Wayanad Tourism | Places to Visit | Things To Do

Wayanad, the name derived from Vayal Nadu popularly means the land of paddy fields. Largely a retreat for the nature lovers, it is home to the oldest tribes. Land untread, untouched and unspoilt. Along with Ooty and Coorg, Wayanad is popular hill station weekend getaway for people of Bangalore and Mysore.

It is also the 12^th district of Kerala which is blessed with beautiful entangled Jungles, dense forest and deep valleys. Wayanad is endowed with rich tribal culture embellished with various art forms and dance styles. Around two third of the district population is tribal which include various sects such as Ooralis, Adiyars, Kurums, Paniys etc. These sects have their own unique dance style of which the most popular and well known dance style is the fire dance. People in these tribes lead a tranquil and an Eco friendly life with things made out of bamboo, clay etc. They live in Thatched roofs, Bamboo, bricks and mud houses situated in the swampy plateaus and valleys.

The Adivasis or tribal culture is a culture characterized by a rich legacy of art and craft forms which includes music, dance, handicraft reflecting inspiration from natural theses, exquisite ornamentation and various motifs and materials unique to the Adivasis culture and tradition. The Adivasis ancestors constituted the army of Pazhassi Raja who faced and fought the British forces in many battles. The descendants of these Adivasis warriors and even today demonstrate their expertise in archery. Their rare talent has been showcased and well appreciated at various well known centers.

Wayanad is a land of mighty mysterious mountains, fantastical yet fascinating legends, caves aborigine tribes, their preciously preserved art and tradition and vibrant and exotic wildlife. Wayanad is one of the world’s last surviving zones of tropical biodiversity; its terrains are classified by a rich tribal history and elaborate stretches of wilderness and natural beauty. 

Wayanad is a perfect place to be tread on foot as you unravel the magical mystique of this little quaint city. One can also visit the Glass temple of Koottamundu and the Bansura Sagar Project. Wayanad tourist attractions also include Edakkal caves. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is the second largest protected wildlife park in Kerala. Wayanad forest have high density of animals like elephant and Indian bison. Trekking is a popular activity in Wayanad and the Chembra peak trek a favorite for adventure lovers. 

Wayanad is most famous for its great natural beauty  but also for many spices grown here. Wayanad  black peppercorns are some of the best you will find anywhere. Wayanad is plenty of homestay and guest house options for stay. Resorts in the midst of beautiful valleys and lush green hill sides are plentiful. 

Nearest airport is that of Kozhikode which has flights from many Indian cities. Wayanad is well connected through good roads with Bangalore, Mumbai, Coimbatore and Chennai. Wayanad to Ooty distance is about 110 Kms.