Travel Guide Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

817,420 inhabitants (Wayanad district). Most travellers to the Wayanad district come to visit the splendid Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. This is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere. It comprises 13 protected forests where wild animals and tribal populations cohabit in a sometimes precarious balance. Humans are very wary of the wildlife that sometimes attacks their herds. You'll come across fallow deer, sambar, monkeys and elephants, numerous bird species, reptiles... and if you're very lucky, why not a tiger? Altitudes range from 650 metres to 1,158 metres, making this sanctuary a unique and magical place, suspended between heaven and earth. The park's 354 km² are divided into two distinct zones: Tholpetty to the north, bordering Karnataka, and Muthanga to the east, bordering Tamil Nadu. Depending on where you're coming from, you can choose from three anchor points in the Wayanad district to visit: the town of Mananthavady to the west (with little tourist infrastructure), Kalpetta to the south and Sultan Bathery to the east. Unfortunately, jeep tours follow fixed routes to protect the wildlife, which reduces the chances of spotting wild animals, but the beauty of the forest remains intact!