PHOTOGRAPH: PAKHNYUSHCHYY/123RF (WAYANAD), ZZVET/123RF (SPICES)Wayanad,ahillstationinKerala,ispopularforitsspiceplantations,
among other things. While people from the nearby states of Tamil Nadu
and Karnataka and from Kerala itself head to Wayanad for a hill getaway,
we’ve chosen Mysore in Karnataka as the starting point for this road trip
owing to the variety of terrains and surrounding scapes on this route. There
are also a few temples on the way for the spiritual-minded. It’s a little over
130km between the places, a distance that can be easily covered in about
three hours. The best places to stop at are near the Kabini River that snakes
its way along State Highway 33 that takes you to Wayanad. Preferably, stop
where the river broadens out into backwaters and, then, a man-made
reservoir, the Kabini Dam. There are plenty of options to get a bite at along
the route but we’d suggest you eat your full before you head into the forests
that border the Nagarhole National Park. The road through the forest is
beautiful, the dense canopy obscuring the sky above. Just past the
Karnataka-Kerala border, make a stop at the Valmeekam Tribal Museum
for a look at some amazing terracotta sculptures (091-97459-79066,
http://www.valmeekam.com, Palvelicham, Kerala). And, after this, you get on
the final stretch of the journey to Wayanad, with the road winding
uphill into the clouds.131
kmWithrivers,damsandforests,thepath to
Wayanad is any road trip enthusiast’s dreamMYSORE TO
WAYANADTHE WINTER LIST INDIAN ROAD TRIPS
A few pointers
for the road
- Carry motion sickness meds
for those twisties. - Drink enough water to keep dehydration at bay.
- Take turns at the wheel or take
breaks every two hours. - Don’t let your fuel drop below
the quarter-tank level. - Get your vehicle serviced before every trip.
- Watch out for stray animals
on the road.