Lakkidi Tourism information

Tucked into the hills of Wayanad in north Kerala, 293 km. Traveller thinking of sending a mallu into the rainforests during the rains, Well, it was inspired thinking. It proved that kerala still holds some surprised up her green sleeves that can get under the skin of even beauty hardened denizens of God’s Own Country.

Almost every inch of the mist-wrapped undulating hills of Wayanad have coffee, pepper and cardamom growing on them, hedged by lush rainforest that stuns the eye with its varied shades of green.

Wildlife truly roams free in Wayanad, whse forests share borders with Bandiput and Mudumalai. This vast stretch of protected earth is a haven of freedom of the fauna of Malabar and the Nilgiris. Add to that the relative lack of development of Wayanad District and you get lots of pristine environment unblemished by the excesses of civilization.

So if you’re sick of civilized courtesies and sham creature comforts, head to the twin jewels of Vythiri and Lakkidi, trucked into the wild beauty of the forests of Wayanad, across the state border in Kerala.

Lakkidi often referred to as the gateway to Wayanad is 2,297ft atop Thamarassery Ghat Pass beyond which lie the kozhikode plains. After Meghalaya’s Cherrapunjee Mawsynram region, Lakkidi registers the second highest degree of rainfall in the world. If you travel along the 12 km ghat road from Adivaram to Lakkidi, amidst thick forests you’ll have to negotiate nine hairpin bends, making for a thrilling ride.

About 3 km from Lakkidi is this small an dplacid freshwater lake 21 ft at its deepest and covered in parts with lotus flowers. Pookote Lake is the most visited tourist spot in Wayanad. Flanked by green hills, it does make a pleasant spot for picnics and boating. From Vythiri it’s a kilometer on foot, so if your’re staying at one of the resorts there, it’s a nice walk to the lake, which emerges from between the trees and dazzles the senses with its dark beauty. In the vicinity of the lake are a children’s park, an Uravu Eco-Shoppe selling local handicrafts and spices, a nursery and a freshwater aquarium for when you’re done with the row and paddle boats.

Chembra Peak

At 6,890 ft above sea level, Chembra Peak is th ehighest point in the Wayanad Hills. It takes a whole day to trek to the peak 24 km from Meppadi near Kalpetta and the trail is invariably wet and slippery fed as it is by the incessant rain that feeds the perennial lake at the top of the peak. The trail goes through tea plantations.

Route: SH17 to Kalpetta via Antarasante and Mananthavady, NH212 to Lakkidi.