Chembra Peak – A Trek To The Heart-Shaped Lake

About Chembra Peak

Chembra Peak is a mountain in the Wayanad district of Kerala. It is located at an elevation of 2100 meters above sea level. It is the highest peak in Wayanad and one of the highest in the Western Ghats. The Chembra Peak trek lasts about 4.5 km until you reach the Chembra Peak lake. The shape of the lake is particularly noteworthy for its resemblance to a heart. According to legend, Goddess Sita bathed in this lake, which has never dried up despite the seasons. It’s a beautiful setting, and the hike up to the peak takes you through lush greenery and water bodies in between.

Chembra Peak Trek

The uphill roadway journey begins along the tea plantations as you approach the Chembra peak trek bend. Hills, tea plantations, and a lush green valley surround the entire area. Furthermore, the trek path then leads you through tea plantations and the forest before arriving at the open space with the Chembra Peak view and heart-shaped lake.

Chembra Peak Trekking Tokens and Tickets

Trekking Ticket Information

If you wish to embark on a trek, you must arrive at the Chembra Peak checkpoint by 6.30 am, as only 200 individuals can trek on any given day. Then, you must first register with the personnel, and they will only provide the tokens in groups of 5. If your group is small you can ask fellow trekkers to tag along. Similarly, if the group has extra members, two or more people might join the five-member group for an additional cost. A group of five can trek for 1700 rupees.

And after, you must have the water bottles tagged that you will be carrying on the trek. This is due to the fact that the forest zone is plastic-free, and we should not bring any plastic items that will litter the area. Following that, the staff will issue trek tickets to a group of five people, and we will be able to begin the trek. This entire process will take nearly two hours, which we consider excessive.

Visitor Tickets Information

You can also visit the peak without trekking; the entrance fee for visitors is 30 rupees. Visitors will be permitted up to the second checkpoint, which is 600 m away from the first.

Parking Lot

We can drive another kilometer from the ticket desk to a parking lot, where a spacious parking area for all types of vehicles is available for an additional 50 rupees. Then walk about 300 m to the main checkpoint gate as vehicles are permitted only until the parking lot, from which we can begin our trek.

The Trek to the Summit

Visitor’s viewpoint/Trekkers Base Point

The walking trail is wide until you reach the first checkpoint. A wide hiking trail connects this point to the trek’s base checking point. The entire approach offers views of the tea plantations below as well as the forest and mountains above. Trekkers can continue on after another security check, but visitors cannot.

A small house-like structure with restrooms is present, most likely for shelter. During our visit, there was some bamboo tree construction going on outside the building, which will be snack/tea stalls in the future. There are benches and drinking water available at this time. There will be no more zones further with drinking water, restrooms, or shelter.

Following the base checkpoint, the Chembra peak trek is divided into three stages.

The Passageway through the Woods

To begin, you must travel through the woods on a muddy slope path. Because the climb is not difficult here, you can easily climb in the shade of the trees. There will be no views other than the trees on either side of this zone. Nevertheless, remember that this area will be slick during the rainy season. After you complete this zone, another guard will check your tickets before you continue on. So there will be a total of three guards checking our entry tickets. Then, every 600 m to km, there will be forest guards to keep an eye on the travelers.

The Path through the Savannas

The journey continues on a hilly rock with grasslands on either end. The path here is a narrow and rocky one. The scenery along the way is breathtaking, and you can enjoy it while walking. You’ll get some sunlight along this path, and it won’t be windy, so you might get hot as you climb. You can relax on some of the rock outcrops along the way. This way, you will be less tired and able to enjoy the trekking experience more. There are also a few scenic spots to stop and take photos. Along the trip, there are mini-water bodies, and at one point, taps are connected to offer water as refreshments to trekkers.

After moving along this segment, you will reach a plain area on the mountain. We initially mistook the heart-shaped body of water there for the Chembra peak lake. Later, a nearby guide informed us it was merely a rainwater formation, as the real lake is at the top. To get to the lake, we still had to walk for about 10 minutes on the narrow path. The view of the surrounding area and the nearby mountain is spectacular. The weather will be windy here, but the atmosphere will make the journey worthwhile. You can take some photos here before continuing on to Chembra Peak Lake.

Chembra Peak Lake

To reach the plain on the mountain where Chembra Peak Lake is located, you must climb the narrow hill path once more. There will be another guard here to direct us to the lake. The heart-shaped lake is nestled among the green meadows, with breathtaking valley views. You can walk around the lake to get to the bottom. However, no one is permitted to enter the lake. You can unwind and have some snacks here without littering the place. The view from here is spectacular, and the breeze is an entirely different experience. We are only allowed to walk to the lake’s edge, not all the way to the peak’s summit. According to the guards, elephants would appear along this path in the early morning and at night.

Descending Peak

We started descending the same path after spending some time at the top near Chembra peak lake. When descending, be cautious because the path may be slippery, especially if you are trekking during the rainy season. It will take nearly the same amount of time to climb up and down.

How To Reach Chembra Peak

Travel Tips For Chembra Peak Trek

• Chembra Peak is open from 7 am to 5 pm. There are two ways to visit Chembra Peak: a visitor or a trekker. If you are going as a visitor, you can visit the peak until 4 pm, but if you want to go on a trek, you must arrive by 6.30 am at the latest, as only 200 people are allowed per day.
• The hike to the last point, which is the lake, is about 3.5 km one way. The peak is still 1.5 km from the lake, but the guards will not let you go past the lake point because it is a wildlife area.
• If the weather conditions are favorable, trekking is organized every day. So, consider the weather before embarking on your journey.
• Trekking is a moderately difficult event here.
• The peak does not allow overnight camping so at most, you must descend by 2 pm.
• There will be no shelter along the trek, so bring rain ponchos if visiting during the rainy season. Keep hats and sunglasses on hand in other seasons.
• Washrooms are available at both the ticket counter and the base trek point.
• Bring enough water and snacks, such as energy bars or fruits, to replenish your energy as you approach the summit, but don’t overdo it.
• Read our post on Mullayanagiri Peak for a similar excursion.

Trekking Safety Precautions

• Ensure you’re in good physical condition before starting the trek.
• Stick along the marked trail and stay out of restricted or off-limits areas. Deviating from the path can result in an accident or getting lost. Adhere to the directions of the guards and officials stationed along the route.
• Dress comfortably and wear appropriate hiking shoes. If you don’t prefer shoes, wear slippers with good grips.
• Consider using trekking poles to provide stability and support while climbing. You can also find sturdy logs to use as support while climbing along the way. During our visit, we noticed slashed logs close to the starting point.
• Further, if you visit during the wet season, you may encounter a few leeches, so be cautious.

Our Experience

We hiked to Chembra Peak in October. The weather was perfect for our visit. Fortunately, it did not rain the day we went on our hike, as it did the next day. We were extremely lucky to arrive just a few minutes before the token had run out for the day. Even so, we had to wait nearly two hours before we could begin our journey. Then there was the breathtaking hike to the tranquil heart-shaped lake. We spent nearly a half-day at Chembra Peak, and it was definitely worth it.

Overview

The forest department protects the area and maintains its pristine nature, making it one of the most exotic treks to the peak if you’re looking for a serene nature hike. This is a paradise for hikers, nature lovers, and photographers. The mist-covered mountain view, which almost feels like you can hold it, is one of the most amazing experiences of the trek.