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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS. GOVERNMENT OF DISTRICT HAND BOOKS OF KERALA

NIEPA DC

W a y a n a d D10848

DEPARTMENT OF PIBLIC RELATIONS, 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 .

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 , 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 , 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 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 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 and , 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 royal dynasty. When became the ruler of , 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 (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 . These roads were extended to the cities of Mysore and 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 . 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 . 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 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 coffee is cultivated in an area of 75,05 hects. wi:h Wayanad district having th highest aiea of66,999 hectares. Pepper; grown asan additional crop on trees th? Meenmutty waterfall - cool, beautiful, wild and exhilerating ! are grooried to give shade to the coffe shrubs, [n area, there ar exclusive pepper gardens. Tea is cultivated in large estates.

Wayanad has the highest concentration of . The form 17.1% of the total population of ;he district. The aborigines c Wayanad have a great political tradition. This area was orginally reigne by the Rajahs of the Veda tribe. Later, political authority came to th Pazhassi Rajahs of Kottayam royal dynasty.

The Kurichyas of Wayanad have a great martial tradition. The constituted the army of Pazhassi Veera Kerala Varma Rajah who engage the British forces in several battles. The descendants of those warriors ar still expert arcier;. The excellence of Kurichya archery has been exhibited recenly,at various centres.

W''ayanid las an agricultural economy and it has no major industry to boast ol Heavy industry will probably tilt the ecological and demograplhic bilaice adversely. The idyllic nature of this district, togetiher with ib' olourful tribal life and brazing climate, will make tourism paiy rid. diidends.

Developm«ital activities are bringing about a change in the poor f n a in ’ .'S quaility cf Ife. Through the co-Qperatlve sector, Adivasis are provided with a bitter deal in the economic life. There are 324 co­ operative iinstitutiois. Of this, 40 SC-ST service co-operative societies cater to their farm aid market requirements. Besides, there are three co­ operative colleclivtfarms including the famous Sugandhagiri Project. A lab-oar coatract co-)perative society for the benefit of Adivasis is also functiioning here.

A notable fature of life in Wayanad is that it is touched to its very roots by the operatim of the nationalised, commercial and co-operative banks. The branche of these banks located in the remote areas of the district have a busy*:ime during the marketing time of cash crops.

TOPOGRAPHY

Wayanad lis between north latitude 11° 27' and 15° 58' and east longitiude 75° 47' ari 70° 27'. It is bounded on the east by Nilgiris and Mysore districts of’’amilnadu and respectively, on the north by Coorg district ofCamataka, on the south by district and on the west by Kozikode and Kannur districts.

Placed on tb southern tip of the , its prime glory is the majestic Wstern Ghats with lofty ridges interspersed with rnagni ficerit forests,angled jungles and deep valleys. In the centre of the district, hills are lov^r in height, while the northern area has high hills and they give a wil’ and mountainous appearance. Some of the major peaks are , Banasura, , Chembra, etc. ranging from 1,500 mts. to 2,100 mts. height.

The eastern area is flat and open. Due to the peculiar terrain, there are east flowing and west flowing rivers. The low hills are full of plantations like tea, coffee, pepper and while the valleys have a predominance of paddy fields.

The altitude of Wayanad varies from 700 to 2,100 metres from sea level. The hill ranges of taluk, through which the road from Kozhikode ascends the Wayanad plateau over mind-boggling bends and ridges, are the highest locations. From the highest altitude of the on the western border of the district, the plateau of Wayanad gradually slopes down eastward. Further from Mananthavady, it becomes a common plain of paddy fields with the swift flowing Kabani coursing through it.

Elsewhere, Wayanad offers a panorama of undulating hills and dales which are converted into paddy fields. The hills which might have been thick forests once, are now plantations of coffee, tea or cardamom. There is a lushy luxuriant green all round. On a clear day from the river bed of Kabani, Wayanad will seem to be a fairy land with the deep blue mountains juxtapposed with the less blue sky and white vagrant wads of cottonwool like clouds amidst them.

The soil of Wayanad district is mainly of the forest type. It promotes a lushy luxuriant growth of vegetation which makes Wayanad clothed in uniform greenery. This district has 787 ha. under forests.

CLIMATE

Wayanad has a salubrious climate. The mean average rain fall in this district is 2322 m.m.. Lakkidy, Vythiri and are the high rainfall areas in Wayanad. Annual rain fall in these high rain fall areas ranges from 3,000 to 4,000 m.m.. High velocity winds are common during the south west monsoon and dry winds blow in March-April. High altitude regions experience severe cold. In Wayanad (Ambalavayal) the mean maximum aid minimum temperature for the last five years were 29°C and 18°C respecively. This place experiences a high relative humidity which goes even u) to 95 per cent during the south west monsoon period.

