Kurumbalakotta Hills - Wayanad

Kurumbalakotta is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Kerala. This hill is located in Kottathara panchayath of Vythiri taluk, Wayanad district. What makes Kurumbalakotta a favorite destination for trekkers is the breathtaking 360-degree view of Wayanad. Trekkers can enjoy the snow-capped mountains and valleys surrounding the hill.

Kurumbalakotta is a hill station located in the heart of the Wayanad district. Although there is a fort named after it, no remnants of the fort can be seen here. Legend has it that during the confrontation between Pazhassi and the British, Pazhassi’s army marched on this hill. It is saidthat the fort was built there. That is why this place got the name Kurumbalakotta. Kurumbalakotta, 20 km from Kalpetta, has its own story to share. The “Kota,” or fort, is thought to have belonged to a Kurumba caretaker. The fort was supposedly built by the local king to keep an eye on enemy movements below. Despite the fact that the area was previously the property of the Vedara dynasty, no remnants of a fort can be found anywhere near Kurumbalakotta.

Kurumbalakotta is a hillock located in Wayanad district in Kerala, India. Situated at 3,251 feet (991m) above sea level. It is a monolith hillock in Kerala. It is also a portion of the Deccan plateau, as well as the meeting point of the Western and Eastern Ghats. The hill is located in the Kottathara Panchayat of Vythiri Thaluk. From here, you can enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The breathtaking view of Wayanad covered in snow also takes the tourists to another world. Kurumbalakotta Hill is located in the center of Wayanad district. Therefore, Kurumbalakotta Hill offers a complete view of Wayanad.

Kurumbalakotta Hills, also known as Kurumbalakotta Mala, can be accessed through various entry points. Venniyode is the closest town. Tourists can reach the hills by road from Kalpetta, travelling via Kamblakkad junction. Vilambukandam serves as another entry point. To reach this point, travel straight from Pallikkunnu junction towards Eachome.

Kurumbalakotta is a spiritual place for the Christian community. Every year on Puthunjayar day, the Way of the Cross and the Holy Qurbana is performed on this hill. The Sunday after Easter is Puthunjayar, when Jesus appears to the disciples, including St. Thomas. The Way of the Cross begins at St.Sebastian’s church Vilambukandam and ends at the top of the hill. Devotees from different parts of Wayanad participate in this ritual with faith.

Kurumbalakotta Kurishadi, another significant tourist attraction on Kurumbalakotta Hills, is easily accessible via the Vilambukandam entrance. While other entrances exist, reaching the summit from them involves a considerably longer walk, and the trails at the top may be poorly defined. As this is a place of religious significance, please be mindful that your behaviour and actions do not offend the sentiments of others. Please do not stand on the cross or altar here or take photos. The Kurumbalakotta Kurishadi is private property belonging to St. Sebastian's Church, Vilambukandam.

Kurumbalakotta Hill has been known as a tourist destination since 2015. Initially, it was a small group of indigenous tourists, but by 2018, tourists from other districts, states, and even foreign countries started visiting here. Initially, Kurumbalakotta hill was not enough to accommodate such a large crowd. Therefore, it also led to major environmental problems. The lack of parking facilities and lack of infrastructure has left tourists stranded. But then resorts and tent stay facilities were started and tourists got better services. Today, Kurumbalakotta Hill is one of the best tourist destinations in Kerala.

Even if you're not keen on a morning trek, you can still enjoy the beauty of the Kurumbalakotta hills. Private resorts are available at the hilltop at affordable prices. Please note: It is not advisable to visit Kurumbalakotta hills during the heavy monsoon season, as trekking and staying there are unsafe at that time.

“Compression Mukku” and Malankara are key locations in the Kurumbalakotta hill’s foothills. The nearest townships are Vilambukandam and Eachome. You will have to travel at least 8-10 km to get the best food other than the food provided by the resort/tent stay where you are staying. The 5th mile and 4th mile are the next places to get the best food. Mananthavady is the nearest major city (15 km). Kurumbalakotta Hill is located at a distance of 18 km from Kalpetta and 30 km from the Sulthan Bathery. 5th Mile, Panamaram, and Kambalakkad are important locations for bus passengers to reach Kurumbalakotta Hill.

Venniyode is another important location and serves as another entrance point to the Kurumbalakkotta hills. It is a small town, and from Pallikkunnu Junction, you can easily access major towns like Kambalakkadu, Panamaram, and Kalpetta.

Trekking is possible anytime in the daytime but early morning is the preferred time as you can enjoy the beautiful weather.

At present, the authorities do not charge entry fees to visitors. The other facilities like tent stay and night stay are owned by private vendors and are paid services.

Currently, parking is provided by private landowners. There are no government-owned parking facilities available at this time.

By Air

The nearest airport to Kurumbalakotta Hill is Kannur Airport at a distance of about 83 km. You can easily take a cab from there (fares will be higher) or take a bus from the airport (or nearby) to Wayanad. Or you can rent a vehicle and drive yourself there.

Kozhikode Airport is not far from Kurumbalakotta Hill and is about 100 km away. You can easily take a cab from there (fares will be higher) or take a bus from the airport (or nearby) to Wayanad. Or you can rent a vehicle and drive yourself there.

By Rail

Kozhikode Railway Station is the nearest railhead to Kurumbalakotta Hill, at a distance of about 92 km. The Kozhikode Railhead is well connected to major Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, as well as to several regional cities and towns in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Once your train arrives, you can easily take a cab from there (fares will be higher) or take a bus from the airport (or nearby) to Wayanad. Or you can rent a vehicle and drive yourself there.

By Road

Wayanad is served by various KSRTC buses and private buses from various districts of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Wayanad is easily accessible by road.

There are three main ways to get to Kurumbalakotta Hills. Through Kambalakkad, Panamaram and 5th mile.

From Mananthavadi

It is easy to reach Kurumbalakotta Hills from Mananthavady via 5th mile. Mananthavady - Dwaraka - 4th mile - 5th mile - Kurumbalakotta.

From Sultan Bathery

It is also easy to reach Kurumbalakotta Hills from Sultan Bathery via Kambalakkad. You can also reach there via Panamaram as well but via Kambalakkad is the shortest distance. Sultan Bathery - Meenangadi - Kambalakkad - Vilambukandam - Kurumbalakotta. The shortest distance is 33 km.

From Kalpetta

Kurumbalakotta Hills can be reached from Kalpetta via Kambalakkad. The shortest distance is 18 km. Kalpetta - Kambalakkad - Pallikkunnu - Eachome - Kurumbalakotta. You might see multiple small entrances to the hill in this route. Always choose the main entrances.