Nomad Saikat
Kerala the God’s Own Country is known for its pristine view and the beauty of nature that it offers. There is so much natural beauty that a visitor can explore here. For the nature lovers visiting Kerala therefore is one of the most interesting locations for sure. A visitor can ideally get mesmerized with nature and its beauty here. The multiple sightseeing locations here will get you closer to nature. And what can be better than visiting a wildlife sanctuary to get the closest view of nature, right? You can definitely visit the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala to enjoy the biodiversity there. Wayanad as a location offers unforgettable experiences to the visitors. So if you are in Wayanad make sure you are visiting the sanctuary there.
The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the richest wildlife sanctuaries and a popular sightseeing spot in Wayanad as well. It is a popular spot for the tourists to visit and they love the experience of exploring this rich location. The sanctuary is popular for both floral and faunal variety and that is one of the major crowd pullers. You can enjoy various activities here like safaris or elephant rides that would make your visit exciting. Check out the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary photos and you would know how beautiful this location is. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you need to know about this wildlife sanctuary in Kerala. This will be a helpful read for you if you are travelling to this sanctuary in Kerala any time soon.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Location: Thirunelli Pakshipathalam Trek, Panavally, Pothumoola, Kerala
Timings: The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary timings are from 7 am to 10 pm and again from 3 pm to 4:30 pm
Entry fee: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary entry fee for Indian adults is Rs. 20 per person and for children below 12 years of age it is Rs. 10 per person. And the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary tickets for Foreigners are Rs. 110 per person. There are additional charges for cameras and for still cameras it is Rs. 25 and for video cameras it is Rs. 150. There are parking fees here as well and that is Rs. 50 for light vehicles and Rs. 150 for heavy vehicles. The Guide fee is Rs. 100 and for Jeep Safari the fee is Rs. 300.
How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the nearest airport to reach the wildlife sanctuary is the Kozhikode International Airport. From the airport the location of the sanctuary is 116 km away. It would take you around 3 hours and 20 minutes to reach the sanctuary from the airport. You will get flights from all major cities and towns to reach there as well as from abroad. From the airport you will have to take a car or else hire a cab to reach the sanctuary. You can opt for buses as well from the airport to reach the wildlife sanctuary as well.
By train
In case you wish to travel by train then the nearest railway station to reach the sanctuary is the Kozhikode Railway Station. From there the distance of the Wayanad Sanctuary is 113.3 km away. It would take you around 3 hours and 30 minutes from the railway station to reach the sanctuary. It will be the easiest to book a cab or hire a car from the Kozhikode railway station to reach the sanctuary.
By road
You can travel by road as well and there are buses available from various locations in Kerala and beyond. Also buses are by far the cheapest option to travel as well for budget solo travelers. You will find overnight buses from a lot of locations as well to reach the location conveniently. The nearest bus stop to reach the sanctuary is the Sulthan Bathery. From there the sanctuary is located at a distance of 14 km. You will have to hire a cab from there to reach the sanctuary though.
Or else you can take a cab or hire a car as well from different locations and that is by far the most convenient mode of travelling. So it would be better to reach the location by car or a cab. And since the sanctuary is located at an interior location make sure you are travelling in SUVs for most convenience.
Best time to visit
This sanctuary is one of the sanctuaries that remain open all year long and it offers different experiences during different seasons as well. For the best sightseeing experience the ideal time to visit here is during the summers from April to June. During this time more animals come near the water bodies for water and therefore it becomes easier to spot them. But the negative side is it can be extremely hot during this time and that will make the trip uncomfortable. Furthermore there are instances of forest fire during excessive heat as well and that makes the visit a little risky. The monsoon season is also not the ideal time for a visit here as the visibility of animals during this time would be low.
Read More : Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala, Accommodation, Entry Fee
The winter months and spring time from October to March are actually the most comfortable times for a visit here. Even though it can be a little tough to spot the wildlife during this time, still the weather makes up for it. However for birdwatchers this time can be the ideal time for a visit though. A lot of migratory birds visit the area during this time making it an exciting experience to spot them. The pleasant weather in spring also comes with beautiful green cover and colourful blooms. So you can plan your visit to the sanctuary on the basis of what you would like to explore there. Therefore plan your trip accordingly to enjoy the best of the location to the fullest.
