Wayanad is a place which is lashed by rains and blasted by winds. It experiences two monsoons – from June to September and October to November. Monsoon tourism is a new concept that is gradually picking up and Wayanad is the apt destination for those who seek such a thrill. Many tourists opt to come here exclusively to enjoy the rains. Lakkidi and other areas of Wayanad experience one of the highest rainfalls in India, and these regions definitely cater to the demands and expectations of such tourists. You can see the rains lashing over the rocks, the thick greenery of the plantations and you can enjoy the cool wind that accompanies each rain. Taste a hot cup of coffee, relish the “pitter patter” noise of rain from your window, or treat yourself to some good food? Well, you can do all of these and even more just at the time of rain.
Think of Wayanad and the first few images that come to your mind will be that of the undulating mountains covered with green canopy. True to our imaginations about the land, the district harbours rich flora, which is characteristic of the Western Ghats. The cool climate is favourable for the growth of plantation crops and you can see coffee, tea and spices being cultivated across the district.
The district has more than 20,000 hectares of reserve forest and the abundantly grown tree in this area is teak trees. You can find not only the trees that grow commonly in Kerala, but also the wild-type trees like rose-wood, Anjili (Artocarpus), mullumurikku (Erthrina) etc. Several species of caussia and Silver Oak too are grown among coffee plantations to give shade to the coffee plants. Silver oak are grown to give support to the pepper vines too. Eucalyptus Grandis, a shorter variety of eucalyptus, is another flora seen in the area.
While Silver Oak is used in plywood industry and has economic significance, eucalyptus too is cultivated on a commercial basis. Its fragrant oil is a product which has much demand in the domestic market. The local people of Wayanad grow arecanut palms and jack trees too.
The place is also blessed with rich wildlife, thanks to the presence of dense forests. If you are travelling during night through the Kozhikode – Mysore road, you can see herds of elephants, deer and hares sauntering through the neighbouring woods.
The district has a wildlife sanctuary which is located in two different parts of the region. They also lie adjacent to Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu and Bandipur Tiger Reserve of Karnataka and this proximity too ensures the presence of wildlife.
The hilly areas of Wayanad are cradles of wind. While high velocity winds are very common in the high altitudes during south west monsoon (which usually falls during June –September) dry winds have been experienced during March-April. It is also a region which experiences one of the highest rainfalls in the country. The mean average in the district is 2322 mm. But some areas like Lakkidi, Vythiri and Meppadi experience a higher rainfall of 3000 to 4000 mm. The south-west monsoon falls during June-September and north-east monsoon in October to November.
The region offers a rather cool salubrious climate during all seasons of the year. In the Ambalavayal area of Wayanad, the mean temperature ranges between 18 degree Celsius and 29 degree Celsius. The humidity too is relatively high and it sometimes goes up to 95 percent during June – September.
The seasonal changes are obviously felt in Wayanad. While it is cold during December-February, you can feel a hot climate during March-May.
It is estimated that there are about 4 lakh tribal people living in Kerala and about half of this population has made the interiors of Wayanad their home. The tribals were the original inhabitants of Wayanad region. But once the British era opened roads to this region and commercial plantations began to sprout, there occurred a migration of settlers to this region and during 1940s this migration enhanced tremendously displacing the aborigines or adivasis of the area. The tribes lost their land and dwindled in numbers and now they constitute only 20 percent of the total population of the district.
The native Adivasis of the district belong to various sects like Paniyas, Kurumas, Adiyars, Kurichyas, Ooralis, Kattunaikkans and Uraali Kurumas. They are mostly physically distinguishable with darker skin and stout built physique. They often live in houses made of thatched roof, mud, bamboo and brick houses set in swampy valleys and plateaus.
The positive trend in tourist arrivals this year may be due to the earlier campaigns to promote the destination in the monsoon period.
Targeting Arab tourists from West Asia, he said, Kerala Tourism this year has also taken up specific campaigns on ayurveda treatment package, considered to be a major attraction in the monsoon period. These promotions have been taken up through advertisements in airports and international gymnasiums about the potential of ayurveda treatment during the inclement weather.
Do you know monsoon is the best time to receive Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala? The cool, moist, and dust-free atmosphere during rainy season helps your body’s pores to breathe and thus makes it reactive to get herbal oils and therapy. Kerala is the home of Ayurveda, which is one of the oldest forms of traditional medicine in the world. It offers treatments in the form of yoga, meditation, diet, massage, and the application of oils. Many hotels and resorts across the state offer these treatments at discounted price as a part of Kerala monsoon offers.
However, few of the people avoid making any trip to Kerala during monsoon season, the reason been bad weather, delayed flights, muddy roads, and untreated waters on road. But, ONLY little they know that monsoon is the best time to visit this tropical land which looks its best during rain. Also, there are other unexpected advantages of travelling Kerela during monsoon. Here are some reasons that can help you understand why one needs to visit Kerala in monsoon season.
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