After Mananthavady and Sulthan Bathery, Vythiri is the 3rd taluk in the Wayanad district of Kerala. It is one of the most visited hill stations in the state. Surrounded by the lofty Western Ghats, Vythiri stands at an altitude of 700 metres above sea level. The small town is famous for its spice plantations, beautiful forests and the diverse traditions of its tribal communities.
Legend surrounding Vythiri
According to a local legend, an English engineer built the Ghat road to Vythiri on the basis of the information given by a tribal youth. After getting the necessary guidance, the English engineer killed the tribal guide. The vengeful spirit of the tribal youth caused many accidents in the road. So a priest took the initiative to chain the spirit to a tree in Vythiri. Thus came about the legend of the Chain Tree. This tree can be seen even today at Lakkidi, some motorists and drivers pay homage to the tree for allowing a safe passage.
Climate of Vythiri
Vythiri is a major hill station with an all season attractive weather, lush greenery and terrain, which gives it a pleasant climate. The summer temperatures are characterized by a minimum of 20° C and a maximum of 37° C, thus making the summers not as hot as the rest of the Kerala. During winters, temperatures drop to a minimum of 10° C and a maximum of 30° C. This is the time, when tourists can visit and take advantage of the fresh mountain air and lush greenery. Monsoons start from the month of June and continue till November. In Vythiri, monsoons are for an extended period of time due to the influence of both the south-west and north-west monsoons which bring in heavy rainfall.
Vythiri can be visited all year around but the best time to visit is from the months of October to May.
Tourism in Vythiri
Listed below are some of the tourist attraction sites in Vythiri:
Pookode Lake: Nestled amidst evergreen forests and mountain slopes at an altitude of 770 metres, Pookode Lake is a natural freshwater lake with boating facility. The lake is 8.5 hectares big and the maximum depth of the water is 6.5 meters.
Lakkidi Hills: Lakkidi is one of the richest bio diverse areas in the Western Ghats and has a number of species including the lion tailed macaque, Indian shag, little cormorant, little green heron, pond heron and species of other rare birds.
Soochipara Falls: Also known as Sentinel Rock Waterfalls, it is a 3-tiered waterfall surrounded by deciduous, evergreen and montane forests. These falls capture nature at her best and are famous for rock climbing. The best season to visit is from June till January.
Chembra Peak: Located towards the southern part of the Western Ghats, the Chembra Peak is the tallest summit in the region. Climbing the peak and trekking is a bit of a challenge but under the guidance of the South Wayanad Forest Development Agency camping and trekking becomes a fun experience.
Visiting Information on Vythiri
Vythiri is 66 km by road from Kozhikode railway station. The Calicut International Airport is at a distance of 90 km from Vythiri.
