CHEENGERI HILLS

ONE OF THE BEST TREKKING PLACE IN WAYANAD.

8 KM FROM BATHERY

20 KM FROM KALPETTA

40 KM FROM MANANTHAVADI

NEAREST AIRPORT:  CALICUT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

ARANAMALA
The hills rise steeply, gazing into the sky. Thick forests and meadows creep on to them. In between  are little streams crystal clear water. The fog appears intermitently. All these make Aranamala, a land of magic sights and eminent view gives a nostalgia feel. Aranamala giving a pleasent and amazing view of Wayanad. 8 Kilometer from Meppadi 20 KM from kalpetta.

TOP DESTINATIONS IN WAYANAD AND INFORMATIONS

Koottamundu Glass Temple, Wayanad 

An important pilgrimage for Jains, Koottamunu Glass Temple was created to honor the famous Jain saint Parshawanatha Swami. Situated 20 km from Kalpetta on the hill side Vellarimala, devotees come here to pay their respect and meditate. The interior of the temple is quite tantalizing decorated with mirrors reflecting the image of the idols inside the main temple. A perfect getaway from all the usual sightseeing in Wayanad, this temple is located in the hills of Vellarimala. The Glass temple truly showcase its name since it is filled with thousands of Glass mirrors, and is perfect for an awe-inspiring experience. It is a photographer delight since the temple is beautiful and unique in its own sense, nestled in the green hills it is a delight for nature lover as well. There is no entry fee to enter into the premises, to give you a delightful experience. Located 20 km away from the Kalpetta, you can reach here via local taxi or cabs. The best time to visit here is from October to May.

THAMARASSERY CHURAM

Wayanad Ghat pass also known as Thamarassery Churam is along the National Highway NH766 connecting Kozhikode with Wayanad. Wayanad Ghat road is the most beautiful in South India stretching 14 Kms and having 9 hairpin bends with each turn taking one to a higher altitude offering a better view of the picturesque plains below.

According to history, Foreign rulers were attracted by the beauty of Wayanad especially the spices and they tried to make many passes to reach Wayanad. Finally, a head of tribal community showed them this route. But in order to take the credit of having found the route, they killed the tribal head. And it is the belief that his spirit used to haunt the travellers by throwing away the vehicles into the valley. Finally he was chained to a tree to solve the problem.

Read Stories:

An amazing journey through the Thamarassery Ghat Pass, a.k.a Wayanad Churam. Read my experience in travelling through the curvy roads through the hills in Wayanad, one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Kerala.
Read more on Wayanad Ghats

Thamarassery Churam- An Amazing Road Journey to Wayanad in Kerala
Read more Thamarassery Churam

While at Wayanad, make your stay comfortable at Silverwoods Resort.

Wayanad Silverwoods Resort is one of the best luxury resorts in Wayanad offering exquisite experience in tune with the nature. It is one of the sought after destinations that harbor some of the most spectacular landscape in the world where visitors can experience a unique blend of landscape, wildlife sanctuaries, waterfalls, dams, coffee plantations, varied flora and fauna etc.

Wayanad Silverwoods Resort is spread in an area of 16 acres  and provides a breathtaking view of the Banasura sagar with the mighty banasura mountains as the back drop.

Kurumbalakkotta

Would you like to go for a trek to an exciting new destination? Wayanad has many strikingly scenic lofty ridges, which are often interspersed with dense forests and deep valleys. Clothed in greenery, various mountain ranges like Vellari, Makkiyadu, Narinirangi, Brahmagiri, Manikunnu, Ambukuthi, Chembra, Banasura, Kurichyar etc. offer a picturesque view of this pristine land. Making a choice from all these would be a difficult task. How nice it would be to see all these mountain ranges from a single destination! Interested? Then pack your bag and head for Kurumbalakkotta in Wayanad.

Kurumbalakkotta is a small hamlet in Kalpetta in Wayanad District of Kerala. It has been said that it was the Fort of a Kurumbapaalakan (meaning a king) because it offered a strategic geographical point to keep vigil against the enemies. However, there are no remnants of the fort to be seen. There are also some songs, which describe the relationship of this fort to the reign of the Veda dynasty.

You can start your trek from Malankara. If you are looking for clear cut paths to the peak, then you are mistaken. Kurumbalakkotta does not have pathways leading to it because it has not yet found a place in the usual trekking manual. You can move on cutting through the long grown theruva grass and yes, watch out for those thorns.

As you reach the top of the peak you can see several other towering peaks at a distance. Kurumbalakkotta reigns in the middle of Wayanad. The vista resembles the solar system; Kurumbalakkotta being the Sun. From here, you can take in the majesty of the sub-tropical savannahs, picturesque hills, sprawling spice plantations and luxuriant forests. Its surrounding mountains are equally imposing, creating magnificent panoramas from any point.

From Kurumbalakkotta, one can see the Panamaram River, flowing like a silver cincture worn around a maiden's waist. The paddy fields and palm groves shrouded in misty air offer a brilliant view. On your way down, one may also visit the Kurumbalakkotta Bhagavathy temple. The temple boasts of a legacy of more than three centuries. This trekking spot is not exclusively reserved for the adventurous spirit. It is ideal for anyone who would love to do a not so tedious trek. 

Kurumbalakotta is a hill 20Km west of Kalpetta in Wayanad district, Kerala. It is a monolith hillock in Kerala. It rises to 991m above sea level. It is situated in the centre of Wayanad.