Gererally, the year is classified into four seasons, namely, cold weather (Dccember-Febmaiy), hot weather (March-May), south west monsoon (Juie-September) and north east monsoon (October-November).

Thedale, ‘Lakkidi’, nestled among the hills of Vythiri taluk has the highest everage rainfall in Kerala. The average lam fall ii\ Wayaivad is 300 tmii. p^r year. There is a decreasing trend in rainfall in this area. The average rainfall data shows that the lowest rain fall received from north­ east inonsom, is in Wayanad district.

RIVERS

K ab a n i river, one of he three east flowing ’ivers of Kerala, s an important tributary of the river Ciuvery. Kabani aid its tributaries constitute a pow^erfu river system in tie land scape of Wajanad. Pookot lake - llie rivulet, one uj (he main tributaries o f the Kabani river, takes its origin from the Pookot lake. Pananaram rivulet takes i'5 origin from the perennial lake called, ‘Pookodu lake’. It flows swiftly through mountain gages and joined by other streams, tumbles down into Panamaram '^alley. Six kilometres further from Panamaram, this river joins with the Mananthavady ri\oilet, originating from the lower regions of the peak Thondarmudi’. From this confluence onwards, the river is known as Kabani, a mighty, perennial river which after entering Karnataka State, joins with the river Cauvery. Almost entire Wayanad is drained by the Kabani river and its tributaries, namely, Panamaram river, Mananthavady river and Thirunelli river.

FLORA AND FAUNA

The florae of Wayanad are characteristic of the Western Ghats and the plantation crops grown in the cool climate. A major portion of the district is covered by coffee. Trees of the wild type like rose-wood, anjili ( A r 10 c a r p u s ), rti u 11 u rn u r i k k u (Erthrina), several species of caussia and many other non­ descript varieties are still preserved here and there, to give shade to the coffee plants. These trees Silver oak being grown amidst tea. This, apart from give a sembalance of providing shade to the plantation crop, supports the wilderness to the pepper vines and matures fast into raw material for the landscape of plywood industry. Wayanad. In a majority of coffee plantations, the age-old species are replaced by the silver-oak which is suited to the cold climate. This tree grows quickly and its cultivation is widespread among coffee plantations for shade and for giving support to pepper. It is used for the plywood industry and thus is economical to the farmers. Eucalyptus grandis, a shorter variety of eucalyptus ,whose fragrant smell suffuses the very air around it, is cultivated on a large scale in certain parts of the district. Eucalyptus oil is extracted on commercial basis from its leaves. Of the 20,864 hectares of reserve forest, the major portion is teak plantation. Arecanut palms and jacktrees are also grown here. Tea is grown as an industry in large estates.

The soil and climate of Wayanad are suitable for horiculture on commercial bass. For promoting the cultivation of vegetables and raising of orchards, th: Kerala Agricultural University is running a Regional Agricultural Research Station at Ambalavayal.

With the clearing of forests, the diverse and buzzling animal life, characteristic cf the forests of Western Ghats, has vanished from W^ayanad One can still see the bonnet monkeys, loris, mongooses, jungle cats, squirrels, jackals, hares, etc. in the limited forest areas.

EJephait, bear and other wild animals from the neighbouring wild life sanctuiries of Karnataka and , stray into the Bcgur fores;t range and the forests around Muthanga, which is 20 kilometres away from the t3wn of Sulthan Bathery.

POPULATION The population of the district, according to 1991 census, is 6,72,128 ofvhichmale population is 3,41,958 and female 3,30,170. The density of p)piilation is 316.2 per sq. kilometre. The population of scheduled tribes is 1,14,969 and that of scheduled caste is 27,835.

Striciy speaking, there is no urban population in Wayanad. However, life in Sulthan Bathery, Mananthavady and is in the process of ganir.g urban status. The decadal growth rate in the population of Wayanad ivas 59.17 per cent in 1941-51,62.60 per cent in 1951-61, 50 ,35 per cen; in 1961 -71 and 33.71 per cent in 1971 -81. In the first three decades of ths century, the growth of population in Wayanad was less than ten per cent.

This jhows that there was an influx of settlers to Wayanad after the Second Vorld War. The economic slump, difficulties and miseries creep ing as a Jesuit of war into the life of common people, compelled them to seek ‘pastires anew’ on the virgin soil of Wayanad from all parts of Keral aand Kanataka. In the first year of settlement, thousands succumbed to malaria ant the attack of wild animals. Those who survived these and the cold condtions, cleared the forests and transformed Wayanad into a paradise of posperity. Total number of workers in the district is 2,27,453. Out of them 53,773 are females. There are 40,729 cultivators of which the male numbers 36,063 and females 4,666. Total number of labourers are 74,813 of which 26,907 are females.

