2 DAY TRIP FROM BANGALORE | BEST OF WAYANAD

At a distance of 22 km from Kalpetta, 21 km from Mananthavady, 46 km from Sulthan Bathery, Banasura Sagar Dam is the largest earthen dam in India and second largest in Asia. This is one of the most popular tourist places in Wayanad and often represented in the promotion of Wayanad Tourism. It is also one of the top attractions you must include in Wayanad Packages.

Banasura Sagar Dam across the Karamanathodu River, a tributary of River Kabini, is ideally placed in the foothills of Banasura hills, which got its name from Banasura, the son of King Mahabali, the famous ruler of Kerala. It is said that Banasura undertook severe penance on the top of the hills. Banasura hill is the third largest peak in the Western Ghats.

The dam was built in 1979 under the Indian Banasura Sagar Project that was started with an aim of supporting the Kakkayam Hydro Electric Power Project. This project also aimed at contributing to the drinking water .....

At a distance of 13 km from Kalpetta and 3 km from Vythiri, Pookote Lake, also known as Pookode Lake is a natural fresh water lake situated close to the Kalpetta - Kozhikode main road (1 km) in Wayanad district of Kerala. It is one of the must visit Wayanad tourist places and is another popular attraction not to miss in a Wayanad tour packages.

At an altitude of about 2500 feet, this fascinating natural fresh water lake is surrounded with evergreen forests and rolling hills. The lake has the shape of India's map. The lake is spread across an area of 13 acres with a maximum depth of 6.5 m. The Panamaram stream, one of the main tributaries of the Kabani River, originates from the Pookote Lake.

The lake has abundance of blue lotus and fresh water fishes. Pethia pookodensis is a species of cyprinid fish known to occur only in Pookode Lake. The forests .....

At a distance of 16 km from Kalpetta & 4 km from Pookote Lake, Lakkidi is small hill station situated at the highest point in the Wayanad district. Located at an altitude of about 700 m, Lakkidi gets about 600 cm rainfall annually, making it one of the highest rainfall regions in Kerala and also one of the prime Wayanad tourist places to visit.

Often referred as 'the gateway of Wayanad', Lakkidi is located at the crest of the serpentine Thamarassery ghat pass, which features over 9 hairpin curves that start at Adivaram (downhill). The 12 km long ghat road from Adivaram to Lakkidi passing through thick forest leaves a wonderful experience. The lush green hills, gorges and streams on both sides of the passage up the hill are breathtaking sights to the visitors.

This beautiful hill town has a number of scenic locations and enchanting viewpoints. Lakkidi Viewpoint .....

At a distance of 6 km from Ambalavalayal, 14 km from Sulthan Bathery and 28 km from Kalpetta, Edakkal Caves are two natural caves located on top of Ambukutty Mala near Ambalavalayal in Wayanad. Edakkal caves are one of the prime tourist places to visit in Wayanad and often represented in the promotion of Wayanad Tourism.

Situated an altitude of 4000 feet, these caves were discovered by Fred Fawcett, the then Superintendent of Police of the Malabar district in 1890, during his hunting trip to Wayanad. The name 'Edakkal' literally means 'a stone in between'. Here one can see a cave formed by a heavy boulder straddling a fissure in the rock. Many legends are there behind the formation of Edakkal caves. According to one, these caves are said to be formed with the arrows fired by Lava and Kusha, the sons of Lord Sri Rama. Another one is associated with Kutti Chathan and the Goddess Mudiampilly. The local people .....

At a distance of 11 km from Sulthan Bathery & 5 km from Edakkal Caves, 22 km from Kalpetta, Wayanad Heritage Museum is located in Ambalavayal village.

This is one of the best heritage museums in Kerala. The museum houses fascinating items from tribal communities dating back to the second century AD. It has a rare collection of several ancient instruments & tribal artifacts like jewellery, hunting and fishing weapons, farming instruments, a fine collection of 14th - 16th century sculptures, etc. Ancient terra cottas, stone weapons and local art are also on display at the museum.

A series of pictorial rock edicts referred to as Hero Stones, memorialize a bygone age of warriors. There is a fine figure of the Goddess of fertility, Urvara, also displayed here. Most of the artifacts are collected from the Wayanad and surrounding regions.

The museum is spread in two levels with statues occupying lower level while the tribal artifacts are displayed in first level. The museum .....

At a distance of 24 km from Kalpetta & 1 km from Sulthan Bathery Bus Station, Jain Temple is an ancient temple located in the heart of Sulthan Bathery town in Wayanad district. This is one of the most important amongst a series of ruins spread across Kerala that testify to a period of a strong Jain presence in this region and also one of the best heritage places to visit in Wayanad.

The Jain Temple at Sultan Bathery is believed to have been built in 13th century AD. The temple has an interesting history. It first served as a shrine, and then became an important center of commercial activity. Later in 18th century, it became a dumping ground of ammunitions by Tipu Sultan.

The town of Sulthan Bathery was earlier known as Ganapathi Vattam and had 12 traditional Jain streets in and around the town. After Tipu's vandalism, the temple was deserted for about 150 years. Later the Archaeological Survey of India .....

At a distance of 14 km from Sulthan Bathery and 39 km from Kalpetta, Muthunga Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, is a sanctuary and Elephant Reserve in Wayanad district of Kerala. It is one of the top places of wildlife in Kerala and also one of the best Wayanad tourist places.

Established in 1973, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary was brought under the Project Elephant in the year 1991-92. The sanctuary is bordered with Nagarhole National Park & Bandipur WLS in Karnataka and Mudumalai WLS in Tamilnadu. Occupying an area of 345 sq. km, Wayanad WLS is the second largest WLS in Kerala and is now an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The sanctuary was set up with an objective of conserving the biological heritage of the region with due consideration .....