayanad finally turning out to be a tourist destination.

What to see and when to go: The natural beauty of Wayanad offers multiple options for travellers to explore this place. Banasura Sagar Dam, Chembra Peak, Edakkal Cave, Kuruva Island, Lakkidi, Muthanga Wild Life Sanctuary, Pakshipathalam, Pazhassi Tourist Resort, Pookot Lake, Sentinel Rock Waterfall and Soochippara Waterfall are some of the important tourist destinations around Wayanad. October to February is the best time to visit Wayanad.

Accommodation: There are hotels available at Wayanad depending on the tourist’s pocket. Multiple government promoted guest houses are available at very economical prices. The accommodation prices at resorts can go as high as 3000 rupees per day.

Mode of transport: Calicut is the nearest Airport, which is 76 kilometers from Wayanad. It also serves as the nearby railway junction, which is one of the important junctions in Kerala. Couple of national highways connects Wayanad to nearby states Karnataka and Tamilnadu. Taxis can be hired for local travel.

Related links:

• Official Website: http://www.wyd.kerala.gov.in/
• Tourist information: http://www.wayanad.com/

See also (nearby places): As Wayanad is located in border of Karnataka and Tamilnadu multiple nearby places can be visited alongside which includes Mysore (120 Kilometers), Ooty (110 Kilometers), Calicut (90 Kilometers), Bangalore (260 Kilometers) and Cochin (280 Kilometers).