Wayanad- The Verdant Paradise

My last holiday (read short getaway) was in Wayanad, Kerala early March this year. This green paradise in south India had been on my bucket list for years now (ever since my law school days in Bangalore). So this year, when we were making plans to spend my birthday week in Goa, I decided to swap it with Wayanad instead. And it turned out to be incredible barring the onset of Covid-19 in Kerela, while we were there.

Since we had just three nights and four days in hand, we decided not to include anything 'touristy' in our itinerary. Some of my past travel experiences have made me realise that when you have limited time at hand, it’s best to not squeeze in too many things in your plan and instead just focus on what interests you. In any case, I have always believed in exploring a place over just ticking off the tourist spots when I travel. 

We, for one just wanted to soak in Wayanad our way and have a laid back holiday in the lap of nature. So we booked ourselves in a property called Abad Brookside, Lakkidi in Vythiri, Wayanad. This resort is owned by Abad Hotels & Resorts Group and has its hotels and resorts in various parts of Kerela.  The property is located on a hill with a brook literally passing through it. It is a sizable property with different types of cottages spread across the resort offering different views- some with the garden view, the others brook side and some offering both. The cottages are extremely beautiful and spacious with distinctive aesthetics, and we got quite lucky as the Manager very kindly put us up in their best cottage to make my birthday memorable.     

Speaking of the property- it has a nice in-house restaurant overlooking the brook which is a plus, considering the food served and ambiance is pretty good, especially if you don’t wish to venture out much and leisure is ruling your mind. Besides, if you are planning a stay as short as ours’, you will sail through without much boredom in terms of variety. Our package included breakfast at the restaurant. While the buffet spread was not extra ordinary each morning, the quality of the food served and the staffs’ behavior more than made up for it.   

The property also has a cozy little swimming pool at an elevation right above the brook with woods all around, so don’t miss out on a short nevertheless a scenic swim amidst the natural splendor of Lakkidi. Since the property is large in terms of outdoor space, it provides ample space for walks/jogs, outdoor badminton, volley ball. There is also a library adjacent to the resort lobby to laze around with books and a gorgeous view, and a game room with indoor games such as chess, carom board and other board games. Essentially, there are plenty of recreational activities to keep you occupied within the property, and then there are some beautiful spots that can be hiked around the property. These hikes however must be undertaken before the sunset, keeping in mind the movement of wildlife, especially wild elephants in the area post sunset. We went hiking twice during our three day stay here- the first one was an uphill hike leading to a spectacular sunset point atop a hill and the second was an easy breezy one to a signature Lakkidi lush green tea estate. The resort also offers the much popular Kerala massages which you may want to try during your stay here. 

So any of you interested in a short idyllic vacation within the comforts of a property in this beautifully forested region, Abad Brookside is certainly a good stay option. The property aside, Wayanad is known for its wildlife sanctuary, camping/hiking trails, breathtaking waterfalls, ancient caves, flora and fauna. Our holiday was too short to experience all of these but if you have the time, go splash your feet in the celebrated waterfalls for sure and don't miss out on the safaris. These are due for our next trip.

Lastly, being a foodie I cannot go wrong with this one- do try some random eateries in Kozhikode during your transit. I promise you won't regret it. Also, you can never have enough of cakes and cookies from the bakeries on the way to Wayanad. They are absolutely scrumptious!