Pookode Lake Wayanad
Surrounded by evergreen forest of Western ghat, Pookode lake is one of the high altitude fresh waters lakes with abundance of fishes and Blue lotus. Hiring a pedal boat and spending lazy time floating on the lake surface is a totally relaxing experience.
Planning
For someone from Bengaluru, visiting a lake in a place like Wayanad sounds absurd. Yet we thought of visiting Pookode lake as lakes are common ‘must visit’ spots in almost all hill stations of India. Another reason being, the location of our stay was very close to the lake. So we thought of paying a casual visit to the lake before proceeding towards Soochipara waterfalls and Edakkal caves.
Reaching Pookode lake
Our OYO stay was just 5 km from the Pookode lake. We had yet another forgettable breakfast on the way. Since we started early, the route was almost empty. We drove till the gates of lake to find out there is no dedicated parking available. After roaming around nearby, we found an empty space beside the road and parked our car there. Parking may pose a serous issue during peak hours here. We suggest you to visit the lake during early hours when the rush is less. At least you will be saved from all the struggles starting from parking to the ticket counter queues.
Pookode lake Entry and Other fees
The ticket counter to the lake is situated amid the hut styled shopping establishments.
Fee chart in INR
- 30 per person for Adults 20 per person for Children (5-12 yrs)
- 20 for Still Camera
- 150 for Video Camera
- 150 for 2 Seat Pedal Boat
- 200 for 4 Seat Pedal Boat
- 350 for Row Boat
Pookode Lake aquarium comprises a small display of an array of freshwater fishes. Opening time is 9 AM, and it closes by 6 PM. Entry ticket also covers visit to the Aquarium present inside the campus.
Boating at Pookode Lake
Nested between evergreen forest and the Western Ghats, Pookode Lake is spread over 8.5 hectares and has a depth of 6.5 meters. Itis a natural freshwater lake nestling amid evergreen forests and mountain slopes at an altitude of 770 meters above sea level. One of the main tributaries of Kabini River, the Panamaram rivulet originates from here.
Since it was early in the morning, there was very moderate crowd in the premise. We spent some time gazing around and decided to go for pedal boating. Lake water was very much clean when we visited, and we enjoyed boating for around 30 hrs and returned to the jetty. It is a sight to see various size and shaped boats constantly leaving and arriving at that point.
Pookode Lake Aquarium
Since we had free time and free entry to the aquarium, we gave it a try and to be frank It was not bad. Even though it was small, the Aquarium complex was neatly maintained. There are interesting varieties of fishes here. You can avail the service of Fish spa for the price of 70rs. We spent around 15 mins checking those out and bid adieu to the Wayanad town and Pookode lake and drove towards Soochipara waterfalls
Timings
- Monday
- 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Tuesday
- 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Wednesday
- 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Thursday
- 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Friday
- 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Saturday
- 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Sunday
- 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tips For Travelers
- Visit early in the morning to avoid queue at the entry counter and boating ticket counters.
- Do try out Kayaking or Pedal boating in the calm waters of Pookode lake.
- Do not litter the place with eatables and plastic
- Practice silence to maintain the calm ambience of the place.
Places to Visit Nearby
| Destination | Distance from Lakkidi viewpoint in km |
|---|---|
| Lakkidi Viewpoint | 4 |
| Chain tree | 3 |
| Soochipara Waterfalls | 30 |
| Edakkal Caves | 37 |
| Manichery View Point & Vayalada Viewpoint | 41 |
| Vythiri | 2.5 |
Food Options
Live the Experience
We suggest you to watch our short informative video on this place before visiting.