Population Figures - 1991

Pancliayat/ Area Population Municipality sq.knis. Males Females Total Density

1. Meppadi 198.65 28,345 28,185 56,530 284.6 2. Vythiri 47.83 7,202 7,257 14,459 302.3 3. 71.30 8,079 8,150 16,229 227.6 4. 31.75 7,248 7,246 14,494 456.5 5. 71.17 5,200 5,036 10,236 143.8 6. Padiiiyarethara 55.18 10,820 10,578 21,398 387.8 7. 21.16 4,550 4,564 9,114 430.7 8. Muttil 47.37 13,586 13,181 26,767 565.1 9. Kaniyampatta 37.80 12,456 11,963 24,419 646.0 10.Ambalavayal 60.65 15,281 15,161 30,442 501.9 11. 242.97 11,806 11,345 23,151 95.3 12.SulthanBatheiy 103.22 18,034 17,000 35,034 339.4 13. 53.52 14,829 13,744 28,573 533.9 H. 82.88 18,805 17,739 36,544 440.9 15.Pulpally 77.70 15,912 14,123 30,035 386.6 16. 69.38 18,448 18,597 37,045 533.9 n.Mullankolli 71.58 15,534 13,337 28,871 403.3 18. Panamarara 80.90 18,738 18,077 36,815 455.1 19.Vellamunda 64.54 15,410 15,088 30,498 472.5 20.Edavaka 47.26 12,494 12,252 24,746 523.6 21.Mananthavady 80.10 19,076 18,760 37,836 472.4 22. Thirunelli 201.16 11,910 11,619 23,529 117.0 23.Thavinjal 142.30 16,518 16,257 32,775 230.3 24.Thondamad 131.15 9,893 9,746 19,639 149.7 25.Kalpetta(M) 34.14 11,784 11,165 22,949 672.2 Total 2,125.66 3,41,958 3,30,170 6,72,128 316.2 Populatiol - Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Scheduled Castes Schefiuled Tribes Si. Panchmyat Males Females Total % of the Males Female:; Total % of the No. Municipalil' total popu­ total popu­ lation of the lation of the panchayat panchayat 1. Meppadi 2,379 2,329 4,708 8.33 1,933 1,925 3,858 6.82 2. Vytihiri 1,084 1,036 2,120 14.66 334 318 652 4.51 3. Pozliuthani 613 586 1,119 7.39 1,411 1,494 2,905 17.90 4. K-Ottathara 242 228 470 3.24 1,918 1,959 3,877 26.75 5. Thajriyode 95 115 210 2.05 1,144 1,144 2,288 22.35 6. Fadjnjaretliira 606 622 1228 5.74 1,234 1,259 2,493 11.65 7. VengappalV 154 155 309 3.39 1,156 1,109 2,265 24.85 8. Muttil 466 433 899 3.36 1,947 2,015 3,962 14.80 9. Kaniyampata 356 326 682 2.79 2,593 2,598 5,191 21.26 10. Ambalavayil 442 393 835 2.74 2,250 2,312 4,562 14,99 11. Noolpuzha 469 460 929 4.01 4,488 4,444 8,932 38.58 12. Sulthan Batiery 880 874 1754 5.01 2,114 2,061 4,175 11.92 13. Meenangad 419 374 793 2.78 3,105 3,040 6,145 21,51 14. Poothadi 468 435 903 2.47 3,356 3,220 6,576 17.99 15. Pulpally 489 426 915 3.05 2,623 2,701 5,324 17.73 16. Nenmeni 802 775 1577 4.26 2,987 3,194 6,181 16.69 17. Mullankolli 793 735 1528 5.29 1,202 1,112 2,314 8.01 18. Panamaram 506 501 1007 2.74 4,224 4,306 8,530 23.17 19. Vellamunda 274 271 545 1.79 2,369 2,398 4,767 15.63 20. Edavaka 118 110 228 0.92 1,804 1,825 3,629 14.66 21. Mananthavaiy 694 680 1374 3.63 2,678 2,836 5514 14.57 22. riiiainelli 230 209 439 1.87 4,623 4,530 9,153 38.90 23. Thavinjal 632 634 1266 3.86 2,809 2,730 5,539 16.90 24. T'hondamad 224 245 469 2.39 1,874 1,837 3,711 18.90 25. Kalpetta (M; 757 691 1448 6.31 1,210 1,216 2,426 10.57 Total 14,192 13,643 27,835 4.14 57,386 57,583 1,14,969 17.10

