Wayanad – What's Next?

Wayanad is home to splendid natural surroundings, exhilarating adventures, vast wildlife reserves, coffee plantations and historic charm. A perfect weekend getaway from Bangalore, which remains the epitome of God’s Own Country. From exploring striking natural trails to visiting eerie caves, Wayanad offers unique experiences. SaffronStays WellBeingVilla is the ideal choice to discover the local attractions of Wayanad and relish the serene getaway with your family and friends.

Trekking experience

Wayanad offers several magnificent trekking trails for travellers to experience nature in its unspoiled form. The sounds of the rumbling leaves, gushing waterfalls, and scents of the enchanting forest will only accompany your trail. Just pause and admire the blooming flowers and towering trees while meandering deep into the woods. Also, you can spot rare birds and taste pristine water from the nature streams. Nature enthusiasts and adventure souls cannot miss this therapeutic experience.

Pookode Lake

Pookode Lake is a glistening freshwater lake set amidst rich forest areas and the Western Ghats. The sweeping views of nature and tranquil ambience attract different travellers. Cruise along the lake that sparkles with lotus and water lilies while spotting wild animals and birds. The lake also offers a freshwater aquarium, children’s park and handicrafts shop to guarantee a fascinating outing experience for a larger group of friends and families.

10 km away from SaffronStays WellBeingVilla

Lakkidi View Point

Touted as the Gateway to Wayanad, Lakkidi View Point in Kalpetta mesmerizes everyone with the views of the misty hills and twisty roads. Get the adrenaline pumping while driving along the snaky roads to reach this high-altitude viewpoint. A funky road trip playlist will further add to the fun. Capture the perfect sunrise and sunset in the backdrop of the green meadows. Slow down and admire the fantasy-like sceneries near the Vythiri Village.

13 km away from SaffronStays WellBeingVilla

Chembra Peak

Set at a soaring altitude of 2100m, Chembra Peak beckons travellers with its heart-shaped lake and exotic greeneries. The trail meanders through the tea plantations and waterfalls and gently reveals the heart-shaped lake on the top. Embark on this refreshing trek among clouds and endlessly behold the rolling hills. Opt for guided tours and get the enriching experience of climbing the highest peak in Wayanad.

25 km away from SaffronStays WellBeingVilla

Banasura Dam

Banasura Dam remains one of the idyllic vacation places in Wayanad. Visit this impressive earthen dam in Wayanad for var of experiences. Witness the massive reservoir against the mountains swathed in lush greeneries. Explore a host of exciting activities in the park, climb the Banasura Peak and enjoy boating in the glittering reservoir. The vast stretch of greeneries in the dam offers the perfect spot to set up a fun-filled picnic.

19 km away from SaffronStays WellBeingVilla

MuddyBoots Zipline

The rolling hills of Wayanad offer bespoke adventure experiences like Ziplining. Experience the thrill of gliding through the verdant slopes of Wayanad like never before. It offers the longest zipline in Wayanad which extends to 300 m. Also, MuddyBoots Zipline boasts an assortment of activities such as river rafting, camping, cycling and boating. Sign up for these curated adventure experiences and share exciting moments with your friends and family.

3 km away from SaffronStays WellBeingVilla

A memorable stay in SaffronStays WellBeingVilla

Nestled in a 50-acre coffee plantation estate, SaffronStays WellBeingVilla is a 3-bedroom eco-friendly villa home that reflects Kerala-style architecture. SaffronStays WellBeingVilla promises an immersive stay experience amidst nature in Wayanad. The aroma of coffee lingers in the air at this home, where you can enjoy the unhindered views of Arabica coffee plantations. Start your day with a cuppa in the poomukhom Verandah for heartwarming conversations whilst soaking in the scenic setting.

Grab your favourite book from the in-house library and indulge in reading near the sunken atrium or sprawling garden. That’s not it! You can sign up for restorative Ayurvedic spa therapies and spend time playing indoor games. The home brings you the local flavours of Kerala right at your table for the epic food-tasting experience. Get around and easily explore the local attractions of Wayanad while staying in SaffronStays WellBeingVilla.

Bookmark these amazing places in Wayanad whenever you plan a trip with your friends and family. SaffronStays WellBeingVilla will be your base to explore all these attractions in Wayanad.

Close your eyes and think of the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘Wedding’. For years, the first thing that came to my mind was chaos. Turns out, that’s no longer the case. I am a proud convert. If I close my eyes right now, I can see myself having the most amazing time at my friend Anjali’s wedding in Kalpetta, a small town in Wayanad. Surrounded by gorgeous mountains, Kalpetta is a great place to go hiking & then come back to a delicious spread of home made Malayalam cuisine. Yes, I am referring to spicy Meen curry served with hot rice to the view of lush green forests and coffee plantations.

