Plan a Memorable Family Vacation in Wayanad with Le Villagio
South India is a Vibrant, excellent place to visit with your family. Of all the hideouts tucked away in this region, the state of Kerala is the greenest, serenest family getaway. In fact, some of the most popular tourist destinations in India are located in Wayanad district within Kerala province. I have been to most of the tour spots in this area, and they rank very well for if all you want is a memorable excursion in a natural location. In this article, I’m going to highlight the best resort in Wayanad to visit with family, borrowing from my own personal experience and other visitors’ experiences, Le Villagio is the best family resorts in Wayanad.
If you’re planning to venture out to Wayanad, it’s important to book your stay at a homestay, hotel apartment or vacation rental that’s located at a central position. This will effectively reduce the commute distance between yourself and the most popular tourist spots. Sultan Bathery (a historical town located in Wayanad) makes an excellent staging point from which you can easily travel to the popular tour hotspots in all of Wayanad.
Below is my list of the top places anyone going to Wayanad with family should put on their visit list.
Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary
Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the top places that comes to mind for anyone who has extensively toured Wayanad. Muthanga Wildlife is just 13 kilometers away (a 16-minute drive) away from Sultan Bathery via the NH766.
Established back in 1973, Muthanga is bio-diverse and is a key part of the Nilgiri Biosphere-Reserve. The management at this sanctuary has placed great focus on scientific conservation with consideration for the lifestyles of the tribal people who live around the forest region. There are so many elephants in this sanctuary that it was named a Project Elephant site. Occasionally, you will spot a tiger, and species of deer, birds, monkeys are also common. The vegetation within Muthanga is composed of deciduous forests and evergreen forests that are the norm in this part of India.
Perhaps the most thrilling thing about this wildlife sanctuary is that you get to enjoy a jungle drive, viewing elephants and other wildlife while at it. The Forest Department at Muthanga also organizes elephant riders for individuals who’d like to photograph and witness the large animal in its natural habitat.
Kuruva Island
Kuruva Island is located 55 km (about 1 hour 40 minutes’ drive) from Sulthan Bathery. Also referred to as Kuruva Dweep, this is a protected river delta that comprises of a cluster of islands that are populated with dense fauna and flora. The island’s geographical peculiarity gives it a serene ambiance.
Visitors to Kuruva Island will see attractive bridges that are made from bamboo trees and incredibly rare tree species. There are also diverse species of orchids, birds, herbal plants waiting for you to witness in this uninhabited island. Since Kuruva Island is surrounded by a series of streams, you can photograph and enjoy the scenery via a raft or boat ride. The Kerala Tourism Department provides these boats, and they will take a couple of hours to wade along the islands.
The rafting is actually a very enjoyable experience. You get to escape from life as you know it and spend some quality time taking in the great views. Another thing that I love most about Kuruva Island is the lazy nature walks that you can take with your spouse or the entire family. For purposes of safeguarding the eco-tourism here, partying and picnicking is prohibited. Entry to the islands is also restricted sometimes (such as during the rainy season between June and September).
There’s no food or people living on the island so you should make sure you’ve eaten enough before you embark on your rafting expedition.
Pookode lake
Pookode is a freshwater lake located about 44 minutes (37 kilometers) from Sultan Bathery. This beautiful lake is 40 meters deep and spread over a 40-acre stretch. The calm and peaceful environment makes this one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Wayanad. There are plenty of monkeys and other wild animals around here. If you’re a photographer or nature lover, this is the place to be.
Boating facilities are available nearby. Even better, there’s a freshwater aquarium, shopping center, and children’s park nearby. You can let your kids play while you sample some of the local spices. A visit to Pookode Lake is always a unique experience, but I’d recommend that you go either during dawn or dusk to enjoy the majestic views and perhaps take a few photos.
Banasura Sagar Dam
Banasura Sagar Dam is another major tourist attraction located in Wayanad. Located just 45 kilometers (1 hour 20 minutes’ drive) from Sultan Bathery, Banasura is the biggest earth dam in all of India (and the second biggest in Asia). Banasura dam holds massive amounts of water, against the backdrop of a chain of mountains.
One thing I loved about this tour spot is the impressive views from the dam, and you can take a trek from the dam to the nearby hills. There’s a speed boating facility if you’d like to venture out on the lake. Other activities within this tourist spot include horse riding and jeep riding. Banasura Sagar dam is an incredible experience, and you should definitely take a few photos to cement the memory.
Meenmutty water falls
Meenmutty Falls is located about 54 km (1 hour, 10 minutes’ drive) from Sultan Bathery. This is the most impressive waterfall in Wayanad, where you can take in great views, take photographs, and just enjoy a serene time outdoors. The only catch is that you have to walk a short distance to get to Meenmutty falls. Once you get there though, it’s definitely worth it.
The water drops from nearly 1000 ft, through a series of 3 stages. This presents some form of a spectacular triple-decker effect that has essentially made this a top-flying place to visit for families in Wayanad.
There isn’t much water in summer though, but some people still visit Meenmutty to take the trek through forest and rocks and see what’s left of the waterfall. Since Meenmutty is located not that far from Banasura Sagar dam, you can arrange a same-day trip to explore both places.
Conclusion
Other Wayanad attractions that are worth a mention include Chembra Peak, Neelimala, and Chethalayam Falls. But whether or not you can visit these places with family depends on how old your kids are. If your kid is just a toddler, it might not be advisable to take them to tour locations where they might be exposed to unnecessary risks.