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| Chembra
Peak: At 2100 meters, the spectacular Chembra
peak located towards the southern part of wayanad is the tallest
summit in the region. Climbing this peak is a challenging mountaineering
endeavour and would take a full day. The surrounding areas offer
exceptional photo opportunities. Camping on the peak is an unforgettable
experience |
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| Meenmutty
falls: An interesting 2 km jungle trek off the
main Ooty road, Meenmutty is the largest and most spectacular
waterfall in Wayanad. Unique feature is that water drops about
300 meters over 3 stages. |
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| Pakshipathalam:
Located deep within the forests of the Bhramagiri hills at an
altitude of more than 1700 meters, Pakshipathalam is a formation
of large boulders, some as tall as two storey buildings. The
deep caves found here are home to a wide variety of birds, animals
and distinctive species of plants. The journey involves an arduous
7km trek through thick forest commencing at Thirunelly. Prior
permission is required for visiting this place. |
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| Edakkal
caves: An interesting trek up the Ambukuthy
hill near Ambalavayal town takes you to the fascinating neolithic
cave site of Edakkal. Etchings found on the walls of this caves
have drawn the serious attention of archaeologists and historians
worldwide. With at least three distinct sets of petroglyphs,
the earliest thought to date back over 3000 years (between BC
3000 - BC 5000), it is assumed that the Edakkal caves have been
inhabited at various stages in history. An interesting attraction
close by is a telescope installed by the DTPC a few feet from
the caves that offer a panoramic view of the surrounding country.
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| Uravu:
This is a charitable trust that works in the area of indigenous
sciences and technology. They run a successful bamboo crafts
design and production centre along with a bamboo nursery. Uravu
has a whole new range of functional and decorative products
created out of this wonderful material found abundantly in Wayanad.
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| Pazhassi
Raja's Tomb: Pazhassi Raja, a scion of the Kottayam
royal family was one of the earliest to strike the banner of
revolt against the British rule in this part of India. Taking
refuge in the Wayanad hills, he resorted to classic techniques
of guerilla warfare against the superior British forces. He
remained successful for a remarkable long period until finally
the English bought in heavy reinforcements from Madras and Bombay.
This Lion of Kerala was downed in a ferocious encounter that
took place at Mavilanthode in the last days of 1805. Pazhassi's
tomb marks the point where he was cremeated. |
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| Neelimala
view point: Neelimala is an excellent venue
for trekking with lots of stimulating trails. The summit of
this hill affords a great view of cascading Meenmutty falls
and the beautiful valley in its foreground. |
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| Chethalayam
falls: One of the smaller water falls in Wayanad,
it's surroundings offer a number of vantage points for bird
watching. It is also popular with trekking enthusiasts. |
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| Sulthan
Bathery Jain Temple: This temple is one of the
most important amongst a series of ruins spread across the state
of Kerala that testify a period of strong Jain presence in this
region. Believed to have been built in the 13th century it served
as a Hindu shrine, an important center for commercial activity
and eventually as a battery (ammunition store) for Tippu Sulthan's
Marching armies. |
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| Wayanad
Heritage museum: Located in the town of Ambalavayal,
this museum is home to an interesting collection of artifacts
that shed light on the history, culture and heritage of the
Wayanad region. The exhibits include headgear, weapons, pottery,
and various objects associated with tribal life. A series of
pictorial rock edicts referred to as Hero stones, depict a bygone
age of valiant warriors. |
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| Chain
tree: The large Ficus tree bound by a prominent
chain is the source of a dramatic local legend. As the tale
goes an Adivasi youth named Karinthandan was instrumental in
guiding a British Engineer through the difficult mountain terrain
into Wayanad. Eager to take credit for the discovery, the engineer
conveniently killed his guide, whose soul, according to the
legend, constantly haunted subsequent travellers. It is further
believed that a priest chained the troublesome spirit into this
tree. |
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| Thirunelli
temple: Nestled amidst mountains and forests,
the ancient riverside temple of Thirunelli is a fine specimen
of classical Kerala temple architecture. This temple dates back
to almost 2000 years. Legend has it that the creator Lord Brahma
to propitiate the preserver, Lord Vishnu, dedicated this temple.
The idol is in the form of Chathurbhuja. Often referred to as
Dakshina Kasi (The Kasi of South), this temple draws pilgrims
from all over, primarily for ancestral rites. The two main festivals
here are in April and Aug-Sept. |
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| The Tea Plantations have become
the identity of Wayanad. The Tea Plantations stretch a vast
area of the region, providing employment for many. |
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