VANAMCOVE 
Banasura Sagar
Largest earthen dam, island-hopping boats
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
- Crest walk at morning light
- Boat ride
- Banasura hill viewpoint
- Lunch at the lakeside resort
- Meenmutty or Edakkal add-on
Geography & terrain
Banasura Sagar sits in the slaty mist hills of Wayanad, Kerala, north-east of Kalpetta — a large artificial lake pinned by India's biggest earthen dam, its blue arms reaching into the Banasura hills. The dam mound is 980 m long and about 28.7 m high.
History & culture
Completed in 2004 as the centre of the Banasura Sagar project — a join of the Karamanathodu tributary system, named for the demon king Banasura of the legend who is said to have ruled these hills. The project turned forest ravines into the region's boating and adventure heart.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,000–2,500/nightMid-range
₹2,500–5,000/nightComfort
₹5,000+/nightThings to do
Earth-dam crest
Island boat ride
Banasura hill views
Reservoir sunsets
Forest shoulders
Eat & drink
- Karimeen pollichathu
- Appam with stew
- Malabar porotta
- Sadya on banana leaf
Getting there
- Fly
- Kochi (COK) / Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) / Kozhikode (CCJ)
- Train
- Kochi, Kollam, Kozhikode junctions
- Road from Kochi
- varies by district — 50–400 km
- Getting around
- Autos, KSRTC buses, ferry networks
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹5,000–11,000 (2 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,000–5,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Activities
- ₹700–1,100
Month by month
Practical info
- Language: Malayalam (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Sep–Mar
- Connectivity: good 4G in towns
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- Boats follow fixed windows — check at the dam office
- The viewpoint road is steep
- Monsoon bans most boating — plan dry days
Frequently asked questions
It is the largest earthen dam of India, holding the region's largest reservoir for island-hopping boats.
October–March evenings; July rains are dramatic but the crest can close.
Yes — the island maze is the charm; 45 minutes on the water covers it.
Largest earthen dam, island-hopping boats
Take the break. We'll take the planning.
Tell us your dates, budget and travel style — we'll build your Banasura Sagar plan with day-by-day routing, stays, food and bookings.