Best Homestays in Wayanad

The temperature at Wayanad is cool and inviting all round the year. However, it is during the months between November and May that Wayanad gets most of its crowd. The winter months are when the sky is clear and it is perfect to do all kinds of outdoor activities, whether you are looking to embark upon the spice trail or trek to the top of Chembra Peak.

In the monsoons, between July and October, Wayanad gets its annual rainfalls. Monsoons also bring in new-found greenery to the Wayanad forests and are a favorite haunt for photographers and outdoor lovers.

Wayanad is a hill district, north east of the Indian state of Kerala. The district headquarters are at Kalpetta, at about 300 kilometers from Bangalore City.

• Road: Whether you are traveling by bus or driving your own vehicle, it would be between 6 and 7 hours of journey to reach Wayanad. It will be a pleasant journey and you will be traveling across a highly scenic route. The roads are in good condition but you will need to be careful when driving through the ghats.
• Train: There is no direct train from Bangalore to Wayanad. The closest you can reach Wayanad via train is by taking the Tirupati – Chamrajnagar Express from Banaswadi Station. Your stop will be Nanjangud, 109 kilometers from Wayanad. An alternative train route is reaching Kozhikode Station, which again is about 100 kilometers from Wayanad.

If you are a resident of Bangalore, Wayanad will feature on top of the list of weekend getaways. However, if you are looking to explore the mountains and all of its offerings fully, a weeklong vacation would be considerable.

Places like Kuruva Islands would take a complete day and so do the treks to the Chembra Peak or a day at the Meenmutty Waterfalls.

Wayanad is a hill station that experiences cool temperatures all round the year. Between July and September, the hills experience the annual rainfall.

The things you carry to Wayanad will consequently depend on the time of the visit and the activities that you have planned. Some of the necessary items to carry include:

• Warm jackets
• Raincoats (if you are traveling during monsoons)
• Hiking boots (with good grip)
• Walking sticks (for treks)
• Soft cotton tees
• Small towels
• Cap
• Umbrella
• Flashlights
• Any medicine that you are currently prescribed
• Snacks / biscuits for the trek
• Binoculars (for bird watching)
• Camera (needless to say!)
• Mosquito repellants
• Books
• Sunscreen
• Sleeping bag
• Water bottle

The places you cannot miss out in Wayanad include:

• Chembra Peak
• Edakkal Caves
• Bamboo Forest, Muthanga
• Banasura Sagar Dam, Kalpetta
• Chain Tree, Vythiri
• Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
• Jain Temple, Sulthan Battery
• Kuruva Island
• Pakshipathalam Bird Sanctuary
• Soochipara Falls, Kalpetta
• The Bamboo Factory, Uravu
• Meenmutty Waterfalls
• Pookode Lake, Kalpetta
• Phantom Rock
• Lakkidi View Point
• Thirunelli Temple, Thirunelli
• Spice Trail of Wayanad
• Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary

• Trek to the Chembra Peak
  
• A day at the Pookode Lake
• Tour of the Stone Age Edakkal Caves
• Relax at the Vythiri Village Resort
• A day of trek at the Kuruva Islands
• Explore the tea gardens
• Wildlife safari at Wayanad Sanctuary
• Spiritual awakening at the Thirunelli Temple
• Visit Meenmutty Waterfalls
• Explore the Jain Temple
• Visit the Wayanad Heritage Museum
• Spend an hour at the Lakkidi View Point
• Birdwatching at Pakshipathalam Bird Sanctuary
• Boating at Banasura Sagar Dam
• Photograph the Neelimala View Point
• Camping under the stars

• Olivia Residency and Home Stay
• County Pep Holiday Home
• Wayanad Home
• Pappy’s Nest
• Himadri Homestay
• Aranyakam Homestay
• Tearoute Holiday Homes
• Three Leaves, Sulthan Bathery
• Kudajadri Drizzle Homestay
• Chembra Holiday Home
• Spiceland, Kalpetta
• Clement Homestay, Kalpetta
• Dream Homestay, Sulthan Bathery
• Mountain Mist Homestay, Pulpally
• Iris Homestay, Kalpetta
• Mountain Wind Homestay
• Green Villa Homestay
• Coffee Mint Homestay
• Sree Gautham Homestay
• Baby’s Homestay
• Blueberry Homestay
• Whistling Rocks, Bathery
• Dew Villa Coffee Heritage Homestay

Most homestays in Wayanad are fully equipped with modern and comforting amenities. Depending on the property you book, you can enjoy:

• Kitchens
• Doctor on Call
• Internet Access / WiFi
• 24 Hour Power Supply
• Car Rental
• CCTV
• Fire Extinguishers
• Room Heaters

There are separately rated properties catering to the needs of bachelors, families with kids, large groups, senior citizens, families with disabled visitors and pets. It is necessary that you check before booking a particular property.

