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Old 3rd September 2008, 13:47   #1
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Long weekend getaway - 3 day @ Wayanad

Preparation: Decided to head out of Bangalore and extend my weekend. Wanted to do something different from the usual places. Based on my trip the prior week, Wayanad was the place on my list. Seached here and came up with MJothi's trip to Wayanad and about 'Ente Veedu'.

Their numbers are 04935 320494 / 220008 & 9446834834 (this is of a person in charge there called Nash; he is also the guide who will take you around. Called them up directly and got the booking done. Since this is not the right season there wasn't too much of a crowd. I even did not pay any upfront booking charge!

Day 1: Sunday 31st August

Started off from home for an early bird start at 3:15. Went thru Mysore, Nanjangud, Gundulpet, Sultan Bathery and Panamaram. Except for the speed breakers at Mandya, the bad roads enroute to Nanjangud and the bad (bad) breakers from Gundulpet to Sultan Bathery the road was good. Luckily,based on the last experience, this time went thru Mysore to Nanjangud without asking for any directions.

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Welcome to Wayanad!

Reached Sulthan Bathery and then took the route to Panamaram; do make sure to take the diversion from the main road off the Benachi junction. You will find a small board on the right side of the road, do make sure to ask around incase of doubt.

From this juntion, keep asking for Punjavayal. This place is just 2 kms before Panamaram and there are two different routes to reach Panamaram - aka - a place that you might get lost!

The other landmark is the 'La Sallete Ashram' situated at Kayakunnu. This ashram is around a km from the place. Called Nash from here and he asked us to wait for him at a direction board which was few hundred meters away.
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Called Nash once again and he was there in 5 minutes. Followed him back to the homestay. People, please make sure that you give a call and get someone to take you there. The entrance is hidden within the greenary and you are sure to miss. And do not bother asking the locals there, most of them even dont know this place exists!

Got there at 7.30 and got into the room and freshed up. The owner of the place, Mrs.Sreeraj, came down and greeted us and then send across some hot tea for us to have.

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It was a refreshing change from the every day grind we are used to! Sat lazily there sipping tea and letting the small one play with the toys that are available there. This is one things that I found surprising - they had a lot of toys which small kids can play around with. Kept the small one engaged while we enjoyed the greenary.

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See, lot of place for the small one to run around!

The first day plan was to go down to Phookot lake, which was around 30kms from the place of stay. It is just a straight road thru Panamaram and Kalpetta on the Calicut highway.

One strange thing was that there is no sigh board for the turn to the lake. There is one, if you were coming from the Calicut side, but none on this side.

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This is the turn you need to take for Phookot lake.

Parking at 10Rs and then entrance tickets at 10Rs per head and 10Rs for still camera. The only thing of interest was the lake.
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The lake is much better than the one we have at Ooty. The water is so fresh and clear. First took a pedal boat (@30Rs for two people) and then also the the a row boat (@50Rs). Gave us some time to do some photos rounds. The person who was rowing also took the effort in telling us about the plants and animals and all thing that we will not be knowing about the place. Tipped him and thanked him and left.

Came out and then time for lunch. Got back into the road towards Kalpetta and within 500m there is a hotel called Sahara hotel. This is just opposite to an Ayyapan temple. Easy to miss if not looking properly!

Had some biriyani and rotti's. Food was ok-ok! But not as expected from a hotel in this part of the country. Especially the biriyani, it was a total let down! :-(

For those of who can hold on to their tummy, please drive down to Woodlands hotel which is at Kalpetta. Good ambience, great service and great food. Just make sure to keep your eyes pealed to the right side of the road. The name board can be found on the building top. The parking is behind the building, so make sure to slow down before crossing the building; the entrance to the parking is on the right side of the building.

Coming back to what we did - we came out of the hotel at 2.30 and we found a thick blanket of white mist rolling on us. We first though it was some smoke but this was corrected by a shop keeper who overheard us. This one was coming out fast and think. First time am having this kind of experience. Have had sand storms but mist - first time! :-)

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The mist rolling onto us!

We had decided to go and check out the view point, which was just 3 kms from the place we were. This was on the ghat section further down the Calicut highway, but 2 minutes and we knew that we are not going to be any lucky! We were completely covered with the mist and the visibility was a low 10~20 meters! Lights and hazards we on on all vehicle except for some smart *cough*. Neither head light nor harzard light! Don't know what these guys are thinking!

