Kuruva Island Wayanad, also known as Kuruva Dweep, is a destination where silence creates an impeccable environment, enticing tourists from different places.

It is a traveler’s paradise, embedded with nature’s exotic flora and fauna. The island is a haven for innumerable species of plants, animals, and birds . If you are a wildlife photographer a nature admirer or a birdwatcher, you will love to visit the island and immerse in its astonishing beauty.

About Kuruva Island Wayanad

Kuruva Island Wayanad is essentially created by a whole bunch of islets. The entire cluster is situated in the center of the River Kabini. The location is unique and offers a fascinating experience with its diverse landscape. The forests surrounding the river are abundant in their evergreen flora and diverse fauna. A quaint place devoid of the hustle and bustle of city life and pollution-free too, with its lush greenery.

From a location point of view, Mananthavady is 17 km away, and Kalpetta is about 45 km away from the island. Kuruva Island Wayanad is considered one of this region’s prime destinations, covering about 950 acres of land. The best part of its beauty is the flock of migratory birds arriving at the island and mesmerizing all by their chirping and presence. There are variety of species of trees, herbs and orchids.

The other attractions of the island are its two lakes. You can walk around the lakes and feel the soothing freshness and purity in the environment. There are bamboo rafts operated by the Tourism department to row towards the island, altogether an adventurous experience.

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Things to do in Kuruva Island, Wayanad

There are a plethora of things to do in Kuruva Island. 

1. Nature Walk
   The island is a perfect place to go for a nature walk amid the lustrous beauty of nature, serene and calm. You will feel your mind at ease, and recharge yourself, a break from the regular mundane life. Being uninhabited is an added advantage, pure and clean in every aspect.
   The air is fresh, offering a tranquil view of the surroundings. If you are traveling with your partner, then you can walk hand in hand with each other while breathing in the coolness.
   

   

2. Bamboo Rafting
   Truly one of the most thrilling experience to reach the island. Sailing on the rafts or the wooden boats across the water, meandering through the islets, is something not to miss. The journey is exciting, crossing the river Kabini and soaking in its astonishing beauty.
   

   

3. Walking across the Forest trailsThere are plenty of trees and dense forests in the island, ideal for a pleasant walk. You can soothe your ears with the chirping of the birds, calm your mind with the fresh air and treat your eyes with the greenery around.
4. Trekking on the island 
   Trekking is one of the preferred adventure activities while being on the Kuruva island. As you wade through the pristine landscape, you will witness the astounding natural varieties of the species around. Its a moderate trek,  not complicated as such. But it is advisable to hire a guide so that you do not detour and end up trekking more. There is no high-rise climb, walk on flat roads within the forest premises. The views are awesome, the weather is soothing, and you will not feel the exhaustion from the trek.
   

   

5. Bird Watching
   Since migratory birds swarm Kuruva Island Wayanad, so it’s a delight for bird watchers. You can watch colorful birds near the lakes or perched in the trees. Do not forget to click pictures with your camera while witnessing the magnificent fauna of birds. Besides, there are many local and resident birds that are delightful to watch. They flock in large numbers, a perfect entertainment for the visitors. The place being devoid of human residents creates a much safer and better haven for the birds. Some of the birds to name are the Indian Pitta, the Malabar Grey Hornbill and the Malabar Trogon.
6. Wildlife and nature photography
   The exotic flora and fauna of the Kuruva Island Wayanad entices the wildlife and nature photographers in plenty. The plants, trees, birds, fish and other species create an alluring atmosphere to explore and click loads of pictures.
   

   

7. Savoring foods from the local cuisine
   You must definitely not miss the Kuruva Island Wayanad local foods. The best among the local foods is dishes made with fish. The local food stalls and eateries use the fresh catch from the river Kabeni to prepare the dishes. Prepared with Malabari spices, the taste is too lip-smacking. The dishes are normally served with white rice. 
8. Arrange a picnic with friends or family 
   The island has several picnic spots within its landscape. You can find chairs and benches available for use. A perfect serene place to spend a wonderful time within nature’s vicinity. You can pack some food and beverages and spend the entire day, relaxing or even engaging in some of trekking or walking activities.
9. Avail guided tours 
   The forest department arranges guided tours for tourists. You can avail them and experience a nature friendly journey meandering across the dense forests or the plain land. The guides share information about the different plants and trees like the ferns, orchids, herbs, shrubs, bamboo trees, mosses and many more. Since the place is frequented by different local and migratory birds, the tours help in identifying them and their names.
   

