Lakkidi, Wayanad

Lakkidi is a village and rain forest located in a gateway of the Wayanad district of the Indian state of Kerala.

National Highway 766 connects Kozhikode in Kerala with Kollegal in Karnataka via Mysore, creating business opportunities in tourism and agriculture.

[citation needed] Lakkidi is surrounded by a biodiverse environment and unspoiled nature which attracts visitors interested in bird-watching, trekking, and off-roading.

Lakkidi is situated at one of the highest locations in Wayanad, 700 metres (2,300 ft) above mean sea level, above Thamarassery ghat pass.

Many species are found in this bio-reserve park including lion-tailed macaques, flying squirrels, buffalo, babblers, and rare water-birds like Indian Shag (Phalacrocorase fuscicollis), Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger), Little Green Heron (Ardeola striatus), and Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii).

It receives the highest mean annual rainfall in excess of 3000 mm in Wayanad and laterite, forest loamy and brown hydromorphic soil here retains moisture around the year.

PEEP Wayanad, an NGO working there since 2005, organises an annual yatra (walkathon) to commemorate Karinthandan's martyrdom on the second Sunday of March.

As a part of this yatra, essay competitions and sports events are held to encourage tribal youth to join the mainstream.