When I took my place in the car on a surprisingly pleasant Bangalore morning in the last week of March, little did I know that I would spend a good part of my time in Wayanad walking. We headed out bright and early, halting only for breakfast at my new favourite Bidadi Idly joint. Having travelled the same route to Masinagudi, I was fairly pleased when I could spot landmarks. After the forest area, though, the landscape changed drastically. Amusing English sign boards, palm trees, men in hiked-up mundus showing off their hairy legs and staring like they were seeing women for the first time and a faint fragrance of coconut oil… signs that we had crossed the border into Kerala.
The desire to explore God’s own country (although technically, it should be God’s own state) had been around since the minibus ride via Calicut to a friend’s wedding in Trishur years ago. At the peak of the mountain, we had stopped to momentarily rule the world from above a sea of plump, light blue clouds. Having heard many tales of the state since, the opportunity finally presented itself during the Good Friday weekend.
I have one word for Wayanad: Green. And hot (okay, make that two words). Wise travellers know which places to avoid during summers, and Wayanad is one of them; that I went there the last week of March does no credit to my wisdom. Our hosts at the home stay informed us that this was not how the weather was usually, and were themselves surprised by the heat. That left us with no choice but to sit in the verandah of our two-bedroom villa, surrounded by a canopy of tall, lush green trees, our feet stretched out on the coffee table, listening to birds chittering above us and occasionally swooping down to snarf an unsuspecting little insect. We weren’t entirely lazing, though – in between, we sipped a little tea and ate a few pakodas. And we went on a tour of the massive property on which the home stay was located, completely fascinated by the cherry trees, cocoa plants and rabbits and ducks and livestock.
The next day, we decided, pretending to be all brave and immune to the heat, we would go to Edakkal Caves and Kuruva Island. We drove to Edakkal and were informed by a chirpy young git near the tourist shopping area that cars weren’t allowed beyond the point. We would have to walk the rest of the way. Fine, we said. It can’t be too far, we said. The truth dawned heavy on us (adding to the load we already carried) as we climbed up an incline of 45 degrees, seeing multiple sweaty faces passing us in the opposite direction: a tiny point on a mountain far far away, that was our destination. We kicked ourselves, but shifted gears and changed the goal of the trip from seeing the cave to getting there in one piece. After all, there were local families climbing up with kids in their arms!
An hour later, we were outside the main cave, grinning with a sense of achievement despite the waterfalls of sweat pouring down our faces and backs. Of course, after all the strenuous climbing, the cave itself was a disappointment. A handful of drawings dating back to 4000 BC – the magnitude of which is somehow lost after all the trekking to get there – and a lengthy crack in a rock caused by an earthquake were all the things the cave had to offer us. My friend and I looked at each other, thinking the same thing: so much hard work for so little!
Our next stop was Kuruva Island. I don’t know if it was our timing or some sort of divine joke, but the road to the raft that ferries to the island was closed for construction. We had to walk a kilometre to the raft. Once the raft left us on the island, we discovered that we had to walk a kilometer more to get to the heart of the island, the place that promised us some stunning views. And it was stunning – seeing naked, pot-bellied men emerging from a swirl of water alongside women in nighties left us rooted to the spot. Other than that, the island really is beautiful, a lot like what I had imagined the Cannibal Island from Yann Martel’s Life of Pi to be.
On our way back to Bangalore the next day, we decided to go via Banasura Dam, by far the most picturesque place at Wayanad. We had to walk a good kilometre and a half here too. By the dam is a mini-forest of pine trees with swings on them, a perfect place to take shelter from the sun and feel young again.
There was such peace in Wayanad, among the coffee plantations with a million shades of green everywhere, and the freedom to stop by fields, mountains – just about any place – and wander. Looking back, it doesn’t seem like we were very active, because there are a lot of places to see in Wayanad. I may not be doing total justice to the place because the weather was really hot and it wasn’t a pleasant experience to walk so much in the heat. I can say this, though: I don’t regret the trip at all since we managed to do the one thing we really wanted to: unwind.
Getting there: Wayanad is a six-hour drive from Bangalore, breaks included. Buses also ply regularly to Wayanad. The nearest airport is Kochi, and I wouldn’t recommend that.
Go if: You like greenery, history, Kairali cuisine, trekking, and generally enjoy walking around doing your own exploring.
Adventures of Potli Baba 
You washed down the mystic surrounding Wayand with waterfalls of sweat and then you put it back by fetching in memories of Cannibal Island, the naked man and the women in nighties included. Kuruwa Dweep is also my favourite of the series.
Hahahaha! Thanks Uma Shankar. :)
i did a two day roadtrip through Wayanad last week, though it was jinxed (elephants didn’t let us enter Kuruva island & long queue for boating in Banasura lake & public holiday at Edakkal Caves though i have been to the latter)…But enjoyed it to the core.
:) Maybe next time?
Lovely pics! :)
Wayanad has always fascinated me, too. We have passed by the route to Wayanad several times on drives to Ooty and Masinagudi, and I have always wanted to go there and explore. Somehow, have never done that yet. Should plan a visit soon.
BTW, where does one go for a vacation in the summers? Honestly, I am always at a loss of places to visit in the summer! Would like to know what others think.
Thanks TGND. :) You should go to the Northern extremes during summer, it’s way cooler there.
I LOVED THE TRIP CAUSE OF YOU !!
Awww. :)