   

10. Attend nature interpretation programs 
    These programs are arranged in Kuruva Island Wayanad by the forest department. You can gain valuable insights about nature, its unique characteristics and why its so different in this island. 
11. Watching the butterflies 
    Along with the birds, the fish and the aquatic life, the another interesting part of the fauna is the butterflies. If you have kids accompanying you, then surely they will like playing with and watching the butterflies around. 
12. Mingling with the local tribes 
    Though the place is devoid of human residents, but there are few tribes who dwell in this area but are rarely seen. You may want to explore the island and check out for them and mingle with them. Its good to go for experiential travel and be acquainted with the local culture and especially the habitat of the tribes.
13. Jeep Safari
    The jeep safari is another way to witness the fascinating fauna of the island. The jeeps have open roofs, and you can stand and pass along the tour. You can spot various species of animals like the deer, elephant, leopard, tiger and many others. Truly a breathtaking experience within the heart of the green forests.
    

    

14. Backwaters Safari 
    This safari is carried out in the river waters, a way to explore the wildlife while traveling by boat. Its a two way advantage – a water ride and a wildlife view.
    

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Tips and key facts to know while visiting Kuruva Island Wayanad

1. Ensure to carry caps, and sunglasses to avoid the sun and protect your eyes
2. Its not advisable to swim in the river, only go for boating and bamboo rafting
3. Since there are plenty of birds coming in, so carry your binoculars
4. Remember the island permits only 575 tourists daily, so if you reach late then you wil be disappointed with no entry
5. It is better to avoid the monsoons since walking will be tough through the muddy lands and the boating on the river is not safe
6. While on the boats, use life jackets for safety
7. Do not forget to carry your camera since there are plenty of opportunities to click pictures
8. Choose your shoes properly as there will be lots of walking and hence you must not tire yourself with an improper footwear
9. Remember to carry mosquito repellant creams or sprays, especially when you opt for the nature walks, trekking and hiking
10. Beware of leeches during trekking, best is to wear good protective socks 
11. Drinking and smoking are not allowed in the island, and hence respect it
12. Never litter around 
13. You cannot use plastic in the island, restriction to keep the place eco-friendly 
14. It is better to avail the services of a guide during trekking or hiking
15. You wont find any washrooms or change rooms in the island so plan accordingly.
16. Carry food and water with you as you wont find many shops 
17. Respect the nature around as the place is home for many species of birds, fish, marine life, trees, plants and many other herbs

The Visiting time of the island

The island has a fixed start time and end time for 7 days in the week. At 9 AM the island opens for the visitors and at 3:30 PM it closes and no entry is allowed. Only between June and September it stays closed due to the monsoons. So if you are planning to visit Wayanad and Kuruva island is in your list, then it is better to avoid these months. The island is not free to enter anywhere you want. The Forest Department has limited the area for visitors to enter, the reason being to protect the eco-diversity of the place. You need to receive the appropriate permission from the department before entry.

The Ticket Charges

There are entry fees for the visitors, and it varies for Indians and the foreign nationals. For Indians it is INR 110 for adults and for students it is INR 75. Foreigners are charges INR 200. Extra charges are required for camera and for vehicle parking. Normally it is INR 59 for camera. The parking fees are INR 15 for. 2 wheelers, INR 30 for auto, car and jeep, INR 45 for the traveller vehicles and INR 60 for buses. The charges for the ride across the river depend on the mode selected. The wooden boats charge INR 10 while the bamboo rafts is INR 300.

The Best time to visit the Kuruva island

Except the Monsoon months between June and September when the island remains closed, you can visit the place at any time of the year. The weather remains calm between October and May, due to the extensive foliage and hence you can enjoy a cool and pleasant vacation.

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The river Kabeni too remains peaceful and there are no currents to be afraid of  Since the travel to the island is by boat and rafts, hence the river situation needs to be granted special attention to avoid any accidents. The greenery is at its full peak starting from October till May, thus a perfect time to spend ample and fun time with our closed ones.

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Time to spend in Kuruva Island Wayanad

Since the island is not fully accessible and is access controlled by the Forest Department, you wont need a huge time to explore. Max 2 to 3 hours is needed for covering the entire permitted area of the island. But if you want to go for birdwatching, photography, and picnic, then you will need half a day.

Location of the island

The proper city of Wayanad is about 30 km from the island. Kalpette is about 45 km away from Kuruva Island Wayanad. The other prominent city of Mananthavady is located about 17 km away which is not very far.

How to reach the Kuruva island?

Kuruva Island Wayana d is well connected by rail, road and air. The nearest airports are the Calicut International airport and the Kochi International airport about 115km an^[10] d 256km away respectively from the island. The nearest railway station is at Kochi, about 110 km away from the island. Cabs and buses are available from the airports and the railway station to reach the island. The buses stop at Puzhakkara Durgadevi temple from where you can walk towards the island entrance. You can rent a cab from any of the rental companies and ride towards the island. An offbeat place yet vibrant with the nature’s amazing diversified species. An ideal reason for tourists and the locals to spend a quaint time amid nature. You will feel the refreshing smell of nature around and will surely rejuvenate yourself. Kerala has lots of places to visit but if you visit this island, you will surely carry back with you nice memories to cherish in future.