6 Breathtaking Waterfalls in Wayanad

Often called as the ‘Green Paradise’ of Kerala, Wayanad is one of the charming hill stations located in Kerala. Settled in the Western Ghats, Wayanad is one of the top destinations in Kerala and also one of the best places to visit near Bangalore.  Wayanad is famous for its lakes, hills, ancient caves and extensive flora and fauna. Besides these, Wayanad is also blessed with several waterfalls. These waterfalls always add an extra charm to this beautiful destination and these are the best Wayanad tourist places.

Here is the list of some breathtaking waterfalls in Wayanad.

Meenmutty Waterfalls 

Meenmutty Waterfall is a fascinating waterfall located near Banasura Sagar Dam in Wayanad district of Kerala. Cascades down from a height of about 800 feet over three stages, it is a spectacular fall situated inside thick forest flowing through rocky platform. This is one of the best waterfalls in Kerala and also one of the popular places to visit in Wayanad. Each of its three tiers requires a separate hike through a moist, deciduous forest. One can get a breathtaking view of Banasura Sagar Dam and surrounding valleys from the peak on top of third tier of the falls.

Soochipara Waterfalls 

Soochipara Waterfalls, also known as Sentinel Rock Waterfalls, is a beautiful waterfall situated in Vellarimala mountain range of Wayanad district in Kerala. Dropping down from a height of 200 meters, Soochipara is one of the most scenic waterfalls in Kerala and also one of the must visit Wayanad Tourist Places. This three tiered fall cascades down into a large pool, which is a good place for swimming and bathing. The waterfall is surrounded by dense green forests. One has to trek down for about 2 km to reach the falls from the road point through well laid path and is of easy level, which takes about 30 minutes one way.

Kanthanpara Waterfalls 

Kanthanpara Falls is a magnificent waterfalls situated near Meppadi in Wayanad district of Kerala.Gushes down from a height of 30 meters in two steps, it is known for its scenic beauty, and abundance of flora and fauna.The path leading to the waterfalls is full of breathtaking scenery and thus, is a popular trekking trail. Kanthanpara Waterfalls is one of the most charming waterfalls in Kerala and an ideal place to visit in Wayanad.

Thushargiri Waterfalls 

Thushargiri Falls is one of the enthralling waterfalls located in Kozhikode district of Kerala. Literally means ‘Snowcapped Mountains’, Thusharagiri Waterfalls is generated by Chalippuzha River, formed by merging two streams originating from the Western Ghats. The river diverges into three waterfalls here and creating a snowy spray, which gives the name – Thusharagiri. The highest of the three falls is the Thenpara Fall cascading down from a height of 75 m. Widely known as the ‘trekker’s paradise’, Thusharagiri offers challenging trekking and rock-climbing opportunities to its visitors.

Arippara Waterfalls 

Arippara Falls is a stunning waterfalls located near Nellipoyil in Kozhikode district of Kerala. The waterfall is formed by one of the tributaries of Iruvanji River commonly known as Iruvanjipuzha.  The fall is surrounded by thick green forest with water flowing through huge flat rocks and dropping at different places. A pool is formed at bottom of this long cascading falls which is a good place for swimming.  It is one of the most pretty river picnic spot and also one of the best tourist places in Wayanad.

Chetalayam Waterfalls

Chetalayam Falls is a seasonal waterfalls located near Kidangand, Kerala. Chethalayam is a smaller and lesser known waterfall compared to other waterfalls in Wayanad. With its picturesque beauty, scenic slopes and blue water bodies make this falls an ideal trekking place in Wayanad. Its surroundings offer a number of vantage points for bird watching. Visitors need to trek for about 4 km from Kidangand to reach the falls. This waterfall is situated close to the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary which is inhabited by the spotted deer, sambar, gaur, elephants and sloth bear, amongst others.

Two of these waterfalls are must include places in Wayanad Tour Packages.

9 Top Places Must See When You Visit Wayanad

Wayanad is a beautiful hill station situated in the Western Ghats of Kerala. Also known as the ‘Green Paradise’ of Kerala, Wayanad is one of the best hill stations in Kerala and also a wonderful summer getaway from Bangalore, & Mysore. Wayanad is known for its rich tribal heritage, lush green forests, lakes and hill ranges. The district is one of the biggest foreign exchange earners of the State, with its production of cash crops like pepper, cardamom, coffee, tea, spices and other condiments.

Wayanad has pleasant weather throughout the year and is one of the popular destinations of Kerala Tourism. Wayanad Tourism is a mix of scenic beauty, Wildlife, adventures and waterfalls. Meenmutty Falls, Soochipara Falls, Pookote Lake, Banasura Sagar dam, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Chembra Peak and Lakkidi are the top places to visit in Wayanad. Best time to visit Wayanad is from September to May while the peak season is from October to March.

