5 Popular Places for Trekking in Wayanad

A perfect place to trek that will take you to the tallest of the Wayanad hills and is at a height of nearly 6,900 feet.

The Chembra Peak trek is a popular choice among amateurs, while trekking in Wayanad, as it is considerably well known and safe as the district forest office keeps a close watch with their guides. They also offer trekking equipments on rent for tourists.

The trek to the Chembra peak is a straight route through green meadows. The initial phase might take you by surprise as the slopes from the foot are surprisingly steep. It takes some time for a trekker to adjust to the terrain but once he does, the rest is cakewalk.

The lush green slopes of the Chembra hill are rich in flora and fauna. Blessed with natural beauty, a trek along the slopes of this hill will provide you an opportunity to witness unprecedented natural beauty.

The trek uphill requires a trekker to cross seven hills before reaching the Chembra peak. It takes a maximum of three hours for even a leisurely paced trekker to reach the peak. The Chembra peak has many wonders hidden in it such as the heart shaped lake called Hridaya Saras where overnight camping options are possible at the peak.

Best Season: September to February
Trek Distance:  9 kms
Difficulty Level: Easy

Pakshipathalam has a height of 1,740 meters above sea level and stands out as quite a challenging location for those tourists that are looking for adventure during trekking in Wayanad. You will want to visit the Lord Vishnu temple.

In order to reach the top you will have to travel for 16 km. The Pakshipathlam trek takes you through wild forests, deep caves and thick rock blocks.

Pakshipathalam is near the Brahmagiri hills, but unlike the latter Pakshipathalam has gentler slopes and is a pretty much easy terrain to climb. With spectacularly beautiful surroundings, the hill offers great opportunities for photography.

If you are a cave exploring enthusiast, you would also want to check out the ones at Chembra hill.  The caves are a bit too narrow for comfortable passage and require a lot of agility.

Best Season: November to April
Trek Distance: 17 kms
Difficulty Level: Moderate

This trek takes you to the top of Banasura Hill, the second highest mountain in the Wayanad. It is a trek that is filled with mysticism and is moderately difficult. Goading and challenging, the Banasura peak sits at an elevation of 6,801 feet. As is evident, the hill is named after the mythical character Banasura.

The Banasura Hill is not an easy place to trek as it has given grief to many an experienced trekker. The steep slopes, knee high weeds and rocks blocking the path; Banasura hill presents a tough terrain which can deter many determined trekkers who have proved their mettle on a Wayanad trek.

Nevertheless, the hill rewards the courageous with an amazing view that overlooks the Banasura Water Reservoir and the misty peaks of the surrounding hills. It is advisable to stock yourself with enough water before going for a trek on the mighty Banasura Hill.

Best Season: October to May
Trek Distance: 12 kms
Difficulty Level: Difficult

The trek takes you to the top of the Brahmagiri peak for a wonderful scenic view of the entire landscape around the Brahmagiri hill. Just in case you forget, make sure that you take a camera with you to immortalize the view.

The trek along the Brahmagiri slope is an enjoyable experience of trekking in Wayanad. The hill presents a mesmerizing view of the surroundings from its slopes.

You will come across pretty little streams where you can take a break before continuing on your journey uphill. The slope can get quite steep towards the peak, but the vista that awaits you at the summit will wipe out all memories of the arduous journey.

The only peak that is higher than the Brahmagiri summit is that of the Chembra peak and you can see it once you reach the top.

The grass laden slopes of the nearby mountains, the clouds hovering beneath your feet and the beautiful sky that stoops down into the horizon will make you feel on top of the world, literally!

Best Season: November to February
Trek Distance: 9 kms
Difficulty Level: Medium to Difficult

Set in the Western Ghats, Thusharagiri is a popular destination for trekking around Bangalore and is home to some very beautiful waterfalls. You can hear the roar of the falls as you near Thusharagiri.

Situated about 50 kms from Kozhikode in Kerala, Thusharagiri is visited by a lot of tourists throughout the year for sightseeing, trekking, adventure sports etc.

The rugged topography of Thusharagiri is an ideal terrain for those who are looking for a heavy duty trekking opportunity. The trail takes you through dense forests, waterfalls, gurgling streams etc and makes good for all the trouble with its splendid natural beauty.

A trek in this beautiful region gives you the opportunity to have a glimpse of the wonderful rubber, areca nuts, pepper, etc plantations of the region. The Thusharagiri trekking trail has about 5 waterfalls but it is possible to cover only 3 in a day.

It is advisable to return back to base camp and return the next day to complete the trek. A stay in the jungle is quite risky due to wild animals. Stock up on food as much as you can before starting for the trek.

Best Season: September to February
Trek Distance: 5 kms
Difficulty Level: Medium

Offbeat things to do in Wayanad:

The entire region is perfect for camping. You just need to have the right supplies as some parts can be quite chilly during some months. Arrange a stay at one of the campsites or let us arrange a camping expedition with your friends, colleagues or family members.

If you enjoy caves, you should be aware of the fact that Wayanad has some that you will surely want to visit. We highly recommend a trip to the Edakkal Caves, which hold a piece of history in them.

We mean that literally since there are Stone Age carvings that can be seen on the walls and there is a link probable with the Indus valley civilization. Historians are still debating but as they do, you can experience these incredibly unique caves.