RELIGION AND CUSTOMS

No religion can be said to be predominant in this district. The di fferent religious groups of the state are more or less equally represented. A characteristic aspect of Wayanad is a large population. Though they are in the Hindu fold, primitive forms of worship still prevail among them. Ancestral worship and offerings to propitiate the spirits of ancestors are still prevalent. Two deities commonly worshipped by the Adivasis are Thampunitty and Vettakkonimakan. They also worship the Hindu gods of various temples in the district. Adivasis do not have any temple of their own. Paniyar, Acliyan, Kurichyar, Kunimar, Kattunaikkar, Kadan and Oorali are the different aboriginal tribes of Wayanad. The Kurichyar are the most developed among them. They are small landowners, whereas the members of other tribes are mostly labourers.

Some of the centuries old temples and their Brahmin settlements suggest the earliest attempts that were made to bring the Adivasis under the Hindu religious fold. The Thirunelli and Valliyoorkavu temples which are known outside Wayanad as the temples of Adivasis, are in fact run by Hindu settlers with the help of Brahmin priests. Adivasis are allowed to worship and participate in the festivals of these temples. More than anything else, the myths woven around the temples including the one about , ’s consort and her two sons Leva and Kusa, have drawn the aboriginal mind to the Hindu system of belief

Wayanad has a small Jain community consisting of the Gounders who came from Karnataka. They have built beautiful temples all over the district.

Almost all sections of Christianity are well-represented. The Syrian Catholics have their Bishop’s house at Sulthan Bathery and the Roman Catholics have their own at Mananthavady. The Bishop’s house of the Jacobite Syrian Church is at Meenangadi. One fourth of the population of Wayanad is constituted by Christians. They are the largest religious group in Wayanad. A section of Kurichyas of Mananthavady has been converted to Christianity.

Muslims constitute another one fourth of the population. They are Moplas who came fromMalappuram and Kozhikode districts. A large number of them are labourers. Muslim women labourers are a usual sight here. oldifferent castes like , Thiyyas, etc. who settled here from different }, form the rest of the population.

SOCIO ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

The totil number of households in this district is 1,34,654 and there are 1,33, 65 houses. Unlike other districts, only 83-86 per cent of the total holdings come under the holding size between 0.02 to 1.00 ha. ' Phis is because »f the larger number of plantation crop holdings in the high ranges. The holling size between 2.0 and 10 hectares existing in Wayanad disUict is 1.% ptr cent (90H2 ha). Number of families without houses are 28,204 and out of this, 11,329 are even without house sites. Families below the pove ty line will come to about 63,144 and out of them 5,023 belong to scheculed castes and 11,238, to scheduled tribes.

The errployment status of the people as per the 1991 census are given below.

Categtry Males Females Total Workers 1,68,680 58,773 2,27,453 Cultivators 36,063 4,666 40,729 Agri-labourers 47,906 26,907 74,813 Livestock, etc. ictivities 37,972 16,708 54,680 Mining and Quirrying 907 302 1,209 Manufacturing (household indistries) 762 322 1,084 Manufacturing other than hous'ehold induitries) 5,957 816 6,773 Constructions 3,528 331 3,859 Trade and Comnerce 15,801 763 16,564 Transport, etc. 5,551 118 5,669 Marginal worlcrs 13,377 19684 33,061 r’armers 22,928 Small farmers 15,711 Marginal farme s 10,282 Rural artisans 4,841 Others 14,233 7,840 22,073 Non-workers 1,59,901 2,51,713 4,11,614

As per the latest figures, the number of uneducated-unemployed persons in the district is 2,440. Though educated upto 10th standard, 33,558 persons are still jobless. The number of persons who are educated above 10th standard, but still unemployed, u 32,803. The number of skilled unemployed is 1,056 and unskilled unemployed, 787.

ADMINISTRATION

For the purpose of revenue administration, the district is divided into three taluks, namely, Sulthan Bathery, VyJiiri and Mananthavady. There are six firkas and 49 villages under thsse taluks. There is one revenue division and that is Mananthavady. The details are given below.