Top Wayanad Tourist Places:

Pookote Lake

Pookote Lake or Pookode Lake is a natural fresh water lake situated close to the Kalpetta – Kozhikode main road in Wayanad. Situated at an altitude of about 2500 feet, this fascinating natural fresh water lake is surrounded with evergreen forests and rolling hills. It is one of the must visit places to visit in Wayanad and among top places to visit in Kalpetta. The Panamaram stream, one of the main tributaries of the Kabani River, originates from the Pookote Lake. The lake offers boating facility with pedal and row boats.

Lakkidi

Lakkidi, often called as the gateway of Wayanad, is situated at an altitude of about 700 m at the crest of the serpentine Thamarassery ghat pass. It is one of the places with highest rainfall in India and is one of the richest biodiversity areas in the Western Ghats. Lakkidi View Point offers beautiful views of the cliffs and valleys surrounding the region.

Chembra Peak

Situated at an altitude of 2100 m, Chembra Peak is the tallest peak in Wayanad & third highest peak in South India. Chembra Peak is part of the Wayanad hill ranges in the Western Ghats and is one of the popular trekking spot in the Wayanad. There is a heart shaped lake on the way to the top of Chembra Peak is the major attraction here. Chembra Peak trek is a challenging task and recommended for experienced trekkers. Prior permission is required from the Forest Range Office at Meppadi for trekking at Chembra Peak.

Banasura Sagar Dam

Banasura Sagar Dam is an earthen dam built across the Karamanthodu River, a tributary of Kabani River, in Wayanad district of Kerala. It is the largest earth dam in India and the second largest dam of its kind in Asia. Banasura Sagar Dam is one of the most popular tourist places in Wayanad and often represented in the promotion of Wayanad Tourism. The reservoir is dotted with a cluster of small size islands. These islands with the background of the Banasura hill provide a mesmerizing sight to the visitors. Speed boating is the favourite activity for visitors here.

Soochipara Waterfalls/ Sentinel Rock Waterfall

Soochipara Waterfalls, also called as Sentinel Rock Waterfalls, is a beautiful waterfall amidst the thick forest of Wayanad near Meppadi town. It is one of the best waterfalls in South India and also among the most popular Wayanad tourist places. Soochipara is a 3 tiered waterfall, dropping from a height of about 200 m. The waterfall cascades down into a large pool and is a good place for swimming. The Sentinel Rock, a huge rock of about 200 m height, is an ideal place for rock climbing.

Meenmutty Waterfalls

Meenmutty Waterfalls is magnificent waterfalls located near Banasura Sagar Dam in Wayanad. It is one of the best waterfalls in South India and among the best places to visit in Wayanad.It is a three tiered waterfall falling from a height of over 800 feet. It is a spectacular waterfall situated inside thick forest of Wayanad and it offers wonderful experience to the visitors. The falls is located on the Wayanad – Ooty road and can be reached by a 2 km hike from the road.

Kuruva Island

Kuruva Island, also known as Kuruva Dweep, is a 950 acre protected river delta system on the Kabini River. This is one of the popular tourist places in Wayanad. The island is uninhabited and is home to some rare species of birds, orchids and One can also see several migratory birds are also seen on the island. The main island contains two small fresh water lakes and is being developed as eco-tourism project.

Edakkal Caves

Edakkal Caves are two natural caves located on top of Ambukutty Mala in Wayanad. Lies at an altitude of over 4000 feet, Edakkal Caves are one of the popular places to visit in Wayanad. These caves are natural rock formations which were formed by a large split in a huge rock and are famous for its pictorial paintings belonged to the Neolithic Age dating back to 6000 BC.The caves are accessible though narrow iron steps. The views of Wayanad hills and surrounding peaks from the entrance of main cave are breathtaking.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary- Muthanga

Established in 1973, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1973. The sanctuary is bordered with Nagarhole & Bandipur in Karnataka and Mudumalai in Tamilnadu. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is the second largest sanctuary in Kerala and is now an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Wayanad Sanctuary is divided into two parts, known as Upper Wayanad and Lower Wayanad. The Reserve is home to a small population of tigers, Elephants, Jungle Cats, Panthers, Monkeys, Wild dogs, Deers, Spotted Bears, Bisons, Gaurs, Cheetah, Wild Bears, Peacock, Owls, Jungle fowls, Woodpeckers, Babblers, Cuckoos. Entry to the Wayanad Sanctuary is only permitted as part of a jeep safari.