Wayanad (Kerala) boasts of two wildlife sanctuaries at Mutanga and Tholpetty. Muthanga is just 16kms from Sultan Battery on the Mysore Road. The forests are contiguous with Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu and Bandipur in Karnataka. Wild elephants are a common sight and a tusker racing you on the road cannot be ruled out. Bisons, deer, wild dogs are also easy to spot. Tholpetty wildlife sanctuary, which is about 25 kms from Mananthavady is rich in wildlife as well.

Wayanad is homeland of various tribal communities, prominent among them are the Paniya, Adiya, Kurichiya, Kattunayaka and Kuruma tribes.

The main cash crop is coffee. Other cash crops cultivated are Ginger, pepper, cinnamon, cardamom and tea.

If you are traveling by road, these are some of the spots you must stop by

Edakkal Caves: Situated at an an altitude of 4600 ft above sea level, these prehistoric caves are just 12 kms from Sultan Battery. It is a rock shelter formed naturally out of three huge boulders, one resting on the other two. The exotic ancient carvings and scripts at Edakkal caves speak of a civilized society of prehistoric age.

Kuruva Dweep: Kuruva Dweep is a group of islets in the river Kabini along the northeast border of Wayanad district. Kuruva is only 45 km away from Kalpetta, the headquarters of Wayanad district. These islands present a unique ecosystem, a treasure house of rare flora and fauna.

Thodikalam Shiva Temple: A temple built during Mahabharata days. The exterior of this temple is decorated with exquisite paintings done about 500 years before Ramayana period.

Spread over 834.16 sq.km the Dandeli wildlife sanctuary is the second largest in Karnataka and is contiguous with the Mahaveer sanctuary in Goa.

The undulating streams , swaying bamboos, abundance of wildlife, sylvan surroundings and trekking tracts make Dandeli sanctuary a unique holiday destination. River /kali and its tributaries, Kaneri and Nagajhari, meander through the forest.

Sighting animals is difficult and always involves an element of luck. The sanctuary is home o the barking, spotted and mouse deer, sloth bear, panther, tiger, gaur, elephant, wild dog, civet cat, bison, jackal, langur and giant flying squirrel, besides a variety of colourful birds and reptiles. The reptilian and amphibian fauna of the region include a variety of ruffles and frogs.

35 km from Dandeli is Syntheri rocks, awsome monolithic granite structure amidst thich forest, with the perennial river Kaneri flowing by its side. There are innumerable trekking trails and fishing spots at Dandeli.

The Kulgi Nature Education Camp, run by the Karnataka Forest Department is spread over 10 acres near Kulgi village. In the sanctuary. It has well furnished tents, dormitories, a herbarium, well stocked library, video film screening etc. Jungle safaris are arranged for tourists both during morning and evening hours.

There is a fishing camp that provides enthusiastic anglers a chance to try their luck at fishing. The fishing camp provides all amenities like cots, mosquito nets, toilet and even a kitchen. Food is served in Gol-Ghar the open air dining rooms.

Tented camps with bonfires light up the nights making the surrounding all the more mysterious.

Situated 150 km away from Ranchi the Netarhat plateau area spreads over 41 sq.km at 3700 ft above sea level. The plateau consisting mainly of granite, has the appearance of a horseshoe. The name Netarhat, seems to have been derived from 'Netar' and 'Hatu' which, in the local dialect, mean bambooand bazar respectively. Curiously enough, the English words, 'nature' and heart contain elements of the same word!

Netarhat is cool and tranquil thanks to its copious rain. During the monsoon season, Netarhat overflows with nature's charms. Karam, khair, bamboo and various flora such as the sunflower, peeli kaner and other plants soothe the eye, spreading their fragrance in the air. Nature- lovers will find lots to fascinate them there.

The Netarhat forest is in the proximity of the Palamau (Betla) Tiger Sanctuary. Bears, monkeys, wild pigs, snakes and other species are a common sight here with the odd tiger and elephant occasionally spotted. The oraons, the Birhoras, the Kisans and Birjeeys are the main tribal communities.

Near Netarhat are some areas closely rivaling it in beauty. Magnolia sunset point, 12 km away from Netarhat, is a lovely place from which to view a sunset or a sunrise. From here, the silver cascades of the Lodh Waterfalls, one of the highest waterfalls in the State, can be seen in the distance. Another scenic spot located 12 km away from here is the Loer Ghagari waterfall. The sweet sounds of the stream are the only noise that punctuate the silence, apart from animal and bird sounds. The thicket is so dense that the sun does not penetrate the area fully.

Once famed for having the highest rainfall in the world, Cheerapunji has now slipped to second spot in those rankings. When it rains there, it pours. However when it doesn't rain, it is extremely pleasant. Grey clouds wander about the sky so low that you are tempted to touch them.

Cheerapunji lies on the southern edge of the East Khasi hills of Meghalaya. It is a 56- km, two hour drive from the State Capital, Shillong. Just outside Cheera, as it is fondly called, is Mawsmai village, where the misty hills covered with lush vegetation begin their slope into a deep,deep valley. From a vantage point, one can see the famous Nohsnglthiang falls. On the southern side beyond the hills, lies Bangladesh, barely 10 kms away. The Mawsmai village is an enchanting picnic spot. The waterfalls, the Mawsmai limestone caves-said to be kilometers long and full of stunning stactites and stalagmites- are tourist attractions.

Cheera is not really so much a place to 'see' as a place to 'feel'. The inhabitants are Khasis, the tribe of Khasi hills. They speak khashi, though they script in the English alphabet.

An old Presbeterian Church built in 1848, the Cheera Theological college established in 1887 and a Ramakrishna Mission of similar vintage, proclaim the antiquity of the town.

The British once frequented the Cheera for its 'rain, oranges and honey'. Cheera used to be a prolific producer of oranges. The British had even built a tiny airstrip in the valley, in order to transport the fruit to Calcutta and then to England. Today the airstrip has disappeared with disuse because there are no oranges to transport out. Why widespread orange cultivation has stopped is not clear. Some attribute it to changes in climate, others to deforestation. Another version ha it that an epidemic destroyed the crop, and cultivation has never been the same again. However, enough oranges are produced to make the orange flavoured honey that the region is famed for.

Despite its obvious tourist potential, Cheera has not been developed as a tourist destination. The notable shyness of the people who look at you curiously from behind their half closed doors, contrasts with their disarming affabilty and chattiness once they get to know you a little better. Tourism would boost the town's economy which, at present, revolves around a single source of employment.-the state owned Mawmluch Cheera Cement Factory, which produces 250 tonnes a day.

Two years ago, the locals set up the Sohra Employment generation and Development Council. The council wants Cheerapunji to be given its due importance as a tourist centre by opening up hotels and restaurants.

Cheera is a place you would love to linger, but a dearth of hotels forces you to back to Shillong.