Phantom Rock - Wayanad's Unique Skull-Shaped Viewpoint

Wayanad, KeralaVIEWPOINT

A unique skull-shaped natural rock formation in Wayanad, offering a short trek and panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

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Info

VIEWPOINT

Info

1 hour

Accessibility

Not Wheelchair Friendly

Parking

No Parking

Photography

No Photography

About the Destination

Overview

Phantom Rock, known locally as Cheengeri Mala, is a distinct natural rock formation located in the Ambalavayal area of Wayanad. Its name comes from its uncanny resemblance to a human skull, giving it a unique and somewhat imposing appearance. The site is reached via a short, moderately easy trek up a rocky path, which takes about 10-15 minutes. This walk itself is part of the experience, winding through sparse vegetation and granite boulders.

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Location & Address

Cheengeri Hills, Ambalavayal, Wayanad, Kerala 673593, Ambalavayal, Wayanad, Kerala, India

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Best Time to Visit

The best period to visit Phantom Rock is from September to March. During these post-monsoon and winter months, the weather is cool and pleasant, and the surrounding landscape is lush and green. This makes the short trek comfortable and the views clear. The summer months of April and May can be very hot, while the monsoon season from June to August should be avoided as the heavy rains make the rocky path extremely slippery and hazardous.
Peak Crowd: December-January, weekends, and public holidays due to peak tourist season in Wayanad.
Moderate Crowd: September-November and February-March, especially on weekdays.
Low Crowd: April-May due to heat, and June-August during the heavy monsoon season.

How to Reach

Air

Calicut International Airport (CCJ) is the nearest airport, located approximately 100 km away. From the airport, you can hire a taxi to Wayanad, which takes about 3-4 hours.

Train

The closest major railway station is Kozhikode (Calicut) Railway Station (CLT), about 95 km away. It is well-connected to major Indian cities. Taxis and buses are available from the station to Wayanad.

Road

Wayanad has excellent road connectivity with cities in Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Phantom Rock is located near Ambalavayal town. You can drive or take state-run buses to Kalpetta or Sulthan Bathery and then hire local transport.

Local Transport

From Kalpetta (approx. 16 km) or Sulthan Bathery (approx. 12 km), you can hire a taxi or an auto-rickshaw to reach Phantom Rock. Local buses ply up to Ambalavayal, from where you can take an auto-rickshaw for the final 2.5 km.