My TripAdvisor Review No.423: The Coffee Grove Restaurants & Resorts - CG - ALA, Vythiri, Wayanad.

Cosy Restaurant, Good Food.

We visited this restaurant for lunch on the way back from Banasura Dam to Vythiri in Wayanad. It has a very nice cosy ambience inside, and looked like a pretty homestay bungalow from the outside. There is sufficient parking space outside the restaurant.

They had veg and non veg food on the menu, including Kerala Thali. We tried out their Veg Schezwan Fried Rice which was quite tasty. After the meal we had their special coffee, which they make from the coffee grown on their own plantation.

We picked up some spices and home grown coffee powder from their small store next to the restaurant. Even though it is a few kilometers outside Vythiri town, it is worth dining here at least once.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.422: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.

Part Of The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

We drove through two ranges of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary during our Wayanad trip. As soon as we crossed the border between Karnataka and Kerala on the Mysore to Sultan Bathery route, we crossed over from the Bandipur Tiger Reserve into the Muthanga Range of the Wayanad Sanctuary. We saw elephant on two separate occasions from the highway itself, once as it had just crossed the road, and on the other occasion it was grazing quite deep in the forest. Deer sightings were quite common.

On the return trip we returned via the Tholpetty and Kutta (in Karnataka) route, after visiting the Thirunelli temple. To visit the temple we had to drive deep into the Tholpetty Range of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. Since it was afternoon we did not get any animal sightings, but we did see a lot of elephant dung along the roadside. The Tholpetty Range is contiguous with the Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary of Karnataka.

Driving through the dense forests of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is a wonderful experience in itself. To explore deeper one must stop at a Jungle Lodge and take a Jeep or Elephant Safari into the jungles. Besides Wayanad, Nagarhole, and Bandipur, the Madumalai Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu is also a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

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Date of experience: December 2018

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My TripAdvisor Review No.421: Thirunelli Temple, Wayanad.

Ancient Vishnu Temple.

If you have planned to visit the excellent temples in the Wayanad district of Kerala, then the Thrissilery Shiva Temple and the Thirunelli Vishnu Temples are two of the most divine places to visit. According to the traditional custom you must first visit the Thrissilery temple and then proceed to the Thirunelli temple. Both the temples are located in the midst of the hills of the Western Ghats, near the town of Manathavady, in North Wayanad, but separated by a distance of 19 km.

We visited the Thrissilery temple first, and then drove to the Thirunelli Temple, through deep jungle and forests. Unfortunately, the temple doors were closed when we arrived around 1 pm, and we could not enter the sanctum sanctorum. However, we got a darshan from outside and did a parikrama around the ancient temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu. It is located on the southern side of the Brahmagiri Hill in Kerala, very close to the border with Karnataka, surrounded by lush green forests and mountains.

About 1 km northwest of the temple is a holy mountain stream called the Papanasini. Pilgrims bathe here as they consider the waters of this stream washes away their sins. The temple offers services to immerse cremation ashes in the sacred mountain stream, which then flows to the Kaveri River and into the Indian Ocean.

After our parikrama of the temple we went down to the base of the hill where there were some Udupi food joints which served lunch and snacks. We enjoyed some puttus and wadas with spicy chutney for lunch.

The temple timings are: Morning 5.30 am to 12 noon. Evening: 5.30 pm to 8 pm. Try to go there early morning or late evening, with more chances of spotting wild elephants, gaur, and deer in the forests, if you are driving through the Tholpetty range of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.

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Date of experience: December 2018

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My TripAdvisor Review No.420: Thrissilery Shiva Temple, Wayanad.

Divine Temple.

If you have planned to visit the excellent temples in the Wayanad district of Kerala, then the Thrissilery Shiva Temple and the Thirunelli Vishnu Temples are two of the most divine places to visit. According to the traditional custom you must first visit the Thrissilery temple and then proceed to the Thirunelli temple, in that order. Both the temples are located in the midst of the hills of the Western Ghats, near the town of Manathavady, in North Wayanad, but separated by a distance of 19 km.

We decided to visit the temples on the way out from Vythiri. It is about 45 km from Vythiri (about 35 km from Kalpetta). It was difficult to find the temple, as we were offline as we got nearer to the remote place where the temple is located. We reached the temple after an almost two hour drive from Vythiri, enquiring the route from the locals.

The temple is very secluded and surrounded by an ambience of peace and tranquillity. At mid-day we were the only pilgrims to visit the temple, and the priests themselves took us around for darshan. To enter the sanctum sanctorum and perform a guided puja I had to remove my shirt and vest and only then allowed to enter. We had to do a circumambulation of the sanctum in a well defined path which is marked on the ground.

Though it is a Shiva temple there are also idols of other deities which are worshipped. These include Lord Vishnu, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesha, Lord Muruga and Lord Hanuman. Located behind the temple in a water body, is a small shrine of Jala Durga. This perennial water body originates from the Papanashini River near Thirunelli. Locals believe that the shrine was installed by Lord Parasurama, an incarnate of Lord Vishnu.

