Chembra Peak

Chembra Peak in Wayanad (celebrated internationally as the crowning pinnacle of the Wayanad hill range and the highest mountain summit in the district towering at an imposing elevation of 2,100 meters / 6,890 feet above sea level, world famous for its natural perennial heart shaped mountain lake 'Hridaya Saras' perched halfway up the mist covered summit ridge, scenic trekking trails through rolling tea gardens and shola grasslands, and 360 degree panoramic vistas extending across Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Nilgiri districts), located near Meppadi in Wayanad in Kerala, stands as South India's premier high altitude trekking destination.

Managed responsibly by the Kerala Forest Department through the local VSS (Vana Samrakshana Samithi) eco development committee, this protected mountain massif is famous for its romantic heart shaped alpine lake that according to local legend has never dried up even during the harshest summer droughts in living memory.

It's the home of the legendary Heart Lake (Hridaya Saras) shimmering with crystal clear rainwater halfway to the summit at 1,500 meters altitude, the exhilarating 4.5 kilometer trekking trail starting from the lush Chembra tea estate base station and climbing through emerald shola forests and steep montane grasslands, the panoramic summit ridge where hikers gaze upon rolling sea of clouds beneath their feet, the endemic biodiversity sheltering rare Nilgiri pipits, mountain butterflies, and fragrant wild orchids, the eco certified local tribal guides who accompany every trekking group, and an intensely invigorating, crisp high altitude mountain atmosphere where chilly alpine winds, drifting white mists, and the warmth of mountain sunshine create pure trekking bliss.

It represents a rich Western Ghats alpine trekking heritage, shola grassland conservation, and romantic eco tourism where Hridaya Saras heart lake, 2,100m mountain summits, Chembra tea estates, and Meppadi cloud valleys unite in Chembra Peak Wayanad.

Located 8 km south of Meppadi town, it sits just 17 km from Kalpetta, 35 km from Sultan Bathery, 85 km from Calicut International Airport (CCJ), and 80 km from Kozhikode Railway Station (CLT), accessible by taxi or jeep to the Forest Department ticket office at Chembra Estate base.

Hridaya Saras & The Legend of Love Lake

built on an alpine plateau at 1,500 meters altitude, Hridaya Saras has a naturally formed, near perfect heart shape surrounded by velvet green grass.

Believed to be blessed by celestial maidens in local mythology, the water remains miraculously sweet, cold, and constant throughout all seasons.

Truth is, resting on the grassy banks of Heart Lake while white clouds roll across the water surface is purely magical.

4.5km Trekking Trail & Shola Grassland Ridge

The Trekking Route: The moderate to-steep 3 hour hike ascends through rolling tea estates, bamboo thickets, and steep montane grasslands with safety ropes.

Summit Viewpoints: From the higher ridges, hikers enjoy unhindered views over Banasura Sagar Dam, Karapuzha reservoir, and the distant Nilgiri hills.

Wayanad Eco Tourism & Adventure Circuit

Meppadi Loop: Sits just 15 km from Soochippara Waterfalls, 12 km from Kanthanpara Falls, and 17 km from Kalpetta.

District Day Tour: Connects smoothly with Pookode Lake (25 km), Lakkidi View Point (30 km), and Banasura Sagar Dam (40 km).

After trekking to the Heart Shaped Lake of Chembra Peak, explore Soochippara Waterfalls, visit Pookode Lake, or tour Wayanad.