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Wayanad
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Wayanad-The district headquarters of Wayanad are at Kalpetta. The district is known as Green Paradise due to the presence of dense forests and foliage. The district has a rich harvest of condiments and spices. Pepper, cardamom, coffee and tea are the major crops of this land. Kannur, Karnataka and Mallapuram are its neighbors in the North, East and South. To the West is the district of Kozhikode.
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| The district of Wayanad is situated in the north eastern part of the state of Kerala with Kalpetta as the district head quarter. The district came into being on 1980. The geographical location of Wayanad is 11. 27' to 15. 58' north latitude and 75. 47' to 70. 27' east longitude. The total area of Wayanad is 2132 sq km. As per the census carried in 2001, the total population of the district is 780,619. The population density being 369 people per km.
Agriculture is the main source of economy in Wayanad. Tea, coffee, rubber are the main plantation crops. Other than these paddy, different vegetables and fruits are also grown.
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The places of interest are:
| Chembra Peak |
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Chembra Peak is the highest peak in Wayanad, at 2,100 metres (6,900 ft) above sea level. Chembra is located near the town of Meppady and is 14 km west of Kalpetta. It is part of the Wayanad hill ranges in Western Ghats, adjoining the Nilgiri Hills in Tamilnadu and Vellarimala in Kozhikode district in Kerala. Chembra peak is accessible by foot from Meppady. District Tourism Promotion Council provides guides and trekking equipments on hire charges to the tourists. Permission from the forest office in Meppady is required for trekking up to the Chembra peak. A heart shaped lake en route to the top of the peak is a major tourist attraction. The lake is believed to have never dried up.A 5 KM jeorney from meppadi town through tea estates to erumakkolli one can reach the forrest office,from where a pass has to be aquired to treck the mountain .also services of guide can be availed which might be very useful.the treck to the top takes 3 hours.and one can see almost the whole of wayanad and parts of malappuram ,kozhikkode and gudallore districts.
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| Kuruva Island |
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Kuruva Island is situated on the tributaries of the river kabani and is a fabulous picnic spot. Its serene silence and wide expanse of the evergreen forest leaves you astonishing. This island is isolated but an array of uncommon species of birds, herbs and orchids are the monarchs of Kuruva Island. Kuruva Island is 17 kms to the east of Mananthavady. Kuruva Island is a vast island of 950 acres abundantly rich with green forest. It is very far from the turbulence of city life making it an exotic place for visitors to relax and enjoy the beauty of the nature.
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| Lakkidi |
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Lakkidi is the gateway of Wayanad district of Kerala state, south India. It gets the second highest degree of rainfall in the world. Lakkidi is one of the highest locations in Wayanad. It is situated 700 m above mean sea level, atop Thamarassery ghat pass. Vythiri is the nearest town, just 5 km from Lakkidi. Chain tree, Pookot Lake, Sight seeing point on ghat road and number of tourist resorts are within 5 km from Lakkidi. It is about 58 km north east of Kozhikode district
The lofty mountain peaks, the gurging (sicsic) stream, luxuriant vegetation and the bird's eye view of the deep valley on the south, with its winding roads, are breath taking. Three km from Lakkidi is the Pookot Lake, the natural fresh water Lake, very wide and deep, one of the rare reservoirs of water in Wayanad. Surrounded on all sides by meadows and hills, it has become a favorite picnic spot.
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| Pakshipathalam |
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Pakshipathalam - the very name of the place refers to its large population of birds. Here virgin forests, rivulets and steep hills together offer challenging avenues for trekking. A cave which rishis (saints) are believed to have used for meditation in ancient times, has become a major attraction for tourists. Pakshipathalam is about 7 km away from Thirunelli and trekking is the only mode of reaching this place. Thirunelli is about 32 km from Mananthavady.
Nearest railway station : Kozhikode, about 106 km from Mananthavady.
Nearest airport: Karipur International Airport, Kozhikode about 23 km from Kozhikode town. Wayanad, the northern hill district of Kerala, is covered with dense, moist deciduous forests teeming with elephants, tigers, jungle cats, civets, bison, peacocks, wood peckers and numerous other animals and birds. In the sylvan solitude of this land, perched at a 1740 m above sea level is Pakshipathalam, a picturesque sleepy little place.
