Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Information
can help organise tours, permits and trekking. There are UAE Exchange offices in Kal-
petta and Sultanbatheri, and Federal Bank and Canara Bank ATMs can be found in each
of the three main towns, as can a smattering of internet cafes.
Getting There & Away
BUS
Although remote, Wayanad is easily accessible from Calicut and Kannur in Kerala, and
from Mysore (Karnataka) and Ooty (Tamil Nadu). Buses brave the winding roads - in-
cluding a series of nine spectacular hairpin bends - between Calicut and Kalpetta (?35 to
?50, two hours) every 15 minutes, with some continuing on to Sultanbatheri (?55, three
hours) and others to Mananthavadi (?64, three hours). Hourly buses run between Kannur
and Mananthavadi hourly (?55, 2½ hours). From Sultanbatheri, an 8am bus heads out for
Ooty (?76, four hours), with a second one passing through town at around 1pm. Buses for
Mysore (?101 to ?141, three hours) leave every 30 minutes or so. There are at least two
daily buses to Mysore (?85 to ?90, three hours) on the alternative northern route from
Mananthavadi.
Getting Around
The Wayanad district is quite spread out but plenty of private buses connect
Mananthavadi, Kalpetta and Sultanbatheri every 10 to 20 minutes during daylight hours
(?15 to ?25, 45 minutes to one hour). From Mananthavadi, regular buses also head to
Tholpetty (?15, one hour). You can hire jeeps or taxis to get between towns for ?500 to
?700 each way, or hire a vehicle to tour the region for around ?2000 per day.
There are plenty of autorickshaws and taxis for short hops within the towns.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Kannur & Around
0497 / POP 1.6 MILLION
The main draw in this part of coastal Kerala are the undeveloped beaches and the en-
thralling
theyyam
possession rituals. Under the Kolathiri rajas, Kannur (Cannanore) was a