Name of Taluk Name of Firka Name of Village with Telephone No. 1. Sulthan Bathery 1. Bathery 1. Nermieni 620296 2. Ambalavayal 3. Sulthan Bathery 4. 5. Noolppuzha 6. 7. 8. Cheenal

2. Pulpally 9. 10. Poothadi 11. Pulpally 12. 13. 14. Krishnagiri 15. Name o f Taluk Name of Firka ' Name of Village with Telephone No. 2. Vythiri 3. Vythiri 1 6 Kunnathidayaka 655229 17. Achuranam 18., Thariyode 19. Kottathara 20. Kuppadithar^ 21. Padinjarethara 11. Chundel 23. Vengappally 24. Kavumandam 25. Pozhuthana 4. Kalpetta 26. Kaniyampatta 27. Muttil North 28. Muttil South 29. Kottappadi 30. Kalpetta 31. Muppayinad , .32. Vellinimala 33. Thrukkaipatta 3. Mananthavady 5. Mananthavady 34. 540231 35. Purumiamioor 36. Nalloomad 37. Mananthavady 38. Thirunelli 39. Thrishileni 40. Payyampalli 41. Cherukattpor 42. Panamaram 6. Perya 43. Perya 44. Thondamad 45. Vellamunda 46. Thavinjal 47. Edava 48. Valad 49. Kanjirangad Kalpetta is the headquarters of the Wayanad district administration. The collectorate functions at the Civil Station here.

District Panchayat

The Wayanad district panchayat office functions at the Civil Station at Kalpetta. There are three block panchayats and 24 grama panchayats. Their details with telephone numbers are given below.

Block Telephone Grama Telephone Panchayat No. Panchayat No. 1. Mananthavady 640298 1. Mananthavady 540253 2. Vellamunda 530325 3. Thirunelli 550453 4. Thondamad 535235 5. Edavaka 540366 6. Thavinjal 556236 7. Panamaram 520772

2. Sulthan Bathery 620202 8. Meenangadi 647236 9. Nenmeni 620310 10. Ambalavayal 640423 11. Poothadi 681522 12. Sulthan Bathery 620240 13. Noolpuzha 665635 14. Mullankolli 640273 15. Pulpally 640221

3. Kalpetta 602265 16. Kottathara 686644 17. Vengapally 602481 18. Vythiri 655223 19. Muttil 602418 20. Pozhuthana 655251 21. Thariyode 650435 22. Padinjarethara 693419 23. Meppadi 682422 24. Kaniyampatta 686693

20 IMPORTANT TOWNS

Kalpetta

Kalpetta, the headquarters of Wayanad, is the only municipality in the diistrict. It is 72 kms. north east of Kozhikode and is well connected by roads to all important places like Mysore, Ooty, etc. A rest house and various hotels are there, in this town.

Sulthan Bathery

Sulthan Bathery is one of the earliest settlements in Wayanad. It is located 25 kms. north east of Kalpetta. The guest house of the Department of Tourism and a motel Aram of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation are the places available for halt.

Mananthavady

Mananthavady, the revenue divisional and taluk headquarters, is situated 32 kms. north east of Kalpetta. There is a forest bunglow here. This town is connected by roads to Mysore via Bavali, Coorg via Tho-lpetty, Thalassery via Periya and Kozhikode via Kalpetta.

V^ythiri

^'ythiri, the taluk headquarters, is an important place on the Kozhikode-Mysore road. It is 11 kms. south of Kalpetta.

Meppadi

Meppadi, at a distance of 10 kms. east of Kalpetta, is an important place on the Kozhikode-Ooty State highway.

AGRICULTURE

This high altitude district is characterised by the cultivation of perennia. plantation crops and spices. The major plantation crops include coffee, tea, pepper, cardamom and rubber. Coffee based farming system is a notable feature oi Wayanad. Coffee is grown both as pure crop and as a mixed crop along with pcj5pbf. Pepper is Cardamom - one of the major crop of the district. grown largely along with coffee in the north eastern parts of the district, especially inPulpally and Mullankolli areas. Coffee in Wayanad (66,999 ha,) shares 33.65 per cent of the total cropped area in the district and 78 per cent of the coffee area in the state. Other major crops are rubber (63,015 ha.), coconut (59,452 ha.), cardamom (38,348 ha.), tea (31,792 ha.) cassava and ginger. A recent increase in the a!rea undef coconut cultivation is noticed in the lower elevations. Paddy is cultivated in 22^772 hectares of land. The rice fields of Wayanad are in the valleys formed by hillocks and in majority of paddy lands, only a single crop is harvested. Ginger cultivation in Wayanad has also substantially increased in recent times and the ginger produced is mainly marketed in the form of green ginger. Homestead farming assumes importance in this? district. The average size of holdings are 0.68 ha. A variety of crops including annuals and perennials are grown in these small holdings. The crops include coconut, arecanut, pepper, vegetaj3les, tubet crops, drumstick, papaya, etc. and fruit trees like mango and jack. The crop pattems/qrpp combinations prevelant in this district are not based on any scientific norms. Therefore scientific cropping patterns suitable for the agro-ecological .si^uatign is,tp be recommended.