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| Kanthanpara Waterfalls |
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Kanthanpara Waterfalls is situated 12 km southeast of Kalpetta and 8 km east of Meppadi in Wayanad. The waterfall is surrounded on both sides by beautiful tea gardens. This magnificent 99 ft cataract is an ideal spot for a day-long picnic. The nearest railway station is at Kozhikode. Calicut Airport is the closest airport. The lesser known Kanthanpara Waterfall is only five minutes drive from Glenora Homestay in Wayanad. It's much more peaceful and less frequented than nearby Sentinel Rock Falls. The beauty of the place is accentuated by countless waterfalls that thunder down rocky clefts, shimmering in the sunlight and ending in a glorious spray that creates a nebulous aura around them.
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| Pazhassi Raja Tomb |
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Pazhassi Raja tomb is a memorial of the Pazhassi Raja who was seen as the lion of Kerala. He had a command over the entire regime. Pazhassi raja organized a guerilla type of warfare against the British in ancient days and he is remembered for his valor. In remembrance of him, the mortal remains rest in the Pazhassi raja tomb. Pazhassi raja tomb is situated in the wayanad district at Mananthavady. He was cremated in 1805 after the warfare against British east India Company.
A park is sited in memory of Pazhassi raja. He was a prominent figure as he was the earliest to revolt against British and adapted guerilla techniques.
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| Thirunelli Temple |
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Thirunelli Temple (also Tirunelli) is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu on the side of Brahmagiri hill in Kerala. Temple is located at an altitude of about 900m in north Wayanad in a valley surrounded by mountains and beautiful forests. It is situated 32 km away from Manathavady its nearest town. No proper records of the exact dates of establishment of temple exist, though it is beyond dispute that Thirunelli was once an important town and pilgrim center in the middle of inaccessible jungled valley surrounded on four sides by mountains. There also exists documentary proof that Thirunelli at the time of Chola king Bhaskara Ravi Varma I (962–1019 CE) was an important town and pilgrim center in south India. In the dense jungles surrounding temple, the ruins of two ancient villages can be found. Also recent excavations at the time of paving roads have yielded period coins of 9th and 10th century. Noted historian V. R Parameswaran Pillai in his book "Thirunelli Documents" clearly states that this temple was once an integral part of the early history of North Kerala.
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| Edakkal Caves |
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Edakkal Caves are two natural caves located 1000 metres high on Ambukutty Mala 25 km from Kalpetta in the Wayanad district of Kerala in India's Western Ghats. They lie on an ancient trade route connecting the high mountains of Mysore to the Malabar coast ports. Inside the caves are pictorical writings believed to be from neolithic man, evidence of the presence of a prehistoric civilisation existing in this region. Such stone age carvings are very rare and these are the only known examples in southern India.
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| Valliyoorkkavu |
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Valliyoorkkavu Bhagavathy temple is located in the tribal areas of Wayanad hills at Valliyoorkavu, 3 kms from Mananthavady town in Wayanad district. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy and the annual festival is called the Arattu. The dances performed by the local tribals, to the accompaniment of native percussion instruments, are a major attraction of this annual feast. The traditional ritual art of Kalamezhuthu and an array of folk art forms are also performed.
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| Pookode Lake |
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Pookode Lake is a scenic lake in Wayanad district, Kerala, South India. The lake is surrounded by forests, and boating is allowed. Recent commercial modernisations have removed some of its wilderness charms.
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| Meenmutty Falls |
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Meenmutty Falls is located 29 km from Kalpetta in Wayanad District in the state of Kerala, India. It is a three-tiered waterfall with a height of 300 metres.Meenmutty Falls, the largest and most spectacular waterfall in the Wayanad District, is a 2 km hike though the jungle from the main Ooty Road. It is Kerala's second largest waterfall and the one most unspoiled in its natural setting. Each of its three tiers requires a separate hike through a moist, deciduous forest.The path is quiet dangerous and tiresome.But the waterfalls is worth it.
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| Kerala Travel Informations |
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