Places to visit in Wayanad
8 places, grouped by kind. Each one shows how well it is verified: an official source, two independent sources, or not yet verified.
Caves and heritage 2
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Edakkal Caves Official source
Rock engravings from about 6000 BC; about 300 steps (Kerala Tourism; Incredible India).
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Wayanad Heritage Museum Official source
Holds finds from nearby burial sites (Kerala Tourism).
Hills and falls 4
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Chembra Peak Official source
Highest peak in Wayanad; trekking (Kerala Tourism).
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Meenmutty Waterfalls Official source
Three-tier falls, 300 m drop (Kerala Tourism).
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Pookode Lake Official source
Pedal boating (Kerala Tourism).
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Soochipara Waterfalls Official source
Listed by Incredible India.
Wildlife 1
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Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Muthanga and Tholpetty) Official source
Declared a sanctuary in 1973 (Kerala Tourism).
Temples 1
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Thirunelli Temple Official source
By the Papanasini river (Kerala Tourism).
In depth: Edakkal Caves
Edakkal is a cleft in the Ambukuthi hills with engravings that Kerala Tourism dates from about 6000 BC to about 1000 BC. It was recorded in 1895 by Fred Fawcett. The climb is about 300 steps.
At a glance
- Type
- Rock shelter with engravings Official source
- Age
- Oldest engravings about 6000 BC (Kerala Tourism) Official source
- Climb
- About 300 steps (Kerala Tourism) Official source
- Altitude
- About 1,200 ft (Kerala Tourism) Official source
- Timings, fees
- Not on the pages read Not yet verified
- Best season
- October to March (Incredible India) Official source
History and significance
- Fred Fawcett
- Recorded the site in 1895 (Kerala Tourism). Official source
What to see
- Engravings
- Human and animal figures.
- Heritage museum
- Ambalavayal.
- Chembra
- Peak trek.
- Muthanga
- Wildlife sanctuary.
Visiting
- Caves
- Timings and fees to confirm with DTPC Wayanad. Not yet verified
Festivals
- Festivals
- Not listed on Kerala Tourism's Wayanad page. Not yet verified
Visitor guidelines
- The path is slippery in the monsoon (Incredible India).
- Carry water for the climb.
How to reach Edakkal Caves
- By road
- Edakkal is 25-27 km from Kalpetta (Incredible India, figures differ). Official source
- By air
- Calicut International (CCJ). Official source
- By train
- Kozhikode (CLT). Official source
Month by month
| Month | Temp °C | Sunrise | Sunset | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | IMD normals to add | 06:48 | 18:19 | Best: cool, dry |
| Feb | IMD normals to add | 06:47 | 18:32 | Good: dry |
| Mar | IMD normals to add | 06:33 | 18:36 | Good: warm days |
| Apr | IMD normals to add | 06:14 | 18:37 | Warm; summer holiday crowds |
| May | IMD normals to add | 06:02 | 18:41 | Warm; pre-monsoon showers |
| Jun | IMD normals to add | 06:01 | 18:49 | Heavy monsoon; landslide risk on ghat roads |
| Jul | IMD normals to add | 06:08 | 18:53 | Heavy monsoon; landslide risk |
| Aug | IMD normals to add | 06:14 | 18:46 | Heavy monsoon |
| Sep | IMD normals to add | 06:14 | 18:27 | Monsoon easing; falls full |
| Oct | IMD normals to add | 06:14 | 18:07 | Good: green, showers |
| Nov | IMD normals to add | 06:22 | 17:58 | Good: cool |
| Dec | IMD normals to add | 06:37 | 18:03 | Best: cool |
Suggested plans
- Two days
- Edakkal, heritage museum, Pookode Lake.
- Three days
- Add Chembra or Muthanga and Thirunelli.
How to reach Wayanad
- By train
- No railway in Wayanad; Kozhikode (CLT) is the railhead (Incredible India).
- By air
- Calicut International (CCJ), about 90 km from Wayanad; Kannur also used (Incredible India; Kerala Tourism).
- By road
- From Kalpetta: Kozhikode 75 km, Mysuru 150 km, Bengaluru 290 km (Incredible India).
- Headquarters
- Kalpetta
- Coast
- Landlocked
Best time to visit Wayanad
- Best time
- October to February (Kerala Tourism, for the backwater cruise season; to confirm locally).
- Climate
- Humid tropical; south-west monsoon June-September, north-east showers October-November.
Dates to plan around in Kerala
- Kalpathi Ratholsavam — Palakkad: 14-16 Nov 2026 (Incredible India)
- Sabarimala Mandala-Makaravilakku — Pathanamthitta: Mid-Nov 2026 to mid-Jan 2027 (pattern, Kerala Tourism); online slot booking required in 2025-26
- Theyyam season — Kannur and north Kerala: December-April (Kerala Tourism)
- Attukal Pongala — Thiruvananthapuram: 14-23 Feb 2027; Pongala 22 Feb (Onmanorama)
- Guruvayur temple festival — Thrissur: February-March (Kerala Tourism)
- Eravikulam closure — Idukki: January-February every year, tahr calving (Kerala Tourism)
- Thrissur Pooram — Thrissur: Annual; 2027 date to confirm
- Nehru Trophy Boat Race — Alappuzha: Annual on Punnamada Lake; 2027 date to confirm
Where to stay in Wayanad
Quick answers about Wayanad
What is Wayanad known for?
Edakkal's Stone Age engravings, Chembra peak, Meenmutty falls, Muthanga and Thirunelli.
What is the one place not to miss in Wayanad?
Edakkal Caves. Rock engravings from about 6000 BC; about 300 steps (Kerala Tourism; Incredible India).
Which is the nearest railway station to Wayanad?
No railway in Wayanad; Kozhikode (CLT) is the railhead (Incredible India).
Which is the nearest airport to Wayanad?
Calicut International (CCJ), about 90 km from Wayanad; Kannur also used (Incredible India; Kerala Tourism).
When is the best time to visit Wayanad?
October to February (Kerala Tourism, for the backwater cruise season; to confirm locally).
How many places are there to visit in Wayanad?
Our guide lists 8 places in Wayanad district, Kerala, across caves and heritage, hills and falls, wildlife, temples.
Nearby, in neighbouring districts
- Kappad Beach, Kozhikode — Where Vasco da Gama landed; a stone inscription marks it (Kerala Tourism).
- St Angelo Fort, Kannur — Portuguese fort, later held by the Dutch (Kerala Tourism; Incredible India).