Tourism in Wayanad District
Wayanad is known as one of the most beautiful retreats of Kerala. It always had a great share of
the visitors arriving South India. Wayanad with its natural scenic beauty, rich natural resources,
the hills, rocks and valley, unique terrain, climate etc provide a lot for catering to the demands
of increasing tourists. Wayanad provides scope for ecotourism tourism (wildlife tourism), Recreational
tourism, Adventure tourism, Heritage tourism, Historic tourism, Pilgrim tourism, Monsoon tourism etc.
Muthanga and Tholpetty forests in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary are the foremost and targeted
tourism destinations in Wayanad District. Recreational tourism centres like Kuruva island (Kuruva Dweep),
Banasura sagar Dam, Karapuzha Dam, Pookot Lake, Karalad Lake, Neelimala View Point, Sunrise Valley,
Sentinal Rock Waterfalls, Kanthan Para Waterfalls, Pazhassi Park, Pazhassi Tourist Resort, Lakkidi Ghat
Pass etc attracts a lot of tourists. Chembra peak, Pakshipathalam, Meenmutty Waterfalls etc are known for
adventure tourism. Heritage trails include Wayanad Heritage Museum, Muniyara, Chain Tree, Pazhassi Raja’s
Tomb, Uravu etc. Historic tourism sites include Edakkal Caves, Pazhassi Memorial, Jain Temples at Panamaram,
Sulthan Bathery Jain Temple, etc. A lot of Pilgrims visit Thirunelly Temple, Papanasini at Thirunelli,
Thrissilery Shiva Temple, Seetha-Lava-Kusha Temple, Valliyoorkav Temple, Puliyar Mala Jain Temple, Pallikunnu
Church, Varambetta Mosque etc.
Ecotourism in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Muthanga and Tholpetty are the two ecotourism centers in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. Visits to
these ecotourism centers provide unforgettable wilderness experience, frequent sightings of free
ranging wildlife like herds of elephants, guars, deers, monkeys, tigers, leopards, bears, many
species of reptiles, fishes, butterflies, birds including vultures etc, valuable nature education
information from interpretation centres etc Medicinal plants’ garden, Birth Star Plants’ (Zodiac Plants)
Garden, Muthanga Elephant Camp with 3 tuskers and one female calf, traditional tribal folk lore etc
are other attractions in Muthanga.
Ecotourism in Muthanga and Tholpetty is much helpful in creating deep conservation awareness in the
minds of visitors. It is much educative and recreational too. It is a main source of livelihood income
for local tribes including tourist guides. Ecotourism in these two centers are managed by Muthanga and
Tholpetty Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) under supervision of Kerala forest department.
Elephant Camp Visit |
Muthanga |
|
Jeep Safari |
Muthanga & Tholpetty |
Interpretation centre visit |
Muthanga & Tholpetty |
|
|
Accommodation |
|
Ceramby (2 double rooms) |
Muthanga & Tholpetty |
Dormitory (40 beds) |
Muthanga & Tholpetty |
Eco-huts (6 Nos) |
Muthanga |
Forest Rest House (2 double rooms) |
Chethalayam |
Forest Rest House (Gaja) (2 double rooms)
|
Sulthan Bathery
|
Adavi (8 double rooms)
|
Chethalayam
|
Jeep Safari Entry Time |
Daily - 7.00 to 10.00 am & 3.00 to 5.00 pm |
Duration of visit |
1.30 hours (maximum) |
Best Season |
August to February |
Closure period |
February 11 to April 10 |
|
|
ECO TOURISM FEES (As on 15.06.2017) Tholpetty & Muthanga Eco Centres |
|
|
Revenue (₹)
|
SDF (₹) |
Total (₹) |
Indians |
Adults Children - below 12 years
and bonafide students on tour |
10.00 5.00
|
100.00 35.00
|
110.00 40.00 |
Foreigners |
Per person |
150.00 |
150.00 |
300.00 |
Vehicle |
Light Vehicle
|
75.00
|
- |
75.00 |
Camera |
Video/Movie (non professional )
Still Camera
|
225.00 38.00
|
- |
225.00 38.00 |
Approved jeep rent |
₹ 600/trip |
|
|
- Visitors are allowed only during the visiting hours
- Duration of visiting is maximum 1.30hours
- Permission for jeep safari is restricted in registered vehicles only. Visitors shall not come out of the vehicle during jeep safari.
