In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · India
Padinjarathara
Visit Padinjarathara for a half‑day: see Banasura Sagar dam and Meenmutty Falls, then return – no overnight stay needed.
Padinjarathara is a small hub in Wayanad, Kerala, giving quick access to the earthen Banasura Sagar dam, Meenmutty waterfall and nearby hill treks. A half‑day is enough for the main sights; stay in Kalpetta or Sultan Bathery if you need a night.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–1,200 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,200–2,500 excl. bed · High ₹2,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Medical 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Auto‑rickshaw (5 km (3.1 mi))Auto‑rickshaw (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ₹150–₹250 |
| Tea/coffee at a stall | ₹30–₹60 |
| Snack (banana fritters) | ₹20–₹40 |
| Banasura Sagar dam entry | ₹0 (free) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CNN · Kannur International Airport
- ≈85 km (53 mi) by road≈53 mi (85 km) by road
- CCJ · Calicut International Airport
- ≈86 km (53 mi) by road≈53 mi (86 km) by road
Typical fares
- Taxi Padinjarathara → Banasura Sagar (round)
- ≈₹300 (check)
- Auto‑rickshaw 5 km
- ≈₹150–₹250
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Local buses connect Padinjarathara to Kalpetta and Sultan Bathery; taxis or auto‑rickshaws are available for short trips to the dam and falls.
See and do
Known for
- Banasura Sagar Dam
- Meenmutty Falls
- Banasura Hill
- Kurumbalakotta
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Banasura Sagar Dam | Local bus or taxi, ~15 min from town centre | ≈30 min round trip |
| Meenmutty Falls | Taxi 6 km (3.7 mi), 15 min; 30‑min walk to baseTaxi 3.7 mi (6 km), 15 min; 30‑min walk to base | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Sharoy Resort (splurge)
- Bible Land Post, Manjoora, Wayanad; ~15 km (9.3 mi) from town centre; book aheadBible Land Post, Manjoora, Wayanad; ~9.3 mi (15 km) from town centre; book ahead
- Kalpetta (budget)
- Main town 20 km (12 mi) north; many guesthouses and hostelsMain town 12 mi (20 km) north; many guesthouses and hostels
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | क्षम करेंkṣamā karen |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavād |
| How much is it? | यह कितना है?yah kitnā hai? |
| Where is the toilet? | शौचालय कहाँ है?śaucālay kahān hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Banasura Hill trek limited to 75 people per day; guide mandatory, ₹4,000 per group of 5 (check current rate).
- Monsoon season can make waterfalls dangerous and roads slippery – avoid Apr–Sep.
- No night‑time public transport; plan return before 7 pm.
Padinjarathara is generally safe for tourists; keep an eye on road conditions during monsoon and secure belongings in crowded markets.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Padinjarathara yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Banasura Sagar Dam
- Meenmutty Falls
- Banasura Hill
- Kurumbalakotta
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Kerala Tourism – Wayanad: www.keralatourism.org/wayanad
- Wikivoyage: Padinjarathara, revision 5310449 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5310449
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/padinjarathara). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.