Small towns have their own charm. But it may take a while for you to discover it if you are an outsider and don’t know any locals. In my case, it was different. I got off the bus late in the evening and was met by Abhinav, an old friend of Anjali’s. We were meeting after years but the conversation was easy and effortless. The walk up to Anjali’s house was beautiful. It was a full moon night and I couldn’t help but notice the clean air. That’s the thing with us city folks, we get very excited about clean air.

To make the most of our stay, we even decided to brave the rain and heavy mist one morning. We chose a scenic route and hiked our way up to Edakkal Caves – a site that has drawn the interest of numerous archaeologists owing to detailed carvings that depict human and animal figures as well as tools of pre-historic age. Although not the easiest hike, once we reached the caves, we realised that it was totally worth the effort. Some of us even befriended a few monkeys on our way up and had our share of laughs. That day, Kalpetta really felt like paradise.

Kalpetta, Wayanad — The beautiful mountains of Kalpetta. Photo by Gopika Nair

Anjali’s parents moved to Kalpetta a few years ago because they wanted to live a better life. A life that didn’t include the everyday madness of a city like Delhi. And boy, one look at the house and the green expanse behind it, I knew what a good life this must be. I later found out that they even make their own coffee. Yeah, fresh coffee that comes from the coffee plant in their garden. Dinner was followed by our first conversation with the groom, Nishant. A desi, born and brought up in Australia. One of us asked him what he likes the most about this small town. ‘I like sleeping in the room upstairs, especially when it rains because I can hear it pour so clearly. This may seem trivial, but to me, it feels really magical now,’ he answered. That’s all it took. We all connected with him from the first day and couldn’t be happier for Anjali.

Traditional Malayalam wedding — The bride-to-be performing a puja at home. Photo by Ananya Banerjee

The next morning started with a big breakfast of idlis, vadas & baby utthapams. Although most of us didn’t speak the language, we communicated just fine with the caterers. Gorgeous breakfast, followed by the devi puja, conducted by the bride, for which we all dressed up in traditional cream & gold saris. After the puja was lunch and then, all the women were asked to make 1,000 wicks with cloth, as part of a ritual. But a) it wasn’t easy to make those wicks and b) we’d eaten too much. Again. Evening was mehendi – not a Mallu ritual but Anjali wanted to bring in some Delhi spirit to Kerala. It was amazing to be around so many excited and happy people. That same evening some of Nishant’s friends from back home joined the festivity and together, we all had a blast.

Kerala Malayalam wedding — The six-hour long Vedic wedding in progress. Photo by Gopika Nair

Next morning was the six-hour long Vedic wedding at home with about 80 people. It was a beautiful ceremony, during which we got time to connect with Nishant’s friends. It’s amazing how it doesn’t matter where you are from if your values are the same. All of us felt that about them. We had grown up in such different environments but it was surreal how similar we were. This connection with the people and their locale is what made the wedding trip so special. I’ve only just gotten back, but as I write this, I find the gorgeous landscapes and unspoilt traditions of Kerala inviting me again, and I am lost in the heap of memories. God’s own country indeed!

Kerala is historically termed as Keralam, and is a beautiful state in the south-west region of India. And the best time that reflects the beauty and faith of the people of Kerala is during Onam, the biggest festival of Kerala. A harvest festival, a Malayalam New year, is the perfect time when the beautiful landscapes of Kerala is in its full radiance.

We bring you five best reasons why you must visit Kerala and experience the most marvelous facets of its people as they unfold their rich culture.

#1 Spices & Cuisine

Because the traditional food on Banana leaf at Alleppey lets you savor the taste bud!

Click here to know where you can find the deliciously home cooked food in Kerala

#2 Houseboats

Because the view at Mararikulam will leave you speechless

Click here to know where to stay at Mararikulam, Kerala

#3 Forest & Wildlife

Because Munnar is a home to rich forest wealth & wildlife

Click here to know more about this place in Munnar

#4 Homestays, Culture & Tradition

Because if you have nothing to do, Kerala is the perfect place to do it in!

Click here to know more about this place

#5 The Beaches!

Because not everybody who wander are lost

Click here to know more about this place

To know about more such places to visit in Kerala, click here!

Cover Photo Credits: ww.enticingtour.com

About the traveller: Komal Singh is a fiction writer, based in Bangalore. Beer, books, films, good food, parks, connections and travel make her really happy.

Tag: Wayanad

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