Thamarassery Churam

Thamarassery Churam (also known as the Wayanad Churam) is the most famous, historically captivating, and heavily traveled mountain pass in Kerala, situated at an altitude of 700 metres (2,296 feet) above sea level in the Western Ghats. Located at coordinates 11.5200° N and 76.0250° E along National Highway 766, the pass scales the precipitous escarpment of the Wayanad mountain range, connecting Adivaram in Kozhikode district on the Malabar coast with Lakkidi and Vythiri on the cool, high-altitude Wayanad tableland.

Steeped in tribal folklore and colonial history, the opening of Thamarassery Churam is tied to the legend of Karinthandan, a native Paniya tribal chieftain who knew the secret paths through the impassable virgin forests. According to folklore, British engineers seeking a military and trade route to the Mysore plateau were guided by Karinthandan; after discovering the pass, an engineer treacherously killed the chieftain to claim sole credit for the discovery. Today, the legendary 'Chain Tree' (*Changala Maram*) at Lakkidi—where Karinthandan's spirit is said to be chained to a massive banyan tree—remains a revered shrine where motorists pause to pay homage before beginning the descent.

The drive up Thamarassery Churam is an exhilarating, cliff-hanging experience spanning exactly 9 numbered, tightly banked hairpin bends (*onpatham valavu*). Departing Kozhikode and Adivaram, the highway climbs aggressively through dense tropical wet evergreen forest. At the 7th and 8th hairpin turns, sweeping viewpoints offer breathtaking panoramas of the Malabar coastal plains stretching toward the Arabian Sea, illuminated by golden sunsets.

Cresting the pass at the 9th hairpin bend, travelers arrive at Lakkidi, affectionately known as the 'Gateway of Wayanad'. Here, temperatures drop noticeably, and swirling clouds of mist frequently envelop the highway, providing a cool welcome to the spice, tea, and coffee plantations of Kalpetta and Sultan Bathery.

Maintained by the Kerala Public Works Department (PWD) and NHAI, Thamarassery Churam features heavy-duty asphalt resurfacing, convex curve mirrors, and high-tensile crash barriers along steep precipices.

Traffic wardens and emergency recovery vehicles are permanently deployed along the ghat section to manage dense weekend tourist traffic and quickly clear stalled freight vehicles.

Hairpin bends 6, 7, and 8 are narrow and steep; heavy buses require the entire turning radius. Never attempt to overtake on hairpin curves.

Brake overheating can occur during the 12-kilometre continuous descent to Adivaram. Shift to second gear and utilize engine braking.

All vehicle categories, from two-wheelers and compact hatchbacks to tourist coaches and commercial supply trucks, traverse Thamarassery Churam daily.

Motorcyclists consider riding up the 9 hairpin curves through misty rainforest canopy one of the premier riding experiences in South India.

No permits or tolls are required to drive through Thamarassery Churam along National Highway 766.

Large commercial multi-axle trailers are occasionally subjected to night-only passage restrictions during heavy holiday travel periods.

Monsoon (June to September) offers dramatic mist, overflowing streams, and lush rainforest beauty. Post-monsoon and winter (October to February) provide clear sunsets, cool breezes, and optimal driving conditions.

Summer (March to May) is pleasant at the summit, offering a refreshing respite from the sultry heat of the Malabar coast.

The Chain Tree (*Changala Maram*) at Lakkidi, where Karinthandan's spirit is enshrined with heavy iron chains, is the iconic cultural stopping point.

Lakkidi View Point at the summit offers sweeping vistas of the 9 hairpin turns and the misty Malabar valley below.

Thamarassery Churam is the vital gateway of the Kozhikode-Wayanad-Mysore Heritage Corridor, connecting the Malabar spice coast with the high plateau of Wayanad and Karnataka.