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The best journeys happen on roads less known
There are some places you can't get enough of, no matter how many times you visit. Wayanad is one such place for me. Something about Wayanad I find myself irresistibly drawn back to. There's something magical about the place that makes it feel like a second home. In this peak summer, the alluring weather forecast of thundershowers almost every day was too tempting to resist.
The straightforward route to the homestay (where we usually stay whenever we are in Wayanad) takes about two and a half hours. Well, the heart yearned for more than that. I craved an early morning ride through the enchanting forests. Before I realized it, I had given in to my wanderlust, deciding to take the scenic route through Bavali, which would lead me to Thirunelly—one of my all-time favourite roads in Wayanad. The under-construction road of 15 km through Bavali was not easy to ride on my motorcycle, but avoiding the traffic was a good enough reason.
Crossing into Kerala, I was welcomed by the butter-smooth winding roads. This stretch has some of my favourite curves to glide on. As this route is not on the tourist circuit, the traffic is limited to a few locals commuting. Kattikulam is the next main town. From there, one road goes to Thirunelly via some reserve forests. It is on this route you'll find the famous Kuttetan's Uniappam shop. Crossing the shop and onwards to Thirunelly, I deviated at Appappara back towards Kattikulam.
This narrow road winds through the forest. Spotting elephant dung at a few spots, I rode cautiously and soon joined a main road. Sundays in Kerala are typically slow, with many shops closed, and, coincidentally, it was Easter. I was lucky to find a restaurant open. Sticking to our cherished tradition, I indulged in a feast of Appam and Egg Curry, complemented perfectly with a cup of black tea. There couldn't have been a better welcome to Wayanad.
From here, I took the following route to reach the homestay that is at Kariyambadi, near Meenangadi town. Kaatikulam - Kurukanmoola - Payyampally - Dasanakara - Pakkom - Padiri forest - Pulpally - Nadavayal forest (other side of Padiri forest) Nadavayal - Kenichara – Sahyadri Homestay.