Marketing of Agricultural Produce The marketing of coffee was fully regulated by the Coffee B oard till 1992 and the entire coffee grown in the district had to be pooled to the Board. But in the Coffee Policy of 1995-96, the Government exempted small scale growers possessing land less than 10 hectares from the obligation ofpooling. Those growers with more than 10 hectares of coffee plantation were obliged to provide 60 per cent of their produces to the Coffee Board. But Government of recently announced the abolition of the pooling system for coffee altogether from 14th September 1996 and coffee growers are now free to market either in the domestic market or export.

Pepper is marketed mainly as dried berries. The different agencies engaged in the marketing of the produce are hill produce tnerchants, marketing societies, commission agents and exporters. Being an export oriented commodity, pepper prices show frequent fluctuations depending on the international prices prevailing for the commodity from time to lime. Ginger is mainly marketed as green ginger. Cardamom is sold at auction centres. The traders are licensed by the Spices Board and they participate in the different marketing centres for auction. Rubber is a controlled commodity and is mainly rnarketed in the form of smoked rubber sheets. A large number of private dealers as well as the primary rubber marketing societies under the Rubber Marketing Federation, operate at the village level for the purchase and sale of the commodity.

Wayanad has 25 agricultural units known as krishi bhavans. Each unit is under the charge of an Agricultural Officer and 2 or 3 Agricultural Assistants. There is also a farm of the Tribal Development Department known as Cheengeri Extension Scheme, Ambalavayal and it is managed by the Agricultural Department The office of the Principal Agricultural Officer is located at Kalpetta with six Deputy Directors, 2 Assistant Directors, 1 Technical Assistant and 1 Principal Agricultrual Officer (Joint Director of Agriculture) who co-ordinates the schemes executed in the district by the Department of Agriculture.

There are also three block level offices, each headed by one Assistant Director of Agriculture to co-ordinate the schemes being implemented in their respective blocks. IRRIGATION

There are no major irrigation projects in this district. The areas now irrigated in Wayanad come under minor irrigation. Three projects are in various stages of implementation. Of the three, Karapuzha Irrigation Project, proposed on Kabani river, is expected to serve a gross ayacut areaof9,300ha.B anasura S agar Proj ect proposed to be constructed across Choornipuzha, a tributary of Panamaram river, is also expected to serve a gross ayacut area of 4,800 ha.

Karapuzha Project

Karapuzha Project is the first irrigation project taken up in Wayanad district. This is purely an irrigation project. Wayanad with an average elevation of 780m. above sea level, lying on the eastern slope of Western Ghats, is inhabited by several hill tribes and settlers from different parts of the state. Bulk of the population is rural and is engaged in agricultural activities. With a view to irrigate more and more area under paddy cultivation for overcoming the deficiency in food grain production, the possibilties of implementing a few irrigation projects had been investigated in Wayanad area, out of which the Karapuzha project was found to be the most feasible and taken up for execution during the 5th five year plan. The project envisages the construction of an earthern dam, 28 metres high with its spillway at right flank and a canal system consisting of right and left bank canals, to irrigate a total area of 5,221 hectares (net) of land in 13 villages in the district. The project was cleared by the Planning Commission for Rs. 760 lakhs based on 1976 SOR. The revised cost ofthe project is Rs. 125 crores.

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY Animal husbandry has considerable scope for development in this district. Though its potential has not been properly exploited, it is one of the sectors capable of bringing about speedy economic and sacial transformation in the rural areas. The predominance of forests and grass lands is congenial for the development of cattle wealth. Commercial poultry rearing as a subsidiary occupation has immense scope for increasing the farm income of the mral people. The livestock in the district, as per the livestock census of 1987, are given below.

Category Nos. Buffaloes 24,651 Cattle 1,77,316 Ducks 2,659 Fowls 4,24,975 Goats 32,421 Pigs 4,642 Sheep 148

The district has sixteen veterinary dispensaries and 51 artificial insemination centres.

Dairy

There are 49 milk co-operative societies in this district, out of which 29 are functioning in the model of Anand. The production of milk in Wayanad for 1993-94 is 18,520 tonnes. Poothadi produces maximum milk. Then come Ambalavayal and Mullankolli. Pozhuthana produces the least.

CO-OPERATION

The co-operative movement is giving a fillip to development in the district. There are 324 co-operative institutions. There is a District Co­ operative Bank, a Co-operative Urban Bank, 27 service co-operative banks and a Land Mortgage Bank. There is one farmers’ co-operative bank at Mananthavady.

There are forty SC-ST co-operative societies and 38 agricultural marketing societies. There are eight co-operative housing societies, three co-operative collective farms, 39 labour contract societies and nineteen consumer stores. Twenty employees' co-operative societies and 73 school/ college stores are there in the district. There are also 19 consumer stores, nine poultry farming co-operative societies, three co-operative hospitals, four co-operative colleges, nine women co-operative societies and a service co-operative society for the physically handicaped.

