Chateau Woods
Wayanad, Kerala
Calicut is the nearest big city, but even from Bangalore Chateau Woods is a good option. The drive is long but excellent, flanked by the western ghat forests and regular wildlife sightings like Indian gaur and elephants. The road to Mysore leads to Nanjangud, Gundlupet, through the forests of Bandipur and finally hitting the border sanctuary of Sultan Battery, as one enters Kerala through the bamboo stands.
The estate is off the main Kalpetta-Calicut highway, wedged between low tea-covered hills, pleasantly away from the din of traffic.
How to get there:
Driving, at least for the last leg, is the only option. Otherwise, see below.
By air:
Closest airport to Chateau Woods is Calicut (Kozhikode).
By train:
Calicut (Kozhikode) is the closest station from which you would need to travel on by road i.e. car or bus.
By bus:
Overnight buses from Bangalore are available by private operators and the reliable state-run KSRTC service. Most of them are stopped between 3 and 6 am as the road runs through the forest.
Distances & travel times:
airport:
Calicut/Kozhikode 100km / 3 hrs
railway stations:
Calicut/Kozhikode: 100km / 3.5 hrs
When to go:
Wayanad is its greenest best just after the rains in June, July and August, when the misty haze adds a dash of otherworldliness to the view. The most ‘leech-free’ and outdoor-conducive months are from October to March.
Getting around:
The only way to get around for any sightseeing is in your own car or a cab that can be arranged easily at an additional cost.