Banasura Sagar Dam
Banasura Sagar Dam is one of the largest earth dams in India, and the second largest in Asia. It is located 15 kms north-west of Kalpetta in Wayanad district of Kerala, south India.The dam holding a large expanse of water, bounded except on one side, surrounded by magnificent hills and verdant landscape, has heavenly charm.

Wayanad lies at an altitude ranging from 700 - 2100 metres above the sea level, in the Western Ghats. The district has the highest number of tribal settlements in Kerala.In the dam's reservoir there is a set of islands that were formed when the flooded reservoir submerged the surrounding areas. These islands with the Banasura hills in the background offer a spectacular view.

Banasura Sagar Dam, which impounds the Karamanathodu tributary of the Kabini River, is part of the Indian Banasurasagar Project consisting of a dam and a canal, started in 1979. The goal of the scheme is to support the Kakkayam Hydro electric power project and satisfy the demand for irrigation and drinking water in a region known to have water shortages in seasonal dry periods.

For trekking enthusiasts, Banasura Sagar Dam is an ideal starting point for hikes into the surrounding scenic mountain ranges. The dam, with its vast expanse of fresh, crystal clear waters, is an important tourist destination with several other attractions nearby. The dam when full, along with the landscape, offers a mesmerizing sight to the visitors.

Kerala Hydel Tourism Centre, which is the tourism facilitation wing of Kerala State Electricity Board, has introduced Hydel Tourism in Banasurasagar, which is attracting thousands of tourists every day to the place, bringing a lot of economic benefit to the State.

The following are some of the places of tourist interest in and around Banasura Dam:

Pookotte lake
Pookotte lake is the largest natural fresh water lake in Kerala, surrounded by evergreen forest and rolling hills. A fresh water aquarium with a large variety of fish is an added attraction. The hill ranges of Vythiri taluk, through which the road from Kozhikode ascends the Wayanad plateau over the mind boggling bends and ridges, are the highest locations of Wayanad district. With its soothing, undisturbed surroundings, this place is an ideal picnic spot for locals and tourists.

Ananthanatha Swamy Temple
Just a six km drive from Kalpetta will take you to Ananthanatha Swamy Temple popularly referred to as the Jain Temple, as it is dedicated to Jain saint Ananthanatha. It is located near Sultan Bathery.

Sultan Bathery
Sultan Bathery is a small town in Wayanad that derives its present name from the famous ruler Tipu Sultan of Mysore. He built a fort over here in the 18th century. It was also known as Sultan’s Battery, as Tipu had used this place to store ammunition. Though the fort does not remain any more, the place is worth the visit for the famous Jain temple. The place was previously known by the name of Ganapathivattom.

Begur Wildlife Sanctuary
Begur Wildlife Sanctuary, located at Mananthavady in the Western Ghats, is just 20 km from Wayanad and is a must see destination. The lush green of the National Park offers cool attraction and is popular with tourists. The trees of this region have high medicinal value while numerous species of wild animals inhabit the region. The place is popular for viewing elephants, deer, wild boars and many species of smaller animals, reptiles and birds from December to May.

Chembra Peak
Chembra Peak, the highest peak in Wayanad, stands at a height of around 2100 metres above sea level. At a distance of 14 km from Kalpetta, the Chembra Peak is a part of the Wayanad hill ranges in the Western Ghats, adjoining the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu and Vellarimala in Kozhikode district in Kerala.

The elevation makes it an ideal spot for trekking and mountain climbing. The District Tourism Promotion Council provides guides and trekking equipments on hire charges to the tourists. Permission from the forest office in Meppady is required for trekking up to the Chembra peak. A heart shaped lake en route to the top of the peak is a major tourist attraction.It is believed that the lake has never dried up, even during the hottest of summers.

For those seeking some adventure, temporary camps are set up on the top of the peak. Guides, camping apparatus etc are provided by the District Tourism Promotion Council on rent to tourists who are interested in camping.

The Chembra Peak is undisputedly one of the most favoured trekking destinations, with several trekking aficionados flocking to it all through the year. The breathtaking view from the top is sure to offer the traveller a spectacle worth more than all the hardship undergone while climbing.The picturesque Lake atop the hill is an ideal picnic spot. Since it takes almost a day to reach the top of the hill, tourists can spend a day or two in the temporary camps.

Edakkal Caves
Edakkal Caves are located at about a 25 km drive from Kalpetta and at a distance of 3 km from Ambalavayal.Edakkal Caves are famous for their exceptional rock art depicting human and animal figure carvings by Neolithic and later civilizations.Edakkal Caves was created by a fissure due to changing climatic conditions and the split in the rock is about 22 ft. in width and 90 ft. in length. The abyss and gap in the rocks extends to over 30 ft appearing as a cave to the observer. The caves can be reached through trekking trails within the forested area starting at Edakkal and the best time to visit the caves is during morning hours.

Padinjarathara Dam
About 25 km north-east of Kalpetta is Padinjarathara Dam. This dam is the second largest in Asia and is very attractive with a serene environment engulfing it. Padinjarathara is surrounded by mist capped mountains and wildlife sanctuary. A picturesque ambience, beautiful location and refreshing waters make it one of the most sought after destinations in Wayanad.

Meenmutty Falls
Wayanad is blessed with some of the best falls within the state of Kerala.Three such breathtaking falls are the Meenmutty Falls, the Soochipara Falls and the Kanthampuram Falls, which are a must visit for every tourist to this part of the country.
Meenmutty Falls, located 29 km from Kalpetta, is a three-tiered waterfall with a height of 300 metres. Meenmutty Falls, the largest and most spectacular waterfall in Wayanad district, is a 2 km hike though the jungle from the main Ooty Road. It is Kerala's second largest waterfall and one of the most unspoiled in its natural setting. Each of its three tiers requires a separate hike through a moist, deciduous forest. The path is quite dangerous and tiring but the waterfall makes the strain of the trek more than worth it.

Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary
Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as the Wayanad Sanctuary, is situated on the way from Mysore to Sulthan Bathery. The Sanctuary is spread over an area of around 344 sq. km and one can find animals like sloth bears, sambhar, elephants, monkeys, tigers, reptiles, deer, panthers etc. There are many species of rare birds in this sanctuary as well.

The Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary is most famous for its ‘project elephant’ site, where herds of elephants are seen roaming freely, frolicking in the mud and the water near the water holes.

Various species of deer, monkeys, birds etc also inhabit this space. The trees and plants in the sanctuary are typical of the south Indian moist deciduous forests and west coast semi-evergreen forests. An ideal destination to watch herds of wild elephants, the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary is contiguous with the protected area network of the Nagarhole National Park and the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in the neighbouring State of Karnataka and Mudumalai of Tamilnadu. The sanctuary is also a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000 sq.km), including all of the sanctuary, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.

The best months to visit the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary are the months of June to October. An ideal destination for those looking out for some adventure as well as nature study.

Soochipara Falls
Soochipara Falls, located near Meppadi, with the water falling from a height of 100 to 300 ft amidst greenery, offers a pleasant setting to picnickers. The pool below the falls with cool crystal clear water offers a wonderful opportunity for bathing, water rafting and swimming. Another highlight of this place is the tree top huts located within the dense forest. .

Pazhassi Raja Tomb
Pazhassi Raja Tomb is a monumental tomb carrying great history and legend within it. Mighty warrior king Pazhassi Raja, considered the ‘Lion of Kerala’, was the first to ignite guerilla warfare techniques against the British. It was in memory of this valiant ruler who died in 1805 that the magnificent tomb was constructed. .