The fragrant spice plantations in Kerala is a must-see while on a Kerala Tour. Kerala, popularly known as God’s Own Country, is an ideal destination for the business traveler as well as holidaymaker. One of the most sought-after tourist destinations in Asia, Kerala is India’s only tropical paradise. The state is blessed with mass features like dense tropical forests, beautiful beaches, cliffs, rocky coasts, and an intricate maze of backwaters, still bays and amazing 44 radiant rivers and a large variety of geographical and climatic conditions that make it ideal for spice cultivation.

The spice plantation in Wayanad is one of the major spice plantations in Kerala. Wayanad is one such hill destination of Kerala where nature makes music with soothing climate, romantic waterfalls, evergreen hill ranges and variety of spice cultivation all over. This high altitude district is characterized by the cultivation of perennial plantation crops and spices.

There are various kinds of spices cultivated in Wayanad. Coffee, cocoa, pepper, ginger and lately, plantain, vanilla are the main cash crops of the region. The coffee-based farming system is a noteworthy feature of Wayanad. Coffee is grown both as pure crop and as a mixed crop along with pepper. The black pepper produced here is renowned in the world of spices because of its unique quality and aroma. Wayanad has dominated pepper farming in the country for many years, producing more than 40,000 tonnes of the crop every year until the mid-1980s. It is also rich in Rice fields, Ginger and Turmeric cultivation along with Coconut, Cardamom, Cocoa, Beetle nut, Cinnamon, a huge variety of Bananas etc. Pepper is grown largely along with coffee in the north eastern parts of the district, especially in Pulpally and Mullankolly areas. Coffee in Wayanad (66,999 ha.) shares 33.65 percent of the total cropped area in the district and 78 percent of the coffee area in the state. Other major crops are rubber (63,015 ha.), coconut (59,452 ha.), cardamom (38,348 ha.), tea (31,792 ha.) cassava and ginger. Ginger cultivation in Wayanad has also substantially increased in recent times and the ginger produced is mainly marketed in the form of green ginger. Homestead farming assumes importance in this district. The crops grown include coconut, arecanut, pepper, vegetables, tuber crops, drumstick, papaya, etc. and fruit trees like mango and jack.

Besides several spots of interest such as the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Lakkidi, Thusharagiri Waterfalls, etc, the spice plantation in Wayanad is a prime attraction of this scenic land. Wayanad Spice Plantation Tour is specifically designed for travelers who want to understand about various spices used in Kerala. You can go for nature walks, bird watching treks, taste the various spices and breathe in the fragrant air while exploring the spice plantation in Wayanad. You can observe stretches of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, ginger and vanilla plantations in the district. If you sign on in any of the spice plantation tours, you can enjoy walking through the hillocks covered with greenery of the plantations and you can also observe the process involved in collecting the produce from the plantations. Pick up a few packets of the tea and spices grown here that make for a good buy. The spice plantation in Wayanad is the main stay of the economy.

The natural scenic beauty of Wayanad and its rich natural resources offer several opportunities for adventure tourism. The hills, rocks, and valleys which make the unique character of Wayanad provide a lot for catering to the ever-increasing demand for adventure tourism. Needless to say that it will be incomplete if you do not find time to take a tour through these splendid spice plantations when you visit this area of Western Ghats.

Best Time to Visit for Spice Plantations:

The best season to visit a spice plantation is between September and March. This is the time when the spices will be ready for harvest. You can also spot many birds during this season. The winter season will have a mild climate making sightseeing much easier.

The worst time to visit a spice plantation is during the rainy season. The path will be slippery and the plants will not be in bloom. Monsoon starts in July and ends in September. Early summer is the harvest season and tourists might not be able to enjoy the plantation to the fullest. Moreover, the humid climate will make the journey harder.

Your Wayanad journey is not complete without a plantation tour!