Wayanad is a beautiful mountainous district in the Malabar region of Kerala located on the western ghats. It is sparsely populated and rural, with most of the land area covered with forests. The district abounds with hill stations, wildlife sanctuaries, rivers, dams, tea estates and trekking opportunities, with temples and heritage locations thrown in for good measure. Spread over 2,132 square kilometres, the district lies at an elevation of 700 metres, with its highest point reaching 2,100.
Wayanad borders Karnataka to its east and Tamil Nadu to its southeast. The districts of Kozhikode, Kannur and Malappuram form its eastern, northern and southern borders respectively. Wayanad is a popular weekend destination for travellers from Bangalore and Mysore.
Wayanad is divided into three talukas - Vythiri, Mananthavady and Sultan Bathery, named after the towns that serve as their headquarters.
Wayanad is the best place in Kerala for hill tourism. Most parts of the district are protected forest and the remaining area is lush green cultivation with a relatively thinner population.
Urbanization has reached only 4% of the district. The altitude reaches up to 2,100 ft in some parts of Wayanad.
Wayanad gets its name from Vayal Naadu, or "The land of the paddy fields". It shares much of its history with Karnataka, having been a possession of many of the dynasties that ruled that state, including the Kadambas, the Chalukyas and the Hoysalas. This history accounts for the existence of Jain temples in this region, though Jainism has a negligible presence in modern Kerala.
In the 18th century, the region of Wayanad was at the centre of a tripartite conflict between Hyder Ali (and later his son Tipu Sultan), Pazhassi Raja, a ruler of the kingdom of Kottayam, and the British. Wayanad changed hands multiple times. When it was with Tipu, he stationed his artillery battery in the village we now know as Sultan Bathery. After Tipu was defeated and killed by the British, Pazhassi Raja rebelled against the British over the status of Wayanad that ultimately resulted in the killing of the Raja, whose tomb can still be seen in the district.
Wayanad finally came under the British who made it part of the Malabar district of the Madras Province. After independence, Madras province became Madras state. When the states were reorganized on linguistic lines, Wayanad became part of Kerala due to the prominence of its Malayali speaking population
Malayalam is the most commonly spoken language. English is understood by about half the people, but most lack conversational fluency, so you may not get a reply. According to Wikipedia, there is a Kannada-speaking population in Wayanad, but Kannada is not understood widely.
The district has neither an airport nor railway lines, so the only way to get in is by road. The nearest airport and railway stations are located at Kozhikode, around 100km away. Bangalore and Mysore are the other two nearby cities with airports, Of the two, Bangalore is the more realistic option as there are few flights to Mysore at the moment.
Driving in from Karnataka via Mysore or Madikeri is easier than from other districts of Kerala, Access from Kerala is difficult because of the mountain passes or 'ghat roads'.
Buses are available from Kozhikode and Mysore.
Night traffic is banned towards Mysore, Bangalore side. However, night traffic is allowed through Mananthavady.
The attractions in this region can be broadly categorized into three based on proximity. A 3-4 day tour allows covering all or most of these attractions. For further info, refer details on each town.
Kerala food is available in restaurants. European food is available in resorts and home stays only.
Bamboo rice (called Mulayari by locals) can be found in Wayanad. These are seeds of the Bamboo plant, richer in protein than rice and wheat, but tasting like rice. Bamboo rice payasam stalls can be spotted near Edakkal caves walkway. Bamboo is said to yield seeds after a long span, so it is said that harvesting bamboo rice is a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience.
Home-made chocolates and local Wayanad tea and coffee are also sold in many places. Shops near Edakkal caves offer many options such as spiced versions.
Beer and wine are easily available. Stronger drinks are prohibited. Kambalakkad though does not have beer- you'd have to get it from Kalpetta or a neighboring town.
Lodges in Wayanad have the cheapest tariff compared to other parts of Kerala. Resorts and home stays are expensive options. Accommodation below ₹500 per night are available in Kalpetta and Sultan Bathery towns. Mananthavady is even cheaper. Resorts and homestays charge between ₹2,000 and ₹4,000 per night. They can also arrange tours and trips.
Primary administrative division