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The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary comprises two districts of Kerala i.e. in the
north; it is a part of the Cannanore district while its southern part is located
in the Calicut district. The park extends from the latitude 11°15' in the North
to the longitude 76°30' in the East. There is a good road network that connects
the sanctuary with the other important places in Kerala.
Wayanad lies at an altitude varying from 700 - 2100 metres above the sea
level. The district has the highest number of tribal settlements in Kerala. The
hill ranges of Vythiri taluk (taluk is a sub division of a district), through
which the road from Kozhikode ascends the Wayanad plateau over the mind boggling
bends and ridges, are the highest locations of Wayanad district.
Established in 1973, the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is contiguous to the
protected area network of Nagarhole and Bandipur of Karnataka on the northeast
and Mudumalai of Tamil Nadu on the southeast. Rich in bio-diversity, the
sanctuary is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which has been
established with the specific objective of conserving the biological heritage of
the region. The sanctuary is very rich in flora and fauna. The management lays
emphasis on scientific conservation with due consideration for the general
lifestyle of the tribals and others who live in and around the forest region.
Around Wayanad :
Pookat lake : A natural fresh water lake surrounded by evergreen
forest and rolling hills. A fresh water aquarium with large variety of fish is
an added attraction. Tourists can also avail of boating facilities, children's
park, and a shopping centre for handicrafts and spices
Kuruvadweep : This 950 acre, uninhabited island on the eastward bound Kabani
river is an ideal picnic spot. The wooded stretch of land is home to rare
species of birds, orchids and herbs.
Thirunelly Temple : Surrounded by Kambamala, Karimala and Varadiga, the
Thirunelly temple is a marvel of temple architecture. The shrine is shielded
with 30 granite columns and the ground is paved with huge square pieces of
granite. The crystal clear waters of the Papanasini river running downhill add
to the enchantment of the place.
Thirunelli temple : Surrounded by Kambamala, Karimala and Varadiga, the
Thirunelly temple is a marvel of temple architecture. The shrine is shielded
with 30 granite columns and the ground is paved with huge square pieces of
granite. The crystal clear waters of the Papanasini river running downhill add
to the enchantment of the place.
Pazhassi tomb : The memorial of ' the lion of Kerala' - Veera Pazhassi Raja
- who organised the guerilla warfare against the British East India Company, is
situated at Mananthavady. The Pulpally cave is where Pazhassi took refuge until
he was captured by the British.
The Glass Temple of Kottamunda : This temple is located on the slope of
Vellarimala and is dedicated to Parswanatha Swamy of the Jain faith. The mirrors
inside the temple walls reflect images of the icons in the temple's sanctum
sanctorum.
Pakshipathalam : This place can be accessed only by trekking. Rare species
of birds can be sighted from the watch tower of this bird sanctuary.
Boy's Town : Herbal garden, nature care centre, sericulture unit, perma-culture
centre etc., established by the Wayanad Social Service Society and Jean Park
(the Indo-Danish project for promoting herbal gardening) are situated here
Chembra Peak : At 2100 m above mean sea level, Chembra is the highest peak
in Wayanad and is an ideal area for trekking.
Getting there :
By Air : Kozhikode or Calicut at a distance of 110 km from Kalpetta is
the nearest airport. Kozhikode is connected with Mumbai, Delhi, Goa, Bangalore,
Chennai and some other places in India by regular flights. There are
international flights to some Middle East cities from Kozhikode.
By Train : The nearest railway station from Wynad is again Kozhikode
connected to almost all the major destinations in India by regular trains.
By Road : The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation and Karnataka State
Road Transport Corporation run frequent buses to the sanctuary from many places
in both the states. The sanctuary is also connected to Mysore, Coorg, Bandipur,
Nagarhole, and Ooty by regular buses.
General Information :
Climate : The climate of the region is very much influenced by the
southwest monsoon that touches it in the months from June to September. There is
good rainfall during the Northeast monsoon too in the months of October and
November. July receives the highest rainfall while February is the driest month
here. April and May are the hottest months here while coldest months are January
and February.
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