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Lost in the charm of winding interior roads
Wayanad boasts five stunning churams— mountain passes with winding access roads featuring dramatic hairpin bends showcasing the region's breathtaking landscapes. The most famous is the Thamarassery churam connecting Calicut to Wayanad and beyond. One such churam I rode on the second day of the Wayanad ride is the Kuttiyadi churam. This remarkable route takes you from Kannur to Wayanad, traversing a beautiful reserve forest adorned with ten exhilarating hairpin bends. At 60 kilometres from the homestay, this short journey makes for a fascinating quick morning ride before the sun begins to blaze and scorch us.
Going on these winding roads, the breathtaking view of the mountain continually transforms - sometimes appearing to my left, then in front of me, and occasionally behind. The view is magnificent at places with green fields in the foreground and majestic mountain ranges in the background. However, be mindful of the narrow stretches of road that demand careful driving, especially with the notorious Kerala SRTC buses and, of course, the god's own natives.
On my way back, I took a detour from Panamaram to Kalpetta to find chain lube and a car wash where I could clean my motorcycle. The road work at most sections of the Batheri - Mananthavady road is underway. The rough section of the road, coupled with the high humidity, was exhausting. Headed straight to the KTM showroom, got the wash and chain lube done while I waited at the customer lounge, and mentally noted the points for the blog.
No skill you learn in life goes to waste. The skill of squeezing through the dreadful traffic of Bangalore came in handy at the very shocking kilometres-long block at Meenangadi town. A well-deserved shower and nap later, I was ready for the next ride.
Sahyadri – Panamaram – Kellur – Vellamunda – Kanjiranhad – Makkiyad – Korome – Niravilpuzha - Kuttiyadi churam - Thottilpalam
Return: Panamaram - Kalpetta - Muttil KTM – Meenangadi - Sahyadri
Evening:
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A short ride to the Pazhassi Raja Landscape Museum was rewarding. The rain added to the charm. The museum talks about the history and the part Pazhassi Raja played in the war against the Britishers. It was here the King of Kottayam was martyered in 1805. The artist has done an excellent job of carving all the slabs with sculptures of the scenarios. The place is well maintained. The road to reach the place is equally mesmerising.
Picture courtesy: Keralatourism
