A vibrant district in Kerala, Wayanad is a potpourri of experiences that makes for an excellent getaway with its mix of nature, wildlife, culture and food
BY BINDU GOPAL RAO
Driving from Bengaluru to Wayanad is a great precursor to the destination as it crosses through a section of the national parks in the Nilgiris biosphere which makes the journey memorable too.
As I head to my destination at the newly opened Sterling Lontano Waterfront, the landscape changes to all things green and serene. The 21-room boutique property sits pretty overlooking the Karapuzha Dam and is set alongside a water body that is home to several species of birds.
Being part of the Western Ghats, Wayanad is a delight for nature lovers and has several interesting sights in every season. Birds like flycatchers, common kingfisher, pond heron, egret, vernal hanging parrot, white browed wagtail and jacanas are seen quite easily. Keep your eyes peeled for the bright Asian Fairy Blue Bird and Jerdon’s Leaf Bird for a burst of colour.
NATURE’S NUANCES
One of the must-see places in Wayanad is the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary with acres of pristine wilderness and home to several species including elephants, leopards, deer, tiger, dhole (wild dog), and even the elusive white rumped vultures, that I spotted here.
The safari happens in the morning and evening every day and is a great way to come up close with wildlife. The best part is a nature interpretation centre that is a great space to understand the biodiversity of the sanctuary. For instance, did you know that one of the outstanding features of the sanctuary is the contiguous marshlands or swamps called ‘vayals’? There are approximately 114 vayals within the sanctuary covering an area of around 715.79 hectares and have deep clayey soils which are waterlogged in the monsoon. The Kerala Forest Department has intensive vayal maintenance procedures as it is a source of precious water resources.
DAM TALES
One of the other places to bookmark on your visit to Wayanad is the Karapuzha Dam. There is a fairly large garden and adventure park that has recently opened in Kalpetta where you can enjoy the space and its facilities.
The place itself makes for great photographs and offers boat rides as well as walking trails to soak in the beautiful waters amidst the verdant gardens. If you are up for some adventure, this is where you can hop on to Kerala’s longest zipline that will take you from one end of the dam to the other.
A family space, there is a giant swing, VR Zone, Flying Chair, and Trampoline Park on the premises. The place is ideally visited in the early hours of the morning or late afternoon, where you can also catch a great sunset.
MUSEUM MUSINGS
To understand the culture of Wayanad, a stop at the Wayanad Heritage Museum, at Ambalavayal is a treasure trove of history and culture. There are artefacts in different galleries here and the first gallery has a collection of hero stones that are memorials for heroes who have died to protect others. The soil gallery exhibits about 15 different kinds of soil found in the region.
There is also a gallery dedicated to objects of daily use by the tribal hamlets of Paniyas, Oorali Kurumas and Wayanadan Chettis. Do not miss the oothukuzhal (a blow-dart) used for fishing or even the bird traps that are in use even now.
There are other galleries that showcase memories of worship by displaying many old idols as well as shine the spotlight on memories of life that have vessels and tools of the pastoral and agrarian people.
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
A visit to the district is not complete without checking out the famed Edakkal Caves, a set of two rock shelters that have petroglyphs dating back to several thousand years.
Set aside a couple of hours to explore this geological wonder and discover rock carvings, symbols and more. It is best to get a guide who will be able to show you all of this.
A visit to the Pookode Lake, spread over 13 acres and 40 meters deep is a great way to spend some quiet time on the water. The boat ride here is excellent to see the exotic flowering plants and forest that surround the region.
If you like trekking you can do a guided trek to the highest peak in Wayanad, the Chembra Peak. The 950-acre Kuruva Islands is another pitstop to make for dense forests and local flora and fauna.
FOOD FILES
When in Wayanad, sample local Kerala fare is a must and the best way to do that is to enjoy a traditional Sadhya, a simple vegetarian meal that is served on a banana leaf and incorporates all the flavours of the region.
Some key elements of the sadhya includes the mixed vegetable coconut gravy curry Avial, Sambar, Injipuli, a pickle made using ginger, tamarind, jaggery, and green chillies, Thoran, a simple dish made with beans, carrots, or cabbage and grated coconut and Parippu, a flavourful lentil curry and pappadam, served with the traditional boiled rice.
In fact, the traditional Sadhya can have 26 items on the menu. This apart, resorts here offer an excellent selection of food from Continental to Pan- Asian and more.
At Sterling Wayanad, I sampled a Crispy Pappad Wrapped Paneer with Spicy Tomato dip, Crunchy Iceberg Lettuce Salad with Manchurian Dressing, Herb-Infused soup, Crispy Honey Chilli Paneer with Five Treasure Rice, and Gulab Jamun Panna Cotta with Strawberry Coulis.
In all, a trip to Wayanad is a great way to explore Kerala off the beaten track, even as you soak into its unusual sights and sounds.
