: Skip the Touristy Spots: 3 Offbeat Places in Kerala That Promise Unique Experiences #IndiaNEWS #Kerala This article is a part of the series #TravelForGood, an initiative by Kerala Tourism and The

Posted in: #IndiaNEWS #Kerala #TravelForGood

Skip the Touristy Spots: 3 Offbeat Places in Kerala That Promise Unique Experiences #IndiaNEWS #Kerala
This article is a part of the series #TravelForGood , an initiative by Kerala Tourism and The Better India to enrich traveller experiences and open up opportunities for local communities.

Life as we know it has changed in the last couple of years. The pandemic pushed us all to the edge, forced us to press pause and introspect. As social interactions and work-life balance turned upside down, it also compelled us to see the world in a newer light, where the little things mattered the most.
This thought also translates in the way we are travelling now. As the world slowly heals and opens its doors to travellers desperately seeking to set free their wanderlust, it also welcomes this new wave of experience-based travel. Here, authentic experiences triumph touristy itineraries and mere travellers transform into explorers, waiting to discover meaningful and memorable moments of beauty.
And what better place to start than the evergreen and simplistically marvellous ‘God’s Own Country’— Kerala. Be it the sweet smell of wet earth in the air or the blanket of green that wraps around your eyes the moment you set foot inside its state borders, Kerala invites you to weave a unique memory of every experience.
From the pristine beaches, mellow backwaters, evergreen forests to the mighty mountains and gushing waterfalls, every bit of Kerala encourages you to slow down, let go and completely immerse yourself in its beauty.
Here are three examples of such destinations in Kerala, where every nook has a special story to tell.
Wayanad

Unique, unspoilt and unforgettable — are three words that summarise the experience of a place called Wayanad in Kerala. The only district that shares borders with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Wayanad is around 76 kms away from the coastline of Kozhikode, and is known for its unperturbed natural beauty crowned with paddy fields, coffee plantations, dense rain forests and wildlife sanctuaries.
Be it the quaint villages sporadically sprinkled around the mountains of Western Ghats, the enchanting misty hills and waterfalls humming the countless lores of the region going back to centuries, or the verdant carpets of paddy and coffee plantations — Wayanad is a green paradise that offers a bit of everything.
While the magnificent landscapes provide an opportunity for a restless soul to pause and rewind soaking in the tranquil environs of the region, the steep peaks and thick jungles promise a number of thrilling adventures. For instance, in the Pookot Lake nestled under the rolling hills of Wayanad, one can revel in the picturesque glory of nature while also indulging in kayaking and row boating activities. For adventure-lovers looking to scale peaks, there’s the 2100-ft-above-sea-level Chembra peak, which is the highest in Wayanad.