Treknic : Wayanad - Kuruva Island, Banasura sagar Dam

Continued from here : Treknic : Wayanad - Chembra Peak Trek

Day 2 :

Next day morning we woke up at 7am. Finished all our duties within 8am.We had our breakfast in nearby Udupi upahar hotel. Inquired about possible visits around kalpetta and gathered some info.According to localites we can visit Kuruva Island,Banasura dam,Backwaters of Banasura,Banasura mala meenumutty falls and Lakkidi view point in a single day.But visit to Phookot lake is not possible as it closes by 5pm in the evening.So we are in a dilemma,whether we go for Kuruva or Phookot . .? 

Finally made our decision to visit kuruva not phookot lake.

Coming back to our plan, we approached few jeeps and no one is ready to take us to all places below 2000rs.Finally we got one jeep who agreed to take us for 1600 rs.It was getting late,so we dint bargain much.So,first we headed towards Kuruva island.

Kuruva Island :Kuruva dweep.

Kuruva dweep is around 35 km from kapletta. The journey was quite good,enjoying the sceneries of Kabini river.Island is formed by the river Kabini. Kuruva dweep is near to karnataka, hardly 5 kms from there.

The jeep driver took us to kuruva dweep by an unknown route,showing the hidden beauty of the river.The journey goes along the river.This route is not often used by the travelers as its full stretch muddy road. Most of them will not know about this route only.We were lucky enough to get driver like this.

Ride along the river













We reached Kuruva island at about 12pm. Paid the entry fee and marched towards island.Entry fee is 50/- per head. Camera charges 25/- extra per camera.There is a bamboo raft service which will be provided by the Kerala VSS (Vana Samrakshana Samithi).To and fro charges of the bamboo raft service is included in the entry fee.

Snaps of Bamboo Raft at Kuruva Island 









Kuruva Dweep is a wonderful place for leisure.There are many small Islands inside the Kuruva dweep.
You can enjoy in the water as the water level is not much high.Proper guidance is available from the VSS.
You need to walk inside kuruva dweep around 1km to reach the small islands.This journey was filled with some great floras and bamboo world.



Flora

From Kuruva Island Bansura sagar dam is around 30 odd kms, less than 1 hr drive from Kuruva.We left Kuruva around 2:30pm and reached Banasura within 4pm.We finished our lunch on the way 2 Banasura.If u want to enjoy the speed boat,then you must visit Banasura within 5pm. After 5pm speed boat riding is not allowed. But entry to the dam is allowed till 6pm.

So,our plan is to enjoy the speed boat ride and visit Banasura mala meenmutty falls which is 4km from the dam,then head back to back waters of Bansura to enjoy the sun set. 

Entry fee is 15 rs per head,25 rs per camera. 500 rs for the speed boat ride for 5 ppl.

Panoramic view



Banasura Mala peak : standing tall 



We quickly moved towards Speed boat counter after enjoying the beauty of Banasur.Deadline for speed boat ride is 5 pm. So, make sure that you reach banasur early.Speed boat costs 500 rs per ride(15 min). Max number of people allowed is 5.Totally it was a worth ride.Enjoyed a lot.

Speed boat ride











Close enough    



Darr Ke aage Jeeth Hain     













After finishing our speed boat ride we headed towards Banasura Mala Meanumutty falls which is only 3-4 kms from the dam.One can also try Banasura mala trekking. Trekking is allowed only from morning 8 to evening 5. No camping is allowed. Water falls is at the base of Banasura mala hills. You need to walk some 10 mins to reach the Banasura Mala Meanumutty falls.

Note: there is a chance of getting confused between Meenumutty falls and Banasura Mala Meanumutty falls. Both are different.Banasura Mala Meanumutty falls is the small one.But another Meenumutty falls is a three-tiered waterfall with a height of 300 metres.It takes around 45 mins to reach the falls from the VSS office.And its 30 kms from kalpetta via Meppadi.Many of them in kerala doesn't know about this fact. please do not get confused.

We reached VSS office by 430pm.They charged 20rs per head and instructed us to come back within 6pm .During monsoon season rocky terrain will make the ascend little difficult.So, be careful.





Aerial view of banasur sagar dam from the view point at banasur Hills



Left banasura falls by 5:30pm and reached Banasur Sagar reservoir backwaters to witness the Sunset.

