Chembra Peak Heart Lake — Local services in Kerala

If you have come to visit Wayanad, I would say you should not miss this spot. This is a place that you would love if you are a fan of trekking. Ticket counter opens at around 7am. Per day, tickets for only 200 people are issued and so, make sure you reach there by around 7am. More importantly, do not reach there too early also( like around 6am or before; people you meet might advise you to reach there early since these 200 tickets are issued on the basis of first come first) as the place could be very lonely at that time and is frequented by wild elephants ( as I was told by one of the Volunteers there).

Once you get the tickets from the ticket counter, you can go to the check point ahead, where you can park your vehicle. The road is not in a good condition & is narrow too. Once you have parked your vehicle you can walk to the Trekking Point, which is around 0.5-0.75km further ahead at the base of the Chembra peak. From this point the peak is a 2km ascent, which might take you around 1-1.5 hours if you are moving at a decent pace. The path is not paved and it is a proper trekking trail full of stones and rocks. It also gets decently steep as we go up. Volunteers are stationed at different points along the trail for your assistance. Please follow their instructions.

At the top, an awe inspiring view will be awaiting you along with the cool breeze that blows away your tiredness after this long trek.

Here there is also a small lake in the shape of a heart ( and hence the name HEART SHAPED LAKE).

From this point you will get a view of the town of Kalpetta, Vythiri; the NH 212 connecting Kozhikode to Kollegal; Banasurasagar Dam & Pookot Lake( if there is not much fog);Edakkal hills,etc.

Happy...

I visited Wayanad last week and was very excited to go to Chembra. The resort people had informed me that the trekking has stopped but one can go till the lake. I started for Chembra on 30th April early morning and to my surprise the road towards Chembra is closed for all tourists for unknown reasons. It was a waste of 2 hours drive.Good to go with a guide. Do ensure that you are wearing proper footwear as the path can get quite steep and rocky. Do carry an umbrella or poncho with you as light drizzle or rain can be expected. The scenery is amazing! The trek is not suitable for families with young children. A person needs to have a basic level of fitness or mental strength to make it to the top.We started our journey early in the morning. The shape Love Lake had fascinated me. It was my 20th trekking. But first time to Chembra Peak. We could see many people there. We were not in a hurry. So we took plenty of time to climb. There were trees in the beginning. But when we covered around half, it was plane. The sun was just above our head. Still we didn't feel hot. A chilly breeze followed us. Wayanad is famous for its climate. At last we reached on the peak. I will say that I was disappointed when i saw the lake. It was small in size, and the water level was very law. We could see bones of a deer. Wolves would have hunted it. If you walk a little more from the love lake, you will feel you are on te==the top of the world. If you are lucky you can see...

Amazing trekking spot.. Chembra trekking is a 3 hour trek. Which is of intermediate difficulty. Not too steep, not very flat land and a rocky terrain. The trekking point starts at the dead end of the meppadi- Chembra road. After the 3 hour approx trek, you reach the peak and it gives an amazing view of the heart shaped lake. The place also has an old cottage used by Britishers. Now in its demolished state. The trekking has been closed for 2 years due to forest fires and is known to be open this year. Best suggested to go during monsoon, when the hills are complete in lush green colour. But beware of the leeches as monsoon is the time for them to feast on you. Carry water-bottles and a light snack if needed. But please do not leave any trace of plastic within the trekking zone. Carry your plastic or paper waste with you and you can dispose it off at the trash can placed at the end of the trek.

KEEP CHEMBRA CLEAN!!

Additional info: Chembra has a huge bio diversity of bird life and other animal life. Be sure to carry your binoculars or other gears if you're into bird watching. There are a number of small waterfalls and forest treks to do within Chembra. But not advisable to do it alone or without the company of a local person who knows the place. The dangers may vary from wild animals, poisonous snakes, and also you'll be held accountable and penalised if you even by mistake cross the forest border...