Down the ghat
From Kalpetta, the road heads south-west past Vythiri and Lakkidi, then drops down the Thamarassery ghat's nine hairpin bends to Adivaram and Thamarassery, and continues across the plains to Kozhikode. At about 71 km, the drive takes two to three hours with the ghat. Ask for the ghat to be driven in daylight.
Leaving Kalpetta
Estate homes may need goods shuttled in a smaller vehicle to the main road; houses in the town are quickest.
Ghat closures and landslides
The ghat is sometimes closed for repairs, after landslides or when heavy vehicles break down on the bends. In the monsoon, heavy rain raises landslide risk. Check the ghat's status the day before, and keep a back-up date.
Where in Kozhikode
Kozhikode's centre, around Mananchira, SM Street and the beach, is crowded. The Medical College area, Kunnamangalam and the roads towards the NIT and IIM campuses are reached first from the ghat. Tell the mover the exact address.
From cool hills to the humid coast
Kalpetta is cool and misty; Kozhikode is hot and humid. Both get very heavy monsoon rain. Ask for waterproof wrapping and seal electronics against damp.
December to April is usually the most comfortable window.
Jobs, colleges and hospitals
Kozhikode's hospitals, colleges, NIT, IIM and markets draw many families from Wayanad. If an employer is paying, ask what documents they need; every mover we work with provides a GST invoice.
Festival dates
Onam, Eid, Christmas and the tourist weeks in Wayanad keep crews busy. Choose a date clear of these if you can.
Packing for hairpins
Hairpin bends shift a load. Ask for heavy items low and tied, glass packed separately, and wooden furniture wrapped in blankets.
Apartments in Kozhikode
Newer apartment blocks ask for notice of a move, set loading hours and need a lift booking. Ask the association a week ahead; our guide to society NOCs and lift bookings explains what to ask.
Coffee and spices
If you're moving coffee, pepper or other estate produce, keep it on a separate list and decide whether it should go on a second trip.
Lakkidi and Vythiri
Lakkidi, at the top of the ghat, has a viewpoint over the valley, and Vythiri nearby has resorts. Tourist traffic stops along this stretch on weekends.
Thamarassery town
Thamarassery, at the foot of the ghat, is a busy market town where trucks rest before or after the climb.
Kozhikode's Gulf links
Many Kozhikode and Wayanad families have members working in the Gulf, and moves are sometimes arranged from abroad. Agree in writing who will receive the goods in Kozhikode.
Settling in
Ask about water timings and power backup, and book internet as soon as you have the address. Malayalam is spoken at both ends. Our guide to address changes after moving lists the records to update.