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