Emerging spots: Hill night trekking at Wayanad’s Cheengeri Hills, a first in Kerala

On the way from Kaduvakuzhi to Sultan Bathery is the rock garden of Wayanad, Ambalavayal. Cheengeri Hills — a towering rock formation of the district — greets tourists with epic viewpoints, cloud beds, and sunrise magic, all in this very spot. While the spot has had trekking facilities from early morning 5 am for a while, it has also been opened for night trekking now. Moreover, KSRTC’s budget tourism cell has started a service to the spot this week, from its Kalpetta and Sultan Bathery depots. The trip, which starts around 4.30 pm, winds up back in the respective depot by 8.30 pm. Varghese C D, KSRTC North Zonal Coordinator, says, “This is Kerala’s first hill night trekking spot and probably a first in the country as well. Gujarat is also running a trial of a similar activity as of now, and if they don’t launch it, ours would be the first.”

What to see
Cheengeri hill trekking takes about 2.5 hours to climb up and back down, explains Varghese. “There is no age limit for trekkers, though we advise those with cardiac problems to avoid climbing. Everyone is given a safety briefing before the climb, and a searchlight as well. Every 10 people get one guide. The tallest point of the hill is above 3,640 feet and from here, you can get a 360-degree view of Wayanad, a stunning aerial night view of the Karapuzha Dam with all the lights on, Brahmagiri and Nilgiri Hills,” says Varghese. Once the trekkers reach the top of the hill, there are also some suspense elements arranged for them, he reveals. On the way to the hills, the tourists are also given a chance for photoshoots either at the Nellarachal viewpoint or the Karapuzha Dam. The best part about the trek is that it is all climate-friendly, says Varghese, as the terrain isn’t generally slippery.

Activity possibilities
Trekking is the highlight of the Cheengeri hills, though many people also visit the spot to just relax in the lap of nature. Many influencers have also posted videos shot in its backdrop, recommending it as an ideal sunset/sunrise spot.

Attractions nearby
KSRTC offers various packages to check out the Edakkal and Kuruva regions of Wayanad. There are also two-day and three-day packages to check out the whole district. To book the trip, call the KSRTC budget tourism cell on 7907305828 and 9895937213.

How to reach Cheengeri Hills
From Kalpetta, take NH 766 and Ambalavayal Karapuzha Road for about 47 minutes to reach Cheengeri Hills.