Lakkidi

Lakkidi, popularly known as the gateway to Wayanad district of Kerala State is an interesting tourist destination. This place registers the second highest degree of rainfall in the entire world. Located on one of the highest altitudes in Wayanad, Lakkidi stands 700 m. above mean sea level, on the top of Thamarassery Ghat pass. The breath-taking scenic beauty of the place draws tourists from round the world. The sloshing streams, lush vegetation, lofty mountains overlooking the beautiful valleys and the winding roads make it a perfect treat to the eyes.

The city of Lakkidi is visited by thousands of tourists with the primary attraction of the place being the landscape with stunning mountain peaks, dense forest covers, striking streams and other water bodies. The pleasant climate and availability of amenities, along with easy accessibility has made it popular amidst other tourist places of South India. Vythiri is the nearest town (5 km. from Lakkidi). Onam (August), Kalpathi Ratholsavam (November) and Pattambi Nercha (January) are some festivals of this city that attract many tourists. It is an ideal place for a relaxing holiday where you can relax and enjoy nature at its best with flowing streams and greenery around.

August to March

Some of the must visit places at Lakkidi are listed below:

Restaurants at Lakkidi provide authentic sumptuous delicacies of South India like rice, rasam, poricha kootu, moru kootan, sambhar, avvial, pal payasam, and many more items. There are also eateries serving multi cuisine food items.

Lakkidi also boasts few local shops selling traditional items especially for tourists to purchase like locally made spices. The handicrafts are made from ivory, coconut shells, canes, wood and metals. Lakkidi shops bring their handloom items from Wayanad that are equally popular. Souvenirs can be bought from the local shops sited near the tourists’ attractions of the region.

By Rail: The nearest rail head to Lakkidi is Kozhikode (59 km. away) and is well connected with all major Indian cities. Taxi fare from railway station is about Rs. 2,000. By Air: The nearest airport is Karipur International airport at Kozhikode (about 70 km. away). You can avail taxi from airport to Lakkidi. Apart from domestic flights, the airport has regular flights to cities in Gulf region and other foreign countries as well. By Road: The KSRTC bus service of Kerala and Karnataka connect Lakkidi to other major cities. Autorikshaws, taxis and rented cycles are available to move around the city and complete sightseeing in Lakkidi.

Wayanad is an adorable tourist destination situated at a distance of 28 km. from Lakkidi. With umpteen attractions in Wayanad, multi-cultural tourists come to this place via Lakkidi by bus, train or cabs. Stunning peaks, breath-taking valleys, sparkling waterfalls, abundant flora and fauna and fresh water lakes are just a few things that make Wayanad one of the most popular tourist places in South India. Some of the places worth visiting in Wayanad include Chembra Peak, Varambetta Mosque, Neelimala View Point, Meenmutty Falls, Kanthanpara waterfalls, Soochippara, Wayanad Heritage Museum, Banasura Sagar project, Kuruva Island, Glass temple Koottamundu, Muniyaras, Edakkal Caves, Chethalayam Falls, Tholpetty, Jain Temple, Thrissilery Shiva Temple, Seetha Lava Kusha Temple, Manikavu Temple, Pakshipathalam, Pazhazzi Tomb, Thirunelly Temple, Valliyoorkavu Bhagavathi Temple, and Phantom Rock. Wayanad is also known for its trekking. Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, a lso known as the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary,is an interesting spot is located on 345 sq. km. of dense forested land, about52 km. from Lakkidi. Mainly visited by birdwatchers, this sanctuary houses avariety of birds like peacocks, peafowl, egrets, snipes, babblers, bulbuls, andcormorants. Animals in this sanctuary include Asian elephants, gaurs, cheetahs,leopards, tigers, spotted deer, sloth bears, and sambars.

Majestic views from the hotels in Lakkidi are sure to make your vacation a memorable one in this green city. Romantic ambience, modern amenities, strategic location, round the clock service and comfortable guest rooms are some features available in the accommodation options at Lakkidi. Some of the good options are Rain Country Resorts, Greeshmam Resort, and Upavan Resort.