We felt very blessed after visiting this temple. We collected holy prasadam from the temple office, and continued our journey to the Thirunelli Vishnu Temple.

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Date of experience: December 2018

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My TripAdvisor Review No.419: Banasura Hill, Wayanad.

For The Hardcore Trekkers.

We could see the Banasura Hill from the Banasura Sagar Dam. It is the second highest peak in Wayanad, after Chembra Peak, and is part of the Western Ghats mountain range of India.

The Banasura Hill trek is a long excursion for the trekking enthusiast. First, permission has to be obtained from the North Wayanad Forest Division office located in the town of Mananthavady, about 25 km from Banasura. Treks start from near the Banasura Hill Resort, about 2.5 km from the dam. You will be accompanied by a guide, after paying a fee at the Forest Office.

The hill trek is quite strenuous and only young or experienced trekkers should attempt it. It can take about 8 to 9 hours to trek to the peak and back to base, and is best attempted in the winter months between November to February.

An added bonus of the trek is a chance to visit the thunderous waterfall along the way, which the locals call Meenmutty Falls.

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Date of experience: December 2018

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My TripAdvisor Review No.418: Thariode, Wayanad, Kerala.

Rural Wayanad.

Thariode is a pretty little village in rural Wayanad, about 10 kms from Vythiri and Kalpetta, on the route to Banasura Dam. It is surrounded by hills with plenty of greenery and tea gardens. There are many temples, churches and mosques in the town, and all the communities live in perfect harmony.

We passed the impressive looking St. Mary’s Church, and clicked a snap with my cellphone. It is a model rural town of Wayanad, with an idyllic setting surrounded by nature, and there are many resorts and home-stays nearby. Maybe we will stay at one of them on our next visit to Wayanad.

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Date of experience: December 2018

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My TripAdvisor Review No.417: Banasura Sagar Dam, Wayanad, Kerala.

Speed Boat Rides.

The Banasura Dam is closer to Kalpetta rather than Vythiri. It took us about 45 minutes to drive the 24 km to Banasura Dam from Vythiri town. The drive was quite scenic through a lot of greenery and forested areas. It is the largest earthen dam in India, and the second largest in Asia. It is one of the best picnic spots in Wayanad.

One can either trek up to the top of the dam or hire a jeep. We opted for the bus which charges ₹10 per person. It is easy to trek down. Parking charges are ₹30 for a car, and entry charges are ₹30 per person, and extra is charged for still and video cameras (no charges for cell-phone cameras).

We got a spectacular view of the lake when we reached the top of the dam. There is a lot of greenery around the lake shore, which can be better explored by hiring the boats. Speed boats, Pontoon boats, Cycle boats, Coracles and Kayaks are available from 9 am to 5 pm. There is a nice garden where we relaxed for a while. It is better to visit in the early mornings or evenings. It was quite hot at noon when we visited.

After reaching back to the base, we stopped at the Banasura Dam View restaurant for lunch. There are some food stalls near the parking lot as well.

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Date of experience: December 2018

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My TripAdvisor Review No.416: Chain Tree of Karinthanandan, Vythiri, Wayanad.

A Ghost Story.

The legend behind the Chain Tree near Vythiri reads more like a ghost story. It is said that a tribal youth, Karinthanandan, guided a British engineer in making a road through Wayanad’s forests. The engineer, however, decided that he did not want to share the glory with his guide and killed the poor young tribal. The dead man’s soul would haunt travellers who passed by the area, until a priest chained his soul to a ficus tree.

The tree is located about 2 km from Vythiri, just before reaching Lakkidi, but we missed sighting it as we were driving to Lakkidi View Point. On the way back we had to make use of G-maps to pinpoint the exact location otherwise we would have missed it again. Then we saw the chain tied and hanging from the tree. Besides the tree there is a small compound with a temple. There is also a wayside tea stall nearby.

One can stop here and pay homage to the poor young tribal man, so that his soul may rest in peace.

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Date of experience: December 2018

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My TripAdvisor Review No.415: Lakkidi View Point, Wayanad, Kerala.

Sheer Drop from High Range.

Lakkidi View Point is a place on the Kozhikode Bangalore Highway (NH-766, earlier NH-212) from where we can get a bird’s eye view of the plains below, from the high ranges of Wayanad. It is about 7 km drive from Vythiri village.

We drove down from Vythiri, and just after crossing the town of Lakkidi we exited the district of Wayanad in Kerala. There is a narrow parking area by the side of the highway from where we could see the sheer drop down to the coast of Kerala. From this point we got a panoramic view of the valley below, with the serpentine road winding down the mountainside like a coiled snake. A few kilometres below we could see the vehicles wending their way up through the Wayanad Churam and Thamarassery Churam (mountain passes).

Many people stop by at this point just to admire the sheer beauty of the scenery unfolding before them, and to take some pictures. On a cloudy day the atmosphere may become hazy, making it difficult to see much, but one can still enjoy the rising mists and moisture laden breeze. During the monsoons one can also enjoy the many waterfalls trickling down the hillsides.