Mananthavady Tribal Plantations Co-operative Ltd (Priyadarsini Tea Estate), which is engaged in tea production and marketing. South Wayanad Joint Farming Co-operative Society (Sugandhagiri Cardamom Project) which is concentrated in cardamom production and distribution and Wayanad Coffee Marketing Co-operative Society (coffee marketing) are the three successful institutions in the co-operative sector.

EDUCATION

There are at present 266 schools (126 lower primary, 77 upper primary and 53 high schools) in Wayanad district. Five vocational higher secondary schools, two higher secondary schools and three teacher training institutes are there under the Department of Education. There are a residential upper primary school for scheduled castes at Muthanga and a residential high school at Nallurnad. Out of 1,38,339 students studying in these schools, 69, 944 are boys and 68,395 are girls. There are 7,686 scheduled caste and 22,447 scheduled tribe students .

In Wayanad 2,591 people share a school against the state average of 2,381 people per school and this district has one school for every 8.075 kms. against the state average of one school per 3.2 kms. The average number of students in this district per school is 532 against the state average of around 481.

Wayanad is a single education district with one Deputy Director, one District Educational Officer and three Assistant Educational Officers. It has also a District Institute of Education and Training, located at Sulthan Bathery. In order to improve the quality of education, the district has been brought under the special scheiie of District Primaiy Education Project, funded by the World Bank.

Post School Education Out of the six collegesin the district, only one has the status of a first grade college with post griduate courses and science subjects. The proposed graduate programm? in Tourism at Pazhassi Raja college, Pulpally, is the only one of its kind in the state. The only polytechnic is at Meenangadi. The Ambalavayal Research Centre is a notable institution under the Kerala Agricultural University, The B.Ed Centre atlCaniampatta is also a feather in the cap of the educational sector of this district.

Tribal Education 1 he education of tribals is still a big problem. In spite of a lot of efforts, they have not yet been brought to the main stream. Many are admitted to schools, but they do not remain. The only consolation is the two schools - Rajiv Gandhi Residential School at Muthanga and Dr. Ambedkar Residential school at Nallurnad, near Mananthavady - set apart for the education of tribal children. Both these have better facilities and are well run.

Educational Institutions

Govt. Private Total Categoiy Aided Unaided 1. LP Schools 68 52 6 126 2. UP Schools 36 39 2 77 3. High Schools 30 20 2 52 4. Higher Secondar>^ School 1 1 - 2 5. Vocational Higher Secondary Schools 4 1 5 6. ITI 1 - - 1 7. Polytechnic 1 - - 1 8. Technical High Schools 2 - - 2 9. Colleges 2 4 - 6 10. B.Ed. Centre 1 - - 1 11. TTl 2 1 - 3 12. DIET 1 - - 1 13. Anganvadis 495 - - 495

Literacy

The literacy rate in Wayanad is 70.61 per cent as per 1991 census and was only 57.33 in 1981. Thus there is an appreciable growth in the literacy rate in a decade. This is still below the state average of 89.81 per cent. Among the panchayats and municipality, MuIIankolli has the highest rate of 77.11 followed by Vythiri, 75.71 per cent and Edavaka, 73.7 per cent.

Literates (as per the 1991 census)

SI. Name of Males Females Total % No. Panchayats 1. Meppadi 21,190 18,442 39,632 70.11 2. Vythiri 5,783 5,164 10,947 75.71 3. Pozhuthana 5,951 5,225 11,176 68.86 4. Kottathara 5,507 4,720 10,227 70.56 5. Thariyode 3,940 3,471 7,411 72.40 6. Padinjarethara 8,096 6,786 14,882 69.55 7. Vengappally 3,346 2,990 6,336 69.52 8. Muttil 10,313 8,879 19,192 71.70 9. Kaniampatta 9,224 7,808 17,032 69.75 10. Ambalavayal 11,750 10,526 22,276 73.18 11. Noolpuzha 7,904 6,453 14,357 62.01 12. Sulthan Bathery 13,534 11,562 25,096 71.63 13. Meenangadi 11,411 9,438 20,849 72.97

28 14. Poothadi 14,315 12,510 26,825 73.40 15. Pulpally 12,060 9,592 21,652 72.09 16. Nenmeni 14,028 12,701 26,729 72.15 17. Mullankolli 12,343 9,919 22,262 77.11 18. Panamaram 13,278 10,869 24,147 65.59 19. Vellamunda 11,315 9,279 20,594 67.53 20. Edavaka 9,684 8,554 18,238 73.70 21. Mananthavady 14,483 13,334 27,817 73.52 22. Thirunelli 7,512 6,134 13,646 58.00 23. Thavinjal 12,218 10,692 22,910 69.90 24. Thondamad 7,488 6,344 13,832 70.43 25. Kalpetta (M) 9,006 7,541 16,547 72.10 Total 2,55,679 2,18,933 4,74,612 70.61

