Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary

If you want to see wildlife in its natural habitat amid thriving green forests, head straight to Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary in Wayanad. Located 20 km northeast of Mananthavady on Kodagu Road, it's one of the best places in Kerala to view bountiful flora and fauna.

Tholpetty is part of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, which is the second-largest in the state after the Periyar sanctuary. Established in 1973, the sanctuary encompasses an area of around 345 sq. km. The forests consist of both tropical moist dry deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, with plantations of teak, eucalyptus, silver oak, and rosewood covering about one-third of the area.

Best way to explore: The Forest Department conducts jeep safaris twice a day, letting you spot wild animals and birds up close in their natural habitat. Don't miss the lake where animals come down for a drink, and the watchtower overlooking the sanctuary.

Visit Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary on a Wayanad sightseeing taxi tour, or book your Wayanad cab any time, 24/7.

Wildlife you can spot

Elephants, tigers, and panthers
Jungle cats, civet cats, and wild dogs
Bison, deer, bears, and monkeys
Snakes and other reptiles

Birdwatching highlights

Peacocks, cuckoos, and owls
Woodpeckers, jungle fowls, and vultures
Babblers, butterflies, and migratory species

Indian gaur browsing beside the forest at Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad — Photo: Ramkishoremr, CC BY-SA 4.0Photo 02 / 05

Safari jeep driving along a forest track through the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad — Photo: Rameshng, CC BY-SA 3.0Photo 03 / 05

Spotted deer walking along a forest trail in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad — Photo: Rainer Halama, CC BY-SA 4.0Photo 04 / 05

Indian peacock walking through green undergrowth at Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad — Photo: Praveenp, CC BY-SA 4.0Photo 05 / 05