Chembra Peak, Mountain peak in Wayanad district, Kerala, India

Chembra Peak is a mountain in the Wayanad hills of Kerala, rising to 2,100 m as the highest point in the range. Its upper slopes are covered in short pale grass streaked with exposed rock and eroded gullies, while dense forest covers the lower slopes. A natural heart-shaped lake, the Hridaya Saras, lies midway along the trek from Meppadi.

Wayanad district was carved out of Kozhikode and Kannur on 1 November 1980, and Chembra stands in the hills that define it. Excavations at Kuppakkolli near Edakkal, led by Dr. Raghavan Varrier of the University of Calicut, yielded black-and-red ware and grey cups from swastika-shaped cists, evidence of habitation in these mountains going back some five thousand years.

The heart-shaped lake on the trek route, Hridaya Saras, is believed never to have dried up, and the peak's slopes hold many Neelakurinji plants, the shrub that flowers only in cycles of years. Trekking is permitted only with guides authorised by the forest protection committee, and passes are issued at the Meppadi forest office.

The trek can be completed on foot and passes through varying landscapes where vegetation density changes with the seasons. Plan enough time for the journey and watch weather conditions, particularly during rainy periods when paths can become slippery.

The natural lake at the summit holds water throughout the year despite the region receiving minimal rainfall during dry months. This unexpected feature makes the water basin something visitors do not necessarily anticipate finding at this elevation.