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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS. GOVERNMENT OF KERALA DISTRICT HAND BOOKS OF KERALA NIEPA DC W a y a n a d D10848 DEPARTMENT OF PIBLIC RELATIONS, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA 31.oniag "S'“»b4 7 -B . S c i ^ 'O f , ....... '•f ^ ^and6< % o^ <^ ‘TCmaCci WAYANAD Department of Public Relations November 1997 Editor-in-chief L. Natarajan LA.S Director of Public Relations Compiled by P. Raj an Dist. Information Officer, Wayanad Editor M. Josephath (Information Officer, Planning & Development) Asst. Editor Xavier Primus Raj an M.R. (Asst. Information Officer, Planning & Development) Cover E. S. Varghese Published by the Director, Department of Public Relations, Govemment of Kei Copies : 10,000 Not for Sale Contents Introduction.................................................................................5 A Short H istory......................................................................... 5 Salient Features......................................................................... 7 Topography.................................................................................9 Climate................................................................................... 10 Rivers......................................................................................11 Flora and F auna..................................................................12 Population........................................................... ..................13 Religion and Customs............................................ ...........15 Socio-economic Conditions............................................17 Administration.....................................................................18 Important T ow n s ..................................................................21 Agriculture........................................................... ................ 21 Irrigation................................................................................24 Animal Husbandry..............................................................24 Co-operation........................................................................ 25 Education...............................................................................26 Employment............................................................................ 29 Health.......................... .............................................................29 Industry..................................................................................... 30 Transport................................................................................... 31 Some Important Institutions............................................... 32 Mass M edia..............................................................................35 A rt...............................................................................................36 Centres of Worship.............................................................. 36 Places o f Tourist Im portance.............................................39 Some Important Telephone Numbers............................ 46 Bare Facts................................................................................. 47 District M ap ............................................................................ 49 FOREWORD The need for a handbook on the districts of Kerala has been felt for some time, especially with the existing ones of the Department getting out of print. With the advancement on the travel, tourism and communication fronts, the demand for updated handbooks on the districts has been on the increase. It is in this context that a new series of district handbooks have been decided upon, by the Department of Public Relations. It is hoped that this book would cater to the requirements of the tourists as well as the general public who seek a hkndy booklet containing basic information about Wayanad district. Suggestions for improvement are welcome. Thiruvananthapuram L* N A T A R A JA N I.A.S. ^'November, 1997 DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS T estled among the mountains of the Western Ghats, lies Wayanad, N one of the lovehest hill stations of Kerala. This green paradise, located at a distance of about 76 kms. from the seashores of Kozhikode, lies at a height of 700 to 2100 m. above sea level, on the north eastern part of the state. The name, Wayanad, is believed to have been derived from the word, Vayalnadu, meaning the land of paddy fields. The present district of Wayanad was carved out, from the parts of Kozhikode and Kannur districts and came into being on 1st November 1980 as the 12th district of Kerala. This backward district is, perhapes one of the biggest foreign exchange earners of the state, thanks to its cash crops of pepper, cardiamom, coffee, tea, spices and other condiments. Most of the reserve forests in the state are in this district. The loamy soil generally show wide variation in depth and texture with a. very high content of organic matter. A large percentage of the population in this region are tribals. The native Adivasis mainly consist of various sects like Paniyas, Kurumas, Adiyars, kurichyas, Ooralis, Kattimaikkans, etc. A SHORT HISTORY Comprising an area of 2126 sq. kilometres, Wayanad has a powerful history. Historians are of the view that organised human life existed in these parts, at least teri centuries before Christ. Countless evidiences about New Stone Age civilisation can be seen on the hills of Wayanad. The two caves of Ampukuthimala located between Sultan Bathery and Ambalavayal, with pictures painted on their walls and pictorial writings, speak volumes of the bygone era and civilisation. Recorded history of this district is available from the 18th century. In ancient times, this land was ruled by the Rajas of the Veda tribe. In later days, Wayanad came under the rule of the Pazhassi Rajahs of Kottayam royal dynasty. When Hyder Ali became the ruler of Mysore, he invaded Wayanad and brought it under Pazhassi Tomb at Mananthuvady - where rests the his sway. In the days mortal remains o f the brave son of Kerala - of Tipu, Wayanad Veer a Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (A.D. 1805) was restored to the Kottayam royal dynasty. But Tipu handed over the entire Malabar region to the British, after the Sreerangapattanam truce, he made with them. This was followed by fierce and internecine encounters between the British and Kerala Varma Pazhassi Rajah of Kottayam. When the Rajah was driven to the wilderness of Wayanad, he organised the war-like Kurichya tribals into a sort of people’s militia and engaged the British in several guerrilla type encounters. In the end, the British could get only the dead body of the Rajah, who killed himself somewhere in the interior of the forest. Thus, Wayanad fell into the hands of the British and with it came a new turn in the history of this area. The British authorities opened up the plateau for cultivation of tea and other cash crops. Roads were laid across the dangerous slopes of Wayanad, from Kozhikode and Thalassery. These roads were extended to the cities of Mysore and Ooty through Gudalur. Through the roads poured in settlers from all parts of Kerala and the virgin forest lands proved a veritable goldmine with incredible yields of cash crops. When the State of Kerala came into being in November 1956, V'ayanaid was part of Kannur district. Later, south Wayanad was added to tozhikode district. In order to fulfil the aspirations of the people of V^ayanad for development, north Wayanad and south Wayanad were arved out and joined together to form the present district of Wayanad. 'his district came into being on November 1,1980 as the 12th district of Lerala. SAIJENT FEATURES The total geographical area and population of Wayanad are 2,126 jp.kius, (2,12,560 heels.) and 6,72,12S respectively, which account for p,4S per cent and 2.31 per cent of the state total. The male and female Populat ion arc 3,41,958 and 3,30,170 respectively. The female -male sex atit) is ‘966 per 1000 males. The density of population is 315 per sq.km. 11991 c^ensus) against 260 in 1981, showing an increase of 21 per cent. The literacy rate in the region is 70.61 per cent. Male literates are |,53,67'9 and females are 2,18,933. Tts geographical position is ieculiair and unique. The difference in !iltitude:sofeach locality within the district presents avariation of climatic conditions. Halure lhasblessed this part of the country beautifully with mist-clad mountains and iiylvan valleys. The idyllic nature of jtVayaniac, its nearness to Jdagannandalam (Ooty) and Mysore with vell-laiid roads to these centres, offer ^temendous tourist potentialities. A visitor may be impressed by [he extensive paddy fields of the district. igi icultture in Wayanad is equally divided €tvvee n paddy and plantation crops, and distant hills - A view fromManikkunnu Hill except coconut. The hills, which are dets) blue in bright sunlight and 1: mist-covered most of the time, juxtapposis with the green of these padc fields. This, infact, is a splendid spectacb. The east flowing rivers of Wayarad are in striking contrast to tl various rivers of the rest of Kerala. The river Kabani of Wayanad isi perennia source of water to Cauveri ThePananararn rivulet, originating I'roi Lakkidi ind the Mananthavady rivulj originatiig from Thondarmudi Peaj m^et six tilometres north of Panamaraj town andafter the confluence, the river’ known a: Kabani. Coffee s ubiquitous in Wayanad. It cultivated in every panchayat, both in tl: form of large plantations and sma holdings The economy of Wayana depends mainly on coffee. In Kerali

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