Overview of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in total has 4 ranges and the Muthanga is one of them. This wildlife sanctuary is actually a rainforest and it is further one of the richest sanctuaries with a rich biodiversity as well. With both dry deciduous trees and semi evergreen trees the sanctuary offers a beautiful green cover. It is a part of the Nilgiri Bio Reserve and is popular for the presence of a huge number of elephants and other animals. There are activities like safaris on jeep as well as elephant rides here. However spotting wildlife at the sanctuary is a matter of sheer luck. So a lot of visitors even prefer to stay over here for a day or two to enhance their experience of spotting animals at the location.
The sanctuary is located at the border of states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It is furthermore connected to the Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka and the Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu. There are again two parts of the Wayanad Sanctuary, the North Wayanad Sanctuary and the South Wayanad Sanctuary. The total area of the sanctuary spreads across an area of 345 sq km and Muthanga Sanctuary is one part of it in the south. The other ranges here are Tholpetty, Sultan Bathery and Kurichiat along with the Muthanga.
History of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
The sanctuary formally received its status of wildlife sanctuary in the year 1973. After almost a few decades in 1991 and 1992 Muthanga became a part of the Project Elephant which is a promising project. This is a project that aims at conserving India’s Asian elephants in their most natural habitat.
Biodiversity at Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
The sanctuary is the second largest animal sanctuary in the state of Kerala and therefore it attracts a huge chunk of visitors as well. Both in flora and fauna variety the sanctuary is quite rich. You can find Moist Deciduous Trees to Semi Evergreen Trees here. The variety ranges from teak, Grewalia, Eucalyptus and more. There are trees and shrubs here like rosewood, venteak, bamboo, chadachi, vengal etc.
When it comes to Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary animals the variety is huge too. There are more than 45 varieties of mammals here. Some of them are Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Tiger, Leopard etc. Then there are Common Otter, Gaur, Bonnet Macaque, Panther etc. Also you will find Nilgiri Langur, Sambhar, Jungle Cat, Sloth Bear, Civet Cat, Common Langur, Wild Boar, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Wild Dog etc.
The sanctuary also houses a good number of birds that makes the location a haven for bird watchers as well. There are around 203 species of birds in this sanctuary. Some of them include Peafowl, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Herons, Egrets, Wobblers etc. Also there are Woodpeckers, Wagtails, Roller, Pheasants, Shrikes, Snipes, Cuckoos, Owls, Water Ducks and a lot more.
There are around 45 different species of reptiles here as well. Some of them are Brown Vine Snake, Common Sand Boa, Ceylon Cat Snake, Collared Cat Snake, Beaked Worm Snake etc. Also there are a variety of lizards including monitor lizards here as well.
What’s more?
The sanctuary houses around 30 species of amphibians as well that you can spot here. There are VUB Night Frog, Golden Backed Frog, Indian Pond Frog, Kerala Warty Frog, Malabar Torrent Toad etc. You will also find Nilphamari Narrow Mouthed Frog, Wayanad Torrent Frog and Minervarya Frog here as well.
Another factor that makes this sanctuary rich is the presence of some threatened species of vultures. There are Red Headed Vultures and White Rumped Vultures here but their count in number is decreasing rapidly. So if you still want to spot these vultures, plan a visit here as soon as you can. Another major attraction is the number of tigers in the wildlife sanctuary. This sanctuary has the largest population of tigers not just in Kerala but in the whole country as well. Here you will find 75 tigers and the remaining 101 tigers from the total number of 176 are located in different other states.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and you simply cannot miss out on visiting this location. This is one of the richest wildlife sanctuaries not just in Wayanad or Kerala but in the whole country. The extensive green cover along with the flora and fauna offers an interesting experience that you cannot miss. For a nature lover it can be one of the best locations to explore in Wayanad as well. It is furthermore a great location to visit with your whole family as well, so include this location in the list of must visit places in Wayanad.
So when are you planning a visit to this wildlife sanctuary in Wayanad? Also let me know if this article on the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is helpful for you in planning a trip to this location.
