Gone are the days when travel months were etched in stone! People dusted out their suitcases, gathered their woollen caps and socks (or hats and sunscreens), charged cameras batteries and revisited the itineraries only in the designated months! The hot Indian summer was avoided like the plague and the monsoons came with a warning tag! For the real traveller, this is now absolutely irrelevant. Lands are traversed in the dry months and the monsoon showers bring with them a host of destinations which are the new stalwarts on the travel map of India.

This month, here’s a pick from the best of South India – Wayanad. We might as well call it the unofficial monsoon capital of Kerala. The rain washed Western Ghats come alive after fresh showers, transporting you to a different world of verdant hills and lush green expanses of the wild forest cover. If visiting this border region of Northern Kerala in the rains, be sure to prepare yourself to indulge in nothingness! A good book, a hot cup of coffee and the rains for company, this just might be the best time to visit this green paradise.

The Kerala government is known for its innovative ideas to promote the state and here comes another fabulous attempt – The Splash Monsoon Carnival! A dense coffee plantation area, Kalpetta, is the perfect venue for this festival, which brings a host of travel partners together to display the best of Kerala culture in the backdrop of the rolling plantations. Look at Wayanad Splash for more details and see if you can be there from 8th to 10th July, 2011. A great way to showcase the rich traditional heritage of Kerala, this is an alternative way of aiding the tourism efforts in the state. It also gives the travellers a choice of travel agents, booking facilities and discounts!

With a hypnotising landscape and a huge inclination towards cultural interaction, Wayanad brings an array of activities even in the monsoon month. Do not let the weather deter you from visiting the Wayanad Sanctuary, Chethalayam Waterfall, Sri Mahaganapathy Temple at Thiruvangoor, Pazhassi Raja Museum, Pookote Lake and Edakkal Caves.

Kerala, is one of the most popular tourist destinations, but in July the crowds fade out and regions like Wayanad are refreshingly quiet and sans tourists.

Be pampered by authentic Kerala food, unlimited coffee supply and the comfort of an easy chair to make your rain watching experience inimitable.

Kerala also brings with it the charm of authentic homestays. Wayanad, especially, has a wide range of stay options with locals. Plush heritage houses as well as those who offer options for budget travellers are available for your pick. Choose from tree houses, heritage homes, plantation homestays, river facing homestays or live right in the middle of the forest.

Have a splashing monsoon in Wayanad!

If you would like to experience Wayanad during the monsoon contact our reservations team who will be happy to help you with your plans.