Vythiri, Kerala – A marvellous hill station, a land of eternal greenery

Vythiri, located in the hill district of Wayanad, is a popular hill station in Kerala. It is a land of eternal greenery. The hills are covered by mists and fog throughout the year. Sweet breeze and the serene atmosphere makes the place a wonderland. The sweet chirp of the birds really soothes the ear. Known as the “Queen of the Wayanad hills”  the place is famous for its monsoon.

Places to see at Vythiri: In this peaceful hill resort you will find a number of sight seeing spots which include;

Edakkal Caves 

It is a natural fissure created by rock splitting due to natural weathering. The depth of the crevice and the fissure is nearly 30 ft which gives it an appearance of being a cave. There are human and animal figure painted on the rock walls. One has to trek around 1 km starting from Edakkal to reach the caves. Best time to visit the caves is in the morning, but it remains open till 5 pm. It is 25 km from Kalpetta.

Koottamundu Glass Temple

This temple is located on the hillside of Vellarimala, and this Jain temple was built in honor of the Jain saint – Parshawanatha Swami. The temple walls are adorned with thousands of small mirrors, all of which reflect the idols placed in the temple’s sanctum sanctorum. It is 20 km from Kalpetta.

Pookot Lake

Set in a beautiful valley and surrounded by evergreen forests and wooded hills, Pookote is one of Wayanad’s top visitor draws. This natural lake near Lakkidi is just a short distance off the National Highway 212.

Soojipara Waterfalls

It is a thundering three-tiered waterfall. These falls capture nature at her best. This place is also famous for rock climbing. Best season is from June till January.

Puliyarmala Jain Temple 

Situated at Kalpetta is also worth visiting. It is known for its beautifully crafted entrance doors, carved granite pillars and Dravidian-style Stupa with a carved idol of Lord Mahavir at its top.

Nearby attractions around Vythiri: From Vythiri you can make a trip to places like

Kuruva Islands

The Kuruva Island with 950 acres of evergreen forest lies on one of the tributaries of the Kabini. It is just 60 km from Vythri Resort. The island is home to various species of rare birds, orchids and herbs.

Kuruva Dweep

Located at a distance of 70 kms, these are little islets in the river Kabini. This is an ideal picnic spot for people to just spend one whole day with nature.

Thirunelli Temple

A three hrs drive from Vythiri, this temple is on the banks of the beautiful PapanasiRiver. It is believed that people can wash out their sins by immersing themselves here in the water.

Chembra Peak

Located at an altitude of 2100 meters, the spectacular ChembraPeak towards the southern part of Wayanad is the tallest summit in the region. Climbing this peak is a challenging mountaineering endeavor and would take a full day.
The surrounding areas offer exceptional photo opportunities. Camping on the peak is an unforgettable experience.

Chain Tree

Even today, a chain still hangs from a Banyan tree to mark the spot where a British Colonialist murdered an Adivasi tribesman (and thus, the name). Just 9 kms away Edakkal Caves is 1000mts above sea level, this ancient natural cave exhibits ancient carvings, paintings and inscriptions dating back to the stone ages.

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Wayanad abounds in wildlife sanctuaries. Elephants, spotted deer, sloth bear, samba and gaur are just some of the species you can spot. The distances of the various sanctuaries from the resort are as follows: Muthanga – 55kms, Nagarhole – 70kms, Bandipur – 75kms, Muthumala – 100kms, Tholpatti – 70kms.

Muthanga

Spread over a vast area Muthanga is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Region. Located 18 kms East of Sultan Bathery, it is a rain forest reserve connected to two other major sanctuaries: BandipurNational Park in Karnataka and Mudumalai Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. (55 Kms from Vythiri Resort)

Tholpetty

Tholpetty reserve is situated along the northern ridge of the district bordering Coorg in Karnataka. In terms of flora and fauna, Tholpetty is much similar to Muthanga. This place is just 68 Kms from Vythiri Resort. The best season to visit both the sanctuaries is from November to May.

Pakshipathalam

Just 85 kms from Vythiri, located deep within the forest in the Brahmagiri hills at an altitude of more than 1700 mtrs, 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 7 km. trek through thick forest commencing at Thirunelli. (Special permission required from DFO- North Wayanad at Mananthavady).

Banasura Sagar Dam

Considered to be the second largest earth dam in Asia, the Banasura project is 30 km from Vythiri Resort precincts are an ideal starting point for treks to the Banasura Peak. An interesting feature is a set of islands that were formed when the reservoir submerged the surrounding areas. Speed boating facility is available in this place.

Things to do at Vythiri: The sight seeing at Vythiri is simply a superb experience. Apart from this a morning trek to the tropical rainforests surrounding the resort: to catch a glimpse of the Nilagiri Langur, the Malabar Giant Squirrel, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Yellow Browed Bulbul and the wide range of other species endemic to the Western Ghats. Tourists may also take a leisurely walk to explore the scenic natural beauty of the place during anytime of the day.

Best time to visit Vythiri: The weather in Vythiri is normally pleasant, as the town is a resort town and major hill station. It can be visited all year around but the best time is from October to May.

How to go ?

By Air

You can take flights to Kozhikode and reach Vythiri from there through bus. The airport in Kozhikode is an international airport, with flights to Chennai, Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore along with many gulf countries.

By Train

You can also opt for train travel in order to reach the resort town of Vythiri. Trains will be available to the nearest railway station at Kozhikode, and buses can be taken from there to Vythiri.

By Bus

Buses to Vythiri ply from the city of Kozhikode, and the town is a two hour drive away from the city.

Where to stay ?

There are not many accommodation options in Vythiri. Some are:

Vythiri Resort : +91- 4936- 256800, 255366, 94470 55367  Website:  www.vythiriresort.com
Rain Country Resorts: +91– 0495-2511997, 98, 99  Website:  www.raincountryresort.com
The Windflower Resorts And Spa: +91- 9895221166  Website:  www.thewindflower.com
Hotel Haritagiri: +91 4936 203145, 203146,  203147, 203148  Website:  www.hotelharitagiri.com

Note : Phone numbers given above are according to the information available with us. If you find any contact number/s given above is/are incorrect or not in use, please let us know.