Well, just as I got into the ghat section, knew that this is the point of no return. Cannot turn back on the ghat section so this was the time I did. To add to the mist, it start raining, heavily!

Long weekend getaway - 3 day @ Wayanad-100_2151.jpg

Came back to the homestay and we were just in time to watch the distant rain coming slowly towards us. We can hear the sound of rain falling on the plantations and the sound slowly approaching us! What a life!

Rest of the day was spend with the family since there is nothing much you can do. There was a TV with a good colletion of channels, but then, didn't want to do that.

Dinner was served which was some good home cooked kerala style goodies, including some wonderful prawns! With the rain still going strong we hit the bed!

End of day 1.

Last edited by HappyWheels : 3rd September 2008 at 14:07.
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Old 3rd September 2008, 13:55   #2
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Nice travelogue and pics. Keep them coming.
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Old 3rd September 2008, 14:04   #3
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Nice one. I guess you should have had wonderful time since this was off-season and no crowds.
Good pictures, keep them coming.
Did you tried those Puttu & kadalai kari in Entee Veedu
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Old 3rd September 2008, 14:46   #4
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Day 2:
Photos of the homestay.

Long weekend getaway - 3 day @ Wayanad-100_2167.jpg

Long weekend getaway - 3 day @ Wayanad-100_2170.jpg


A small play house that is a great place to sit and watch the rain in the open country.

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Visited a river which was hid a long way into a plantation. A single vehicle mud road with ginger plantation on one side and rubber on another. The only drawback was that the water was full of mud due to the previous days rain!

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This place is just opposite to a hospital called 'St.Annes Hospital'; just incase anyone decides to check it out.

Next stop -Soochippara waterfall. The drive is thru some good tea plantations and also involves some good amount of walking.

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On the way to Soochippara fall.

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The falls!

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More falls.


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The guide checking for the safe depth.
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Old 3rd September 2008, 14:54   #5
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That good amount of water. You got right angle for the falls. Did you took picture with you guys on that rock? Hope you are uploading it any moment
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Old 3rd September 2008, 14:58   #6
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Day 3:

Next was Kuruva islands.

Long weekend getaway - 3 day @ Wayanad-100_2307.jpg
The boat ride to the island.

Long weekend getaway - 3 day @ Wayanad-100_2311.jpg
A small bridge to get to the ticket counter.

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Work being carried out on the rafting location for the upcoming season.

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some good water bodies.

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Water here also has been affected by the rainfall.


More photos:

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Started back to the resort and then back to Bangalore, after a good lunch and a small snooze, at 3.30pm.

Got confused on the road from Mysore to Bangalore and had to ask a couple of traffic police men - sign boards are non existant! That is, unless you have already taken the right road! The sign boards are all placed midway on the road. Maybe someone forgot that sign boards are more useful at intersections!

Got myself a good escort in the form of a well driven Swift. Kept doing good speed and was following him for quite a distance, that was until a Getz came and somehow felt the need to cut across all of us and drive like crazy! That guy found some happiness in getting between myself and the swift but cutting across to my lane at the last moment! At one point he almost ran a Accent onto the divider by this action!

Anyway reached home at 9pm with some great memories.

Analysis:
The place is a homestay - so its just that. We stayed in the main block and this did give us the comfort of getting milk during late nights for the small one. Would suggest this for people with infant or small kids.
The food is great authentic kerala food. The style of cooking is what makes is so.

The cost is Rs.2k for ordinary room (they call is the 'Superior Room', just a name to the room; don't get carried away, it just like any other room that you might find in your house) and 2.5K for the bamboo house.

The cost of food is Rs.150 per person per meal.

@5.5k for a great time for 3 days, I couldn't be any more happier! :-)
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Old 3rd September 2008, 15:05   #7
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Originally Posted by mjothi View Post
That good amount of water. You got right angle for the falls. Did you took picture with you guys on that rock? Hope you are uploading it any moment
The rains did help in this water flow. And no, we did not go there on to the rocks.

The guide adviced us to stay near to the rocks and not to cross the point where you see him standing. Slippery rocks with the flow is a mighty dangerous recipe. So had to be content with just playing at a safe location.
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Old 3rd September 2008, 15:36   #8
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nice report. this is the second travelouge that i am reading today.
that waterfall is too tempting. Nice to know you enjoyed.
My friend has a bumglow in SB and i stayed there last time. Homely food, nice climate and the list goes on. Great stuff.
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Old 3rd September 2008, 15:59   #9
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Hi HappyWheels, Nice visit report with excellent pictures of Wayanad, thanks for sharing with us. Can you advise if I am coming from Hyderabad, will stay in Bangalore for 2-3 days, then if I want to visit Wayanad, what is better way to visit Wayanad, is there any bus, car services will take to Wayanad and return back to Bangalore. What is the other places to see around Wayanad or enroute, how far is Palakad, Cunnore from Wayanad, please give details if possible.

