Ente Veedu

Athithi Devo Bhava is a saying in Sanskrit that means "guests are equivalent to gods." The hostess Mrs. Seetha Rajagopal has imbibed this saying and has opened her house to travelers from far and wide, extending to them a hearty and warm welcome. "Ente veedu" meaning "my house" is situated in an exotic locale in Wayanad, one of the hill stations in Kerala.

Surrounded by coffee and pepper plantations and paddy fields, "Ente Veedu" transports you to an ethereal world. Situated in an 80 year old estate, Ente Veedu combines the legacy of Wayanad farming culture. It gives you a first hand experience of Malabar cuisine and hospitality.

Ente Veedu is located at Panamaram, the centre point of Wayanad. A picturesque town, the place is well connected by both private and state buses.

Chain Tree: Legend has it that an Adivasi youth named Karinthandan was instrumental in guiding the British Engineer through difficult mountain terrain into Wayanad. Eager to take credit for the discovery, the engineer conveniently killed his guide, whose soul, according to legend, constantly haunted subsequent travelers. It is believed that a priest chained the troublesome spirit onto this tree and hence the name the Chain Tree.

Pookote Lake: This fresh water lake is nested above wooded hills and is the only one of its kind in Kerala. It is one of Wayanad's top visitor draws.

Chembra Peak: At 2100 metres, the spectacular Chembra Peak located towards the southern part of Wayanad is the tallest summit in the region. Climbing this peak is a challenging endeavour and would take a whole day.

Kanthapura waterfalls: A beautiful waterfall, it is about 30 metres in height. Relatively smaller than Sentinel Rock Falls, and rather less frequented, Kanthanpara and its surroundings offer a very pleasant site.

Meenmutti waterfall: An interesting 2 km jungle trek off the main Ooty Road, Meenmutty is the largest and most spectacular waterfall in Wayanad. A unique feature is that the water drops about 300 metres over three stages.

Kuruva Dweep: The Kuruva Island with 950 acres of evergreen forest lies on one of the tributaries of the River Kabini. This calm and peaceful island is home to a variety of birds, butterflies and orchids.

Pazasshi Raja's Tomb: One of the earliest to strike the banner of revolt against the British overlordship in this part of India, Pazhassi Raja took refuge in the Wayanad hills, and resorted to classic techniques of guerrilla warfare against the superior British forces. He was downed in a ferocious encounter that took place at Mavilanthode in 1805. Pazhassi's tomb marks the point where he was cremated.

Phantom Rock: Located close to Ambalavayal town, Phantom Rock, named so because of its skull head shape, is locally called Cheengery Mala. The immediate surroundings offer excellent photo opportunities.

Tholpetty: Situated along the northern ridge of Wayanad (bordering Coorg district of Karnataka), Tholpetty is similar to Muthanga in terms of flora and fauna. The best season to visit is November and May.

Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary: Spread over a vast area, Muthanga is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Region. It is a rain forest reserve connected to two major sanctuaries-Bandipur National Park in Karnataka and Mudhumalai Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.

Jain Temple: This temple is one of the most important amongst a series of ruins spread across the state of Kerala, testifying to a period of strong Jain presence in this region. Believed to have built in the 13th century, it served as a Hindu shrine and eventually as an ammunition store for Tipu Sultan's marching armies.

Thirunelli Temple: According to tradition, Lord Brahma was travelling the earth upon Hamsa the swan when he fell in love with the area now known as Brahmagiri Hill. Descending in that spot, Brahma noticed an idol set in an Amla tree (gooseberry tree). Brahma recognized the idol as Lord Vishnu and the place as Vishnuloka. With the help of the Devas, Brahma installed the idol and called it Sahyamalak Kshetra.

Papanasini: This means "washing away all sins". According to tradition, Vishnu granted the power of the Papanasini river to wash away all sins as a boon to Lord Brahma, after Lord Brahma installed an idol of Vishnu at Thirunelli Temple.

Edakkal Caves: Etchings found on the walls of these caves have drawn the serious attention of archeologists and historians worldwide. It is assumed that the Edakkal had been inhabited at various stages in history. A telescope installed by the DTPC that offers a panoramic view of the surrounding country is another attraction.

By Road

• Calicut: 84 Kms
• Sulthan Bathery: 25 Kms (Via Beenachi)
• Kalpetta: 15 Kms
• Ooty:112 Kms
• Banglore:280 Kms
• Mysore: 140 Kms

By Train

• Calicut: 84 Kms
• Mysore: 140 Kms
• Kannur: 114 Kms

By Air

• Calicut: 112 Kms
• Banglore: 280 Kms