Bangalore to Wayanad
Cab Service

Depart Bangalore at 7:00 AM and drive southwest through Mysore towards the Kerala border. The route passes through the magnificent Bandipur National Park — one of India's most important tiger reserves under Project Tiger — where the early morning drive through dense deciduous forest frequently rewards passengers with sightings of elephant herds, spotted deer, gaur (Indian bison) and the occasional leopard crossing. As you ascend the Nilgiri ghats towards Wayanad, the vegetation transforms dramatically into lush evergreen forest. Check in at your hotel in Kalpetta or Mananthavady by evening and relax in the cool highland air.

After breakfast, set out for a full day of Wayanad's most celebrated landmarks. Begin at Banasura Sagar Dam — the largest earthen dam in India and Asia's second largest — where a series of small rocky islands emerge dramatically from the reservoir surface. Trek up to Chembra Peak (2,100 m) — Wayanad's highest point — for panoramic views over three states, passing the famous heart-shaped lake near the summit. The afternoon is spent at the tranquil Pookode Lake, a freshwater lake surrounded by subtropical forest, and the extraordinary Kuruva Island — a 950-acre riverine island ecosystem accessible only by bamboo raft through the Kabani river channels, home to rare orchids and river otters.

After breakfast and hotel checkout, begin with a visit to the remarkable Edakkal Caves — two natural caves in the Ambukuthi Hills reached by a scenic 45-minute uphill walk through forest. The caves contain prehistoric petroglyphs (rock engravings) dating back over 6,000 years, believed to depict human figures and animals — one of the rarest archaeological finds in India. On the return drive, pass through Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary (part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve) and optionally the less-visited Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary in North Wayanad — both excellent for spotting elephants, sambar deer and birds before heading back to Bangalore.