1 Day is enough to stay in Wayanad, any hotel for stay, rates,
food type available, etc. Bangalore-Mysore-Outy-Wayanad, how many kilometer = ? Appreciate if given details.

Thanks & Cheers!
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Old 3rd September 2008, 16:22   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vintagepoint5 View Post
Can you advise if I am coming from Hyderabad, will stay in Bangalore for 2-3 days, then if I want to visit Wayanad, what is better way to visit Wayanad, is there any bus, car services will take to Wayanad and return back to Bangalore. What is the other places to see around Wayanad or enroute, how far is Palakad, Cunnore from Wayanad, please give details if possible.
1 Day is enough to stay in Wayanad, any hotel for stay, rates,
food type available, etc. Bangalore-Mysore-Outy-Wayanad, how many kilometer = ? Appreciate if given details.
Thanks & Cheers!
not exactly what you are looking for. Blore Wayanad should easy peasy and may be buses, taxis available. Directly from Hyd, you can do it in one day provided flat out driving. Blore Wayanad can be done in 4 hours very fast driving.
Wayanad-Kannore is 2.5 hours driving (ghats etc).
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Old 3rd September 2008, 16:24   #11
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Nice pics there. Do they have any coracle rides in that river? Thats a lot of water in the river.
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Old 3rd September 2008, 16:35   #12
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Hello VintagePoint5,

Wayanad is like 4~5(max) hrs drive from Bangalore. Apart from the place I mentioned, there are other location around Wayanad that can been looked at. Kurava Islands itself is a set of 150 islands configuration, so a day is actually less to be spend over there. Apart from this there is Edakkal Caves (a good mini trekking site) a dam where you get speed boating and so on.

I am not sure about the bus / car service. But I guess you can work out a cab service (or a self driven car) for the trip.

Going to Palakkad from Wayanad is another 6~7 hrs journey. But Kannur (I take this is what you meant when you said Cunnore) is just slightly above a hours drive from Wayanad. Its mainly thru ghat section - but taking the route thru Boys Town, I believe, reduces this distance by 25kms.

Bangalore - Mysore - Wayanad is like ~250kms.

From Wayanad to Ooty you can take the Calicut - Ooty highway (not much info about this). But what I do know is that you can come back to Sultan Bathery - Muthanga Forest Range – Gundlupet – Bandipur – Mudumalai – Masangudi – Ooty.

Hello Snaronikar,

What they have for the river is the rafting. The water that you see now has been muddied by the rains. Usually the water seems to be very clear which itself will be a beauty! :-)

Last edited by HappyWheels : 3rd September 2008 at 16:40.
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Old 3rd September 2008, 16:36   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vintagepoint5 View Post
1 Day is enough to stay in Wayanad, any hotel for stay, rates,
food type available, etc. Bangalore-Mysore-Outy-Wayanad, how many kilometer = ? Appreciate if given details.
I would say its not worth it. Wayanad needs atleast 2 days if you want to have the feel of it. Its a place to take rest and enjoy nature. If you want to visit some places like lake or falls, you will be driving through excellant greenery like tea estates. Will advice to plan atleast for 2 days.

The distance from Bangalore is roughly 300kms.

I have seen buses from Mysore to Sultan Bathery. Guess you should have from Bangalore too.

Search this forum for Wayanad and you will see plenty of interesting stuff like staying in tree top etc. Have fun. Good luck.
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Old 3rd September 2008, 17:25   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjothi View Post
I would say its not worth it. Wayanad needs atleast 2 days if you want to have the feel of it. Its a place to take rest and enjoy nature. If you want to visit some places like lake or falls, you will be driving through excellant greenery like tea estates. Will advice to plan atleast for 2 days...
going to Wayanad is more to unwind. So rushing thru will not give you any benefit!
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Old 3rd September 2008, 19:18   #15
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Nice travelogue happywheels, Nice information about homestays too.

Your pics of Pookot lake and Soochipara reminded me of my Wayanad trip in July2006. I must say that island trip which you did was a nice experience, isnt it?

Abhi
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