We went to wayanad on 4th of June from bangalore. It was absolutely unplanned so we had trouble getting K.S.R.T.C buses. We didn’t want to buy bus tickets from any private travels so we decided to buy it from kerala State Transport. We came to know there are no Volvo’s only non ac buses.We bought tickets of super deluxe air bus at a cost of 324 rs per ticket from bangalore to Kohikode (any bus going to kohikode will go via Sultan bathery or Kalpetta where you need to get down). When the bus started from satellite bus stop we thought now we can forget about sleeping in bus and next day we will be tired. But after 30 mins we realized that its actually a smooth ride. Thanks to nice road great driving.We slept off. Around 4 am in the morning we realized that we are stuck somewhere. We came to know that its the starting point of Bandipur forest. No vehicles are allowed from 9PM to 6 AM.Thats a recent development. So if you are planning to drive at night calculate accordingly.
We reached at kalpetta exactly at 7.30 AM as the driver said before we started from bangalore. I have always liked people from kerala just bcos of their behavior.They are always ready to help you and you will always see people are smiling.One of our co passenger helped us a lot. We asked him about the location of our hotel and he asked the driver to stop the bus exactly in front of the hotel so that we dont have to walk. We stayed at Hotel Woodlands.Its a very nice hotel. Room rent was around 960 RS including taxes.Hotel is well decorated and it serves good food. Food is little expensive here but they have room service, Restaurants and food court. If you go to food court you will save a lot of money. There is another restaurant name Jubilee. Its cheap. Food is ok. You can try once. One meal will cost around 25 rupees.If you have car then please do not stay in any hotel.Try resorts. You can Priyadarshini Tea Estate. Its situated in a nice location and will cost around 1500 rupees.
There’s shop in kalpetta named Sindur. If you looking for handicrafts then that could be the place.Great stuff and very very cheap.Busy as much as you like. I can bet its 10 times cheaper than Bangalore.Now lets talk about sight seeing. Again if you have a car you will enjoy wayanad.Complete sight seeing here will take 2-3 days and its not worth.Some places are good. We hired a cab from Prambath Travels in kalpetta and I paid 1400 rs for a day. we went to edakkal caves, banasura sagar dam, view point, phokot lake , chain tree , one waterfall. Apart from Edakkal caves and banasura I didnt like other places.Kuruva Island is also good but for that you need another day.This is my second visit so I didnt go for that. In most places you will have to pay entry fees, camera fee and parking.Its not more than 25 rupess per tickets.Edakkal and banasura will offer you jeep service. Please avail that else you will have a real tough time. Edakkal jeep service will cost 70 rupees up and down and banasura will cost you 50. Overall it can be a good trip on weekends.if you are on a budget trip try DTPC. Thats Govt organised sight seeing. They will charge 300 rupees per head but its organised only on weekends and public holidays.Hope this info will help you.
Have a wonderful trip and please dont forget walnut bakers at kalpetta. :)