Kalpeta

Kalpeta is the Gateway to Southern Wayanad, a region of mountains, forest, wildlife sanctuaries and plantations of every sort.  Here in Wayanad the Keralans grow tea, coffee, mulberry, oranges, bananas, cardamom, latex rubber and many other spices and foodstuffs.  It is a place of busy transport towns surrounded by lush, green plantations.

Sales of alcohol are strictly restricted in Kerela.  Every evening, near our room at the aryuvedic hospital, here is a huge queue of Indian men at the local booze sales point.  Like all Indian queues, it is good to start early and as a young man, because you may age significantly in the process.

As in the rest of Kerela, there is a signficant Muslim population.  Here is the local Mosque, neat as a pin amongst the chaos of Indian traffic.