Wayanad

Coffee Plantation Walk – Wayanad’s Aromatic Legacy A visit to Wayanad’s undulating coffee estates is a multi-sensory voyage into Kerala’s most fragrant heritage. Guided by a seasoned planter or botanical expert, this curated walk meanders through lush estates where shade-grown Arabica and hardy Robusta thrive in the cool understorey. Pepper vines spiral skyward around silver oaks; cardamom and cinnamon whisper their presence beneath leafy canopies. The air is thick with damp earth, resinous bark, and the faint bloom of coffee flowers—sweet, fleeting, unforgettable. Your host details the life of a coffee bean, from bloom to brew, touching on colonial trade routes, intercropping traditions, and sustainable techniques practiced by the region’s smallholders. Visit pulping sheds, drying yards, and micro-roasteries where craft meets science. Pause mid-trail beneath a jackfruit tree for a freshly brewed pour—notes of cocoa, citrus, and forest floor dancing on the palate. For the curious, cupping sessions and bean-sorting demonstrations reveal just how terroir speaks through taste. Here, coffee becomes more than drink—it is landscape distilled, memory warmed in a clay cup. Pookot Lake – Stillness Reflected in Emerald Waters Nestled within shola forests at over 770 meters above sea level, Pookot Lake shimmers like a secret—a still, circular lake that captures the moods of sky and mountain alike. Fringed by whispering bamboo and orchids in quiet bloom, it offers a mirror not only to nature but to the self. Begin with a mindful walk along the trail that wraps its perimeter, guided by a naturalist who points out rare flora—wild turmeric, tree ferns, and water-loving herbs steeped in folk medicine. Birdsong punctuates the hush: the call of a Malabar whistling thrush, the rustle of parakeets in flight. Glide across the lake in a private rowboat or paddleboat; each gentle stroke leaves a ripple, a verse in water. Along the way, encounter floating lilies, leaning boughs, and the occasional kingfisher poised in meditative stillness. Optional experiences include sketching sessions, lakeside tea with banana fritters, or a short yoga practice on a secluded deck. Pookot is not dramatic—it is devotional. A sanctuary where silence is sacred, and reflection comes naturally, like breath rising from cool waters. Lakkidi Viewpoint – Gateway to the Sky At the crest of the Thamarassery Ghat Pass lies Lakkidi—Wayanad’s crown of clouds, where altitude transforms sight into awe. Known as the “Gateway to Wayanad,” this mist-wrapped perch offers sweeping vistas of forests, valleys, and serpentine roads unfurling like silk beneath your feet. Arrive early or just before dusk for the most ethereal views: golden light catching on leaves, clouds drifting across the sun like lazy spirits, and the faint hum of cicadas singing the sky into quiet. A forest guide may share the legend of the Chain Tree—a tale of betrayal and restless spirits woven into the landscape’s lore. As you gaze across the ridges, landmarks emerge like dreams: the glint of Pookot Lake, checkerboard paddy fields, and distant tribal hamlets nestled within folds of green. Optional enhancements include a curated hilltop breakfast, tea with wild honey and banana chips, or a short forest trail where orchids bloom on mossy branches and shy langurs peer from the canopy. Lakkidi is not just a viewpoint—it’s an awakening. A place where the horizon expands not just outward, but inward.