Wayanad offers several easy and fairly difficult treks. All the treks are through lush green forests and can be enjoyed, regardless of you are traveling alone or are in a group. Some of the famous treks include:

• Chembra Peak, 6,900 feet
• Thusharagiri, across several waterfalls
• Banasura Hill, elevation of 6,810 feet
• Pakshipathalam, 1,740 kilometers above sea level
• Brahmagiri Peak, 1,608 meters above sea level

There are also many small treks that start from Banasura Sagar Dam that you can be a part of.

Depending on the property you book, you do have the option to ask for a tent in the outdoor premises of homestays. It is also a muc h safer option than pitching a tent in the wilderness.

Most homestays are situated in lush green natural setting and you would always feel like being in the lap of the mountains. It is however necessary that you check in advance whether you have the option to stay in a tent and that they aren’t already booked.

Several resorts built in the middle of tea plantations offer you the opportunity to both stay and experience the laid back life around the green gardens. The top resorts in Wayanad serving the same include:

• The Serai Resorts
• Evolve Back
• Planet Green Plantation Resort
• Parisons Plantations
• Tea Garden Holiday Home
• Wayanad Tea Drops
• Chateau Woods
• TeaRoute Holiday Homes

Complimentary meals in your homestay will depend on the property you choose to book. Most homestays offer the option of breakfast and dinners. Lunch is not usually included into the plan but you can always ask for it, depending on your itinerary and plans for the day.

Homestays like Vythiri Village Resorts do have the option for bonfire parties at night. In other cases, you might need to check if they can be arranged. If you are staying near the forests, bonfire in not allowed.

You do have the option to party and have a bonfire with song and dance. However, it is also necessary that you check with the owner beforehand. Bonfires are usually arranged if you are in a large group or all guests collectively come up with the idea.

In Wayanad, you do have the option of authentic meals from Kerala, which also consist of non vegetarian options. Some of the top foods you must try in Wayanad include:

• Kilikoodu (non vegetarian snack)
• Malabar Biryani (non vegetarian)
• Chemmeen Unda Puttu (non vegetarian)
• Puttu and Beef Fry (non vegetarian)
• Sadya
• Chatti Pathiri (non vegetarian)
• Mutta Mala (non vegetarian)
• Pazham Nirachathu
• Malabar Duck Roast (non vegetarian)
• Unnakaya
• Chemmeen Pathiri (non vegetarian)
• Fish Biryani (non vegetarian)
• Kadala Curry
• Chemmeen Curry (non vegetarian)
• Wayanadan Chicken Curry (non vegetarian)
• Chemmeen Polichathu (non vegetarian)
• Kozhikode Halwa
• Thalassery Biryani (non vegetarian)
• Karimeen Polichatu (non vegetarian)
• Chemmeen Ada

As long as you are in your rooms, you can smoke and drink. While some private properties also allow for open bar and smoking spaces, it is necessary that you enquire before doing the same.

Wayanad is completely safe for couples and this also makes it one of the top destinations for young people. Several couples, married and unmarried visit Wayanad to have a good time and create some memories in the raw charm of nature.

The average cost of homestays in Wayanad during the peak tourists season (between October and March) is about INR 3000 for a night.

However, you can also seek cheaper options, depending on your budget. The locations may vary but you certainly would get to experience the beauty of the hills.

There are several waterfalls around Wayanad that call for a visit. The top ones include:

• Meenmutty Waterfalls
• Chethalayam Waterfalls
• Kanthanpara Waterfalls
• Soochipara Waterfalls

All of these waterfalls offer easy treks, the maximum lasting for two hours.

There are two reserve forests that offer wildlife safaris and tours, each lasting for about 1.5 hours. They include the:

• Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
• Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary

You can also go on a safari across the Pakshipathalam Bird Sanctuary to experience a great variety in endemic and migratory birds. All of these safaris require permission from the forest department and you will have to pay a minimal entry fee for the same.