The Jungle Tales

It was a winter morning. We were driving through the massive Bandipur National Park to reach Wayanad, a small hamlet in Kerala. As we drove along, herds of deers greeted us along our way.  The first rays of sun traversed the canopy sparingly adding to its aura. An absolute bliss!

A winter morning through Bandipur National Park

Nestled in the hills of Western Ghats, Wayanad is nothing less than a paradise. Located at a distance of about 110 km from the popular tourist destination, Ooty and 130 km from Mysore, Wayanad is a perfect escape for nature lovers. The KTDC Pepper Groove provides a comfortable option for night stay. The most iconic attraction here is the safari at the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. So the very next morning we started for our morning safari at 4.30 AM sharp. On reaching the gate of the Sanctuary, we learned that a fixed number of tickets are issued every day on a first-come-first-serve basis.  Luckily our tickets were done after waiting patiently for our turn. We shared our safari jeep with a nice couple from Mumbai. As we entered the safari gate, it was an absolute delight. The deep dark wood was slowly getting kissed by the morning sun. The Sanctuary is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and sports very rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. Herds of deer and bisons greeted us. We even spotted a peacock on our way. As we moved further, we finally spotted a tusker. Surprisingly, he patiently posed for some clicks! Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary emphasizes mainly on an elephant reserve and we could spot at least 3 tuskers and two calves during our safari. We returned satisfied and had a hearty breakfast at our hotel. Now its time to set out for a day-long sightseeing expedition.

The tusker

Morning rays, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

And we spotted a tusker again!

The sightseeing tour encompasses several attractions which also include the adventure park at Karlad Lake. Our first destination was Edakkal caves which literally means 'a stone in-between'.  Located at a height of 1200 m above sea level, it calls for a 45 min to one hour hike uphill. 

Exhausted after the climb! @Edakkal cave

If you are an adventure lover, the Adventure Park at Karlad Lake is for you. Being a lazy bum, we restricted ourselves to the bank of the lake only! Our next destination was the Banasura Sagar Dam. We parked our car near the entrance and took the tourism department's special jeep which took us to the main site. You may walk up there as well, but most of our energy was already drained owing to the climb up the cave. So we preferred the easier option. On reaching the site, the pristine blue water welcomed us. The ambiance was mind-blowing. We sent some time enjoying the mild breeze while our camera was busily freezing the beautiful moments. 

An afternoon at the Banasura Sagar Dam

Mesmerizing view

Our last destination of the day was an often overlooked ancient Jain Temple. At that time, we were the only visitor on the campus. The temple was beautifully decorated with intricate carvings and pillars. We spent the last hours of the day here until it was their closing time and the guards pulled us out. As the sun sets, it was time to head back to our hotel. 

Ancient Jain Temple

Absolute peace