Kalpetta: The loss of Wayanad in tourism following the night traffic ban through NH 212 has become Coorg’s gain as tourists are making a beeline to the hill station in the neighbouring district of Karnataka.
Before the ban was imposed in 2009 citing wildlife safety, Wayanad was a hot destination for the weekend IT crowd from Bangalore. The ban forced them to take a deviation to Coorg as the climate and agricultural produce were almost the same.
The vast coffee plantations, Tibetan settlement at Bylakkuppe, the origin of river Kavery at Talakavery and scattered Buddhist temples and monasteries are attracting the tourists to Coorg. There is no night traffic ban en route to Mananthavadi through Coorg which also has considerable jungle stretches.
Thomas George, a planter at Kutta, told DC that the last five years had witnessed a tourism boom in Coorg. “Starting a homestay is the current trend here. Every farmer is running a homestay either in his home or is constructing a few on his premises,” he added.
“Visitors can enjoy almost the same climate and visit the northern parts of Wayanad, including the Tholppetti wildlife sanctuary, Tirunelli temple and Banasura Sagar dam,” he added.
“By paying around Rs 1,000 per head, you will get a comfortable homestay while it is almost double in Wayanad,” he said.
Wayanad District Tourism Promotion Council official C.R. Hariharan told DC that earlier the IT crowd started from Bangalore by Friday night and reached Wayanad in the morning. They used to return by Sunday night enjoying a full day so that they could reach Bangalore in the morning and report for duty in time.
But once the traffic ban was imposed, for reaching Wayanad, they have to take half-day leave on Friday as they have to cross the border by 9 p.m. If they miss the deadline they have to wait till 6 in the morning in the jungle. So naturally they have opted for Coorg,” he added.
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