IRUPPU WATER FALL NEAR WAYANAD, COORG, KARNATAKA

Iruppu Falls is a fresh water cascade, which is located in Coorg district of Karnataka. This fall originates from the Lakshmana Tirtha River, which is the tributary of Cauvery River. Owing to this, the fall is renowned as the Lakshmana Tirtha Falls. From these falls, visitors can reach Brahmagiri Peak, following a forest trial.

Near these falls, visitors can find the famous Rameshwara Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is situated on the banks of the Lakshmana Tirtha River and attracts pilgrims during the festival of Shivaratri. As per the Hindu mythological belief, Lord Rama and Lakshmana passed along the Brahmagiri range in search of Lord Rama's wife, Sita.  

Lakshmana shot an arrow into the Brahmagiri hills, when Lord Rama asked him to fetch some drinking water. His arrow brought into being the Lakshmana Tirtha River. Since then, these falls are believed to cleanse sins of devotees, if visited on Shivaratri. During the monsoon season the fall has high flow of water and offers a beautiful sight. This time is considered ideal time for visiting the Iruppu Fall.

Distance between Wayanad and Iruppu Falls

Origin	Wayanad, India
Destination	Iruppu Falls, Karnataka, India
Driving Distance	124 kms or 77.1 miles or 67 nautical miles
Driving Time	2 hours, 28 minutes

How To Get To Coorg

Reaching Coorg (also known as Kodagu), the picturesque hill station in South India, is hassle-free since the destination enjoys good road connectivity with other major cities nearby. It does not have an airport or a railway station.

What is the Nearest Airport to Coorg?

Coorg does not have an airport. Mangalore(160 kms) and Bangalore(260 kms) are the nearest airports to Coorg. They have flights to all major Indian cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Chennai as well as many gulf countries. Taxi/cab and bus services are also available from both the airports to Coorg.

What is the Nearest Railway Station to Coorg?

Coorg does not have a railway station. Mysore(140 kms) is the nearest railway station to Coorg and a number of trainsconnect them. Other close railways stations are Mangalore and Hassan in Karnataka, and Thalassery and Kannur in Kerala. Trains like Mysore Express, Shatabdi Express, Bangalore Express stop at Mysore station and connect it to the rest of the cities.

How to Reach Coorg by Bus

Coorg is well connected to the other districts of Karnataka. There are number of options to reach Coorg by busas Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) provides many deluxe buses. There are regular services between Madikeri and all the major cities of Karnataka including Mangalore (135 kms), Mysore (120 kms), Bangalore (260 kms) and Hassan (115 kms).

Depending on the distance and condition of roads, the journey could take anywhere between 4-6 hours. The KSRTC buses have very limited or no stops, so you should prepare accordingly and ideally pack some snacks for the journey. Most buses start late in the evening making it easier for you to check in to your resorts or hotels in Coorgand utilize your day to visit tourist attractions.

How to Reach Coorg by Road

A road trip to Coorg is very popular as the serene air and cool mountains provide you a refreshing experience. Lot of people prefer travelling by a self-drive car as it offers privacy and the flexibility to stop anywhere for a quick selfie or just to absorb the picturesque views of the hill station, especially if you are travelling right after the monsoon when nature is at its best.

How to Reach Coorg by Cab/Taxi

If self-drive is not an option, you can always take a taxi to Coorgand enjoy sightseeing on the way. Cabs are readily provided by travel agents in Bangalore, Mangalore and Mysore.

Routes to Coorg

Route from Bangalore:There are two popular road routes from Bangalore to Coorg. The first one is via Mysore and the second one is via Channarayapatna on the NH48 towards Hassan from Bangalore, which is a bit longer. If your hotels is in south Coorg, select Mysore route. However, if your destination is around Madikeri or Somwarpet region, select the Channarayapatna route. It takes 5 hours of car drive from Bangalore.

Route from Mangalore:Coorg is about 140 km from Mangalore and takes about 3 hours to reach by car. You can take the NH48 or Bangalore-Mangalore highway from Mangalore. Places covered in the journey are Mangalore, Puttur, Jalsoor and Coorg.

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KURUVA ISLAND, WAYANAD

Kuruva Dweep or Kuruva Island is a protected river delta, comprising a cluster of islands over the middle of Kabini River in Wayanad. Spread over 950 acres of land, Kuruva Island is densely populated with rich flora and fauna. The geographical peculiarity of this island makes this place evergreen with a serene ambience.

Dwelling deep into this island, you can sight many attractive things like bridges made up of bamboo trees and other rare species of trees. The uninhabited island is home to rare species of birds, orchids, herbal plants etc. Coming so much closer to the nature, you might be feeling Kuruva Island as a nature's gift to Wayanad.

The island is surrounded by streams and you can have a boat ride or rafting through this stream enjoying the enchanting beauty of the island. The boats and rafts are provided by the Kerala Tourism Department and it will take few hours to cover each and every island. Tourists from different parts of the world enjoy the rafting here. The rafts are made up of bamboos providing you a thrilling and exciting journey through the streams.

The other thing you can do in this fabulous island is to have a calm and lazy nature walk. Partying and picnic are restricted here as the authorities are maintaining eco-tourism in Kuruva Island. Just enjoy the beauty without spoiling the pristine nature. You can also plan for a trekking in Kuruva Island.

Entry to this island is restricted during rainy seasons (from June to September). The island is opened during the months from October to May and there is a nominal entry fee to the island. The time schedule is from morning 9 to evening 5.

The island is situated 15 km away from Mananthavady, 58 kilometres from Sultanbathery and 40 kms from Kalpetta. There are frequent buses from Manathavady to Kuruva Island.