- Maximum number of visitors per vehicle is as per its permitted seating capacity
- Visiting must be only with a tourist guide / forest personnel
- The ecotourism centers are ‘plastic free zones’
- Plastic materials are not allowed during the visit
- Visitors must follow the rules and regulations
For further information:
Asst: Wildlife Warden,
Muthanga Forest Range Office, Muthanga (P.O),
Sulthan Bathery (Via), Wayanad District, Kerala
Ph: +91 4936 271015
Asst: Wildlife Warden
Tholpetty Forest Range Office, Begur, Kattikulam (P.O),
Mananthavady (Via), Wayanad District, Kerala
Ph: +91 4935 250853
Wildlife Warden
Wayanad Wildlife Division, Sulthan Bathery (P.O), Wayanad Dist. Kerala
Ph: +91 4936 220454
Email: ww-wynd.for@kerala.gov.in, wayanadwarden@gmail.com
Web: www.wayanadsanctuary.org
IMPORTANT TOURIST PLACES IN WAYANAD DISTRICT AND DISTANCES
Places |
How they Differ |
Distance from Kalpetta |
Nearest Town |
Wildlife Sanctuary - Muthanga |
Wild Animals, Habitat |
42 kms |
Sulthan Bathery |
Wildlife Sanctuary - Tholpetty |
Wild Animals, Habitat |
59 kms |
Kartikulam |
Chembra Peak |
Highest Peak in Wayanad |
17 kms |
Meppadi |
Neelimala View Point |
Site Seeing |
27 kms |
Vaduvanchal |
Meenmutty Falls |
Trekking |
29 kms. |
Vaduvanchal |
Pakshipathalam |
Rare speceis of birds |
71 kms. |
Mananthavady |
Banasura Sagar Dam |
Largest Earth Dam |
24 kms. |
Padijnarathara |
Jain Temple |
Mournment |
24 kms. |
Sulthan Bathery |
Edakkal Caves |
Heritage |
28 kms. |
Ambalavayal |
Wayanad Heritage Museum |
Heritage |
25 kms. |
Ambalavayal |
Muniyara |
Heritage |
27 kms. |
Ambalavayal |
Uravu |
Heritage |
12 kms. |
Muttil |
Chain Tree |
Heritage |
16 kms. |
Lakkidi |
Pallikkunnu Church |
Pilgrim |
19 kms. |
Kabalakkad |
Korome Mosque |
Pilgrim |
47 kms. |
Padijnarathara |
Paingatteri Agraharam |
Cultural |
28 kms. |
Mananthavady |
Pazhassi Raja's Tomb |
Historic Mournment |
35 kms. |
Mananthavady |
Valliyoorkav Bhagavathi Temple |
Worship |
24 kms |
Mananthavady |
Seetha Lava-Kusha Temple |
Worship |
50 kms. |
Pulpally |
Thrissilery Shiva Temple |
Worship |
50 kms |
Kartikulam |
Thirunelli Temple |
Worship |
64 kms. |
Mananthavady |
Papanasini, Thirunelli |
Worship |
64 kms. |
Kartikulam |
DISTANCE CHART
|
Kalpetta |
Sulthan Bathery |
Mananthavady |
Bansura Sagar Dam |
24 |
49 |
34 |
Banasura hill |
26 |
51 |
36 |
Cheambra Peak |
17 |
42 |
52 |
Chain Tree |
16 |
41 |
51 |
Edakkal Cave |
28 |
12 |
45 |
Ganapathi Temple |
25 |
0 |
45 |
Jain Temple |
24 |
1 |
44 |
Kadamanchira |
28 |
3 |
48 |
Kalliyanth Mosque |
47 |
52 |
23 |
Karalad Lake |
16 |
41 |
25 |
Karapuzha Dam |
17 |
18 |
45 |
Muthanga |
41 |
16 |
58 |
Neelimala View Point |
27 |
26 |
62 |
Paingattiri Agraharam |
28 |
33 |
7 |
Pakshi Pathalam |
71 |
78 |
36 |
Palchuram |
52 |
68 |
18 |
Pallikunnu Church |
19 |
38 |
23 |
Pazhassi Tomb |
35 |
45 |
1 |
Phantom Rock |
26 |
12 |
43 |
Pookot Lake |
15 |
40 |
50 |
Pulpally |
50 |
25 |
41 |
Soochippara |
23 |
43 |
58 |
Sunrise Valley |
22 |
22 |
57 |
Tirunelly Temple |
64 |
71 |
28 |
Tholpetty |
59 |
66 |
24 |
Heritage Museam |
25 |
10 |
42 |
Kuruva Island |
40 |
58 |
17 |
Ghat Road View Point |
17 |
42 |
52 |
Kadachikkunnu |
26 |
29 |
61 |
Kanthanpara |
22 |
23 |
57 |
Meenmutty |
29 |
28 |
64 |
RARS |
25 |
10 |
42 |