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Date of experience: December 2018

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My TripAdvisor Review No.414: Pookot Lake, Vythiri, Wayanad, Kerala.

Pretty Lake with Boating Facilities.

Pookot Lake, also known as Pookode Lake, is a very pretty fresh water lake just 3 km from Vythiri village in Wayanad. There are boating facilities available at the lake. Row boats can be hired for ₹350 for half an hour, and pedal boats for ₹200 (4 seater), and ₹100 (2 seater) for 20 minutes. There is also a nicely wooded walking track encircling the lake. Snacks and souvenirs can be bought from the shops at the entrance.

We had to park our car in the paid parking lot (₹30), from where we had to walk half a kilometre to the entrance gate of the lake garden. Entry charges are ₹20 per head, and still camera charges are also ₹20, which is ridiculous, as there are no charges for phone cameras.

We spent about half an hour taking a stroll around the lake beneath the shady trees. There were some flowers on the lake surface, making it look like a pink carpet covering the lake. It was cool and serene, as there was not much of a crowd on the weekday morning. We bought some souvenirs from the curio shop and enjoyed a hot cup of Kerala filter coffee.

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Date of experience: December 2018

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My TripAdvisor Review No.399: Vythiri Village Resort, Wayanad, Kerala.

Serene Green Resort in the Wayanad Wilderness

Vythiri Village Resort is located in the eponymous town in the Wayanad district of Kerala. It’s entrance is just off the NH766, which goes to Kozhikode. The lane leading to the gates is very narrow, so one needs to go slow after spotting their signboard which directs you turn off the highway after 50 meters.

Check-in was quick. After parking our car in the huge parking lot we were taken to our room, about a km away, in a resort van. Our room was on the second floor, with a nice view from the glass window, overlooking the river and the hanging bridge, with the hills as a backdrop.

The resort is well spread out over 30 acres of greenery and large trees, located at the base of the hills, and has a small tributary of the Kabini River running through it. There is a hanging bridge which leads to an artificial waterfall and the Infinity pool. But the path leading to infinity pool was steep and rocky, and I found the regular pool, next to the hanging bridge, much better for long swims. Every morning they arrange a complimentary Nature Walk, where a guide takes you outside for a walk in the plantations.

There are a variety of rooms, including the Pool Villas, Jacuzzi Villas, Cottages, Suites and Duplex Suites. As Club Mahindra members we were allotted the deluxe rooms, which had ac, flat-screen TV, e-safe, fridge, tea maker, wardrobe, telephone and wi-fi. Toiletries included a dental kit, besides soap, shampoo and body lotion.

Service was impeccable, and they provided sachets of tea, coffee, milk and sugar or ‘Sugar Free’. The three restaurants; ‘Sky Restaurant’, ‘Tea Garden’ and ‘House Boat’ were under maintenance and not in operation, but there was one main restaurant called ‘Spice Bowl’ where they served ala-carte as well as buffet meals. The tariff was on the higher side but the taste of the Kerala dishes was good. There were very few options to dine out in Vythiri itself, but there were some good restaurants in Kalpetta which is about 10 km away.

There were some good activities in the resort. Swimming, walking, zip lining, trekking, shooting, archery and spa were some of the popular ones. There is also an artist who sketches your portrait, as well as a painter.

The few cons of the resort were; there was some construction activity of a new block of rooms which spoiled the view from the window, and there was some water seepage from the vestibule ceiling, probably from the ac, in the passage near the main door of our room.

But we did enjoy our three days stay, and had a calm and relaxed time, with some sight-seeing.
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Date of stay: December 2018

• Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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My TripAdvisor Review No.398: Affas Udupi Restaurant, Kalpetta, Wayanad, Kerala.

Excellent Vegetarian Restaurant.

We visited this restaurant for lunch on the way to Vythiri in Wayanad. As we had to pass the town of Kalpetta we decided to park in the Kalpetta Bus Stand pay and park area. The restaurant was just across the road in the market, with a signboard quite prominently displaying “Affas Udupi Restaurant”. They have their own dedicated parking as well, in the hotel compound.

We went up to the mezzanine floor, which is meant for families. It was very neat and clean, though the tables were a bit close to each other. I went for the Kerala Sadya (special meal) served on a plantain leaf, while my wife opted for the Kerala parathas with cucumber raitha, from the ala-carte section.

The sadya is a full meal by itself, and consisted of pickle, papadam, chutney, pineapple raitha, curd, 1 chapati, 2 vegetables, 1 dal, rasam, some banana chips, a little payasam and a small banana at the end. There were two varieties of rice; the regular white rice or the boiled Kerala rice. There was a glass of masala chaas (buttermilk) as well. It was quite a variety, and priced very reasonably at ₹120. Everything tasted very delicious.

This restaurant is a must visit if you like South Indian vegetarian food. The service was also very courteous and friendly. We did not have difficulty in communication, as the waiters understood Hindi and some English as well.

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