Sunset at Banasura Backwaters







We returned back to Kalpetta by 7 pm. Had Tea and snacks on the way to Kalpetta. Had our dinned at the same Udupi Upahar restaurant. We departed from Kalpetta in Kerala RTC bus at around 9:30 pm and reached Bangalore by early morning 4 am.

Treknic : Wayanad - Chembra Peak Trek

Wayanad is one of the district in kerala and there is no place called wayanad in kerala. Head quarters of wayanad is Kalpetta.Kalpetta is 280 kms from Bangalore.Vehicles are not allowed in bandipur region from 9pm to morning 6am. So take the route - "Bangalore-Mysore-Hunsur-Kutta-Mananthawady-Kalpetta".Klpetta is the center for most of the tourist places.So choose kalpetta for staying.

Kalpetta is the center for all the major tourism attractions in Wayanad,also accommodation and food facility is good.So,we decided to head towards Kalpetta and make a room,freshen up and get ready for the Chembra peak Trekking.

We boarded Kerala RTC bus from Bangalore at 9:30pm and reached Kalpetta early morning at 5'o clock.It was too cold there.Inquired about room availability,but most of the hotels were already filled.So,make sure that book ur accommodation from Bangalore itself.At last around 6am we got the rooms at PRINCE INN.Rooms were quite okay,and not up to the mark.Cost is reasonable,480/- double bed room with TV.

To reach Chembra peak base,one has to travel to Meppadi from Kalpetta and take an auto towards the base.We have to pay nominal fee of rs 500/-(for 10ppl,incl guide charge) in the Chembra peak VSS office.After that auto will drop u till the base(starting point of the trek).Auto will cost 200rs for one way.If u want an auto for returning,then u have to inform them with prior call.

Chembra estate is a very scenic place with lush green tea plantations.One has to pass through the Chembra estate for the first 1.5 km of the trek.Tea plantations are real treat to watch.

Some of the snaps of Chembra Estate Tea plantation.

Chembra VSS(Vana Samrakshana Samithi) office

There is a house next to view point of Chembra estate.you can get water from there.Water is most important in off season(other than rainy season) because there is only one water source available throughout the trek.So,carry min 2 liters of water.

Initial path of the trek was easy as the path is wide enough and with minimal steep.After some 1 km,path gets steeper and steeper and trekking becomes comparatively difficult as the path progress.Clear aerial view of Chembra estate can be viewed as the path opens into meadows.Trekking some 3 km in the estate leads to Chembra grasslands.In monsoon season meadows are real treat to watch with fog playing with it. 

Starting point of the trek

Gaining altitude

Chembra grassland

Long way to go

Once you reach grassland,then real task starts from here. From here on path is much steeper comparatively. 

After moving around half a km we found HEART shaped Lake  . It is a Heart shaped natural lake.It was really a nice moment to stand in front of lake and pose for a pic. If u gonna propose some one,then this place is the ideal one . One can get clear view of the lake as we move towards the peak.

From this lake one needs to trek 3 km more to conquer the chembra princess. This is the most difficult part of the trek as the path is very much steep. You need to cross 4 small hills to reach the summit.

Panoramic view

Here it is . . .  Lake

Clear view of the  lake 

we started the trek at 9- 930 am and reached the Chembra peak at 1230 am . . 

so it took 3-3:30hrs to reach the summit . .with minimal breaks in between. . .

Inching towards the peak

Final stretch

Breath taking view of Chembra valley

Team members

It took totally 3 hrs to reach the top,including breakfast and couple of rests. We spent around 1 hr on the summit . We took 2 hrs for the descent with a single break and lunch time.

Our next destination was Soochipara falls which is 14 kms from Meppadi.Our guide arranged auto rickshaw . As soon as we reached the base of the peak,rickshaw was ready to take us to Meppadi.It was already 3:30pm when we reached the base. Entry to Soochipara falls is restricted by evening 5pm.So we moved quickly towards Soochipara..Autowala agreed to drop us till Soochipara falls from Chembra base via Meppadi for 400rs. It was totally worth the ride.At last we reached Soochipara by 430pm . .well before the closing time . . .   

Soochipara falls

Enjoyed in the Falls till 6 pm . . .after 6 pm no one is allowed near the falls.We took the govt. bus from Soochipara and reached Kalpetta by 8 pm . . had our dinner at Udupi upahara.

Next day : Wayanad sightseeing . . . .

Kuruva Island, Banasura sagar dam