Meppadi - the tea estate paradise

Meppadi is the most scenic village of the Wayanad District of the Malabar region in Kerala state, India. It has excellent opportunities for hiking and mountaineering. The main attraction of Meppadi are the undulating tea estates. Meppadi is an unspoilt and undiscovered tourist spot of Kerala. Not being a tourist trap, you can walk in the tea estates not being disturbed by touts and other visitors. Meppadi is 12 km from Kalpetta town. The main attraction of Meppadi is the Chembra Peak. At 2,100 m the spectacular peak is the tallest summit in the region. Climbing this peak is a tiring, but a not too difficult 4 km walk. It is worth it; the view at the top is mind-blowing, and you get to see a heart-shaped lake on the way. Camping on the peak is an unforgettable experience. It takes about 5-6 hr to go up and down. There is camping available at the peak. The cute campus of DMWIMS Medical College is also worth a visit. The five km road to the campus itself is a spiritual experience if you want to replace Nature for a god. There is nothing to see inside the spectacular hospital building, but their cafeteria on the mezzanine floor is worth a visit. Visitors are allowed inside if you have some excuse like inquiring about medical college admissions. Buses are available to and from the hospital from Meppadi town. The Supreme Court of India has recently issued a warning to the hospital for building in a environmentally sensitive area. You can also visit Karapuzha Dam which is a relatively small dam, but located at a very scenic site. Mostly unknown and thus unspoilt by a horde of tourists, it is a perfect way to spend a quiet evening during sunset time. Another popular destinaton is the Meenmutty Waterfalls (Makkiyad Meenmutty Waterfalls) (12 km from Meppadi). Very nice and very good trekking. You need to be fit and carry something to eat. You have to pay the forest entry fee and secure a guide. This waterfall is in 3 steps. You can visit the second step (only in Dec- Apr). It involves a good trek through some difficult terrain, but the end result is breath-taking. Not only is the view of the waterfall amazing but you can get wet too. One has to trek inside the jungle for approx 1.5 km to get a view of waterfalls. It passes through coffee and tea plantation. It has an entry fee of Rs 300 for a group of up to 10 people, and you get a very skilled guide to help you to hike to the waterfalls and back up. Inside the town itself you have the St. Joseph Shrine, Mooppanad (1 km). Built in 1954 this majestic church gives very good view of the hills around. There are trekking opportunities like the short Ambalakkunnu Walk. Walk upto Nellimunda busstop on Chooralmala route one km from Meppadi. Turn second right from the junction. Walk upto Ambalakkunnu Masjidh and Madhrassa. There is a Jaffer tea shop at the end of the hill. If you descend forwards, you will reach a little cute Srambia masjidh. Turn right and you will reach the post office road at Meppadi junction. The entire route is very scenic and takes around 40 minutes to walk. Meppadi town is a trekker's paradise. The best views are on the post office road. The road to the Meenmutty Waterfall is also very scenic. You can also walk up the 3 km road to the Chembra peak.