EMPLOYMENT

The Wayanad district employmentexchange flmctions at Kalpetta. Two town employment exchanges also are functioning at Manaathavady and Sulthan Bathery. A mobile employment exchange functions under the Integrated Tribal Development Project, specially for the scheduled tribes. District employment exchange has a unit for career guidance and another for self employment schemes. 61,861 job seekers have registered upto March ’96. Out of this, 30,197 are women, 3,163 are scheduled castes, 5,447 are scheduled tribes and 426 are physically handicapped.

HEALTH

Wayanad district administration is aware of the varied health problems of the people, especially ofadivasis. With the supportof various governmental agencies, including tribal and health departments, a health action plan has already been implemented. As a result, the Wayanad Health Project, situated at Nallumad with a speciality hospital, has been providing facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of major tribal diseases. In addition, a district hospital and aT.B. centre at Mananthavady are also giving special attention to the patients suffering from tuberculosis. As per the proposal of ‘KIRTADS’, the state Government have started a centre for tribal medicine at the hamlet of .

Sickle cell anaemia, a genetic illness, is generally found among some tribal communities like the Kuruma, Paniya and Wayanadan Chetty. Cases of tuberculosis affected tribals are also being reported from some parts of the district. Anaemia and Vitamin-A deficiencies are common among tribal children who are malnourished.

Absence of sanitary latrines, non-availability of good drinking water, ill ventilated and crowded houses, ignorance about modem medicine and methods of treatment are some of the problems responsible fox deteriorating their health.

The details of medical facilities in the district are as below .

Institutions Govt. Pvt. Total

Allopathy 1. Hospitals 4 60 64 2. Primary Health Centres 29 29 3. T.B. Centre 1 - 1 Avurveda QSM) 1. Hospitals 2 2 2- Dispensaries 18 18 Homoeopathy 1. Hospital 1 - 1 2. Dispensaries 12 - 12

On the average, there is one doctor for every 6,055 people in the district.

INDUSTRY

The important industrial ventures in the district are the coffee and tea processing units in the big estates. Mananthavady has the maximura number of small scale industries. Category-wise distribution of small scale industries shows that there are 349 food products manufacturing units, 107 chemical units, 10 leather based units, 5 hosiery units and 1,310 other type of units. Thavinjal does not have any small scale unit.

There are 41 industrial co­ A tea processing unit. operative societies. Poothadi has the maximum number and three panchayats do not have any industrial co-operative societies at all. Under private sector, a mechanical watch assembling unit started at Kalpetta is running profitably. Other important industrial units started recently and proved to be viable are one soap unit having an investment of Rs.59 lakhs at Sulthan Bathery, a biscuit unit at Ambalavayal, a diamond cutting unit at Kamblakkad (providing employment to more than 100 labourers), a dozen cement hollow brick units, two offset presses, one plastic waste recycling unit at Ambalavayal, one barbed wire unit at Kolagappara and one hawai sheet manufacturing unit at Meppady. Two medium scale industrial units have started commercial production of brassier hooks at Sulthan Bathery by using imported machinery worth Rs.3 crores with financial assistance of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation. A porcelani unit at Meenangadi is nearing completion and is expected to be commissioned within six months.

TRANSPORT

Railway facility is not available at Wayanad. The nearest railway station is at Kozhikode, about 70 kms. from Kalpetta. The only mode of transport of goods and commuters within the district is roadways. Bus services are available in all panchayals. Though there is no national highway touching Wayanad, the district has a network of roads. There is a state highway, Kozhikode-Vythiri-Gudalur, passing through Wayanad. The Kozhikode-Mysore frontier road and Thalassery-Bavali road are two important district roads.

SOME IMPORTANT INSTIl UTIONS

Ambedkar Memorial Rural Institute for Developmen t (AMR ID)

Ambedkar Memorial Rural Institute for IkYelopm eiU is a charitable organisation meant for the educational and employment opportunities of students of Wayanad district, especially of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. This institute started functioning in July", 1990 in the old Civil Station building at Puliyarmala, Kalpetta, in the centenary year of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. AMRID has got a variety of activities aiming at achieving its social and educational objectives.

An extent of 0.20 acre of land in Muttil village by the side of Kalpetta-Sulthan Bathery road, was purchased for the construction of a building to AMRID. The construction of the building could not be completed so far, for want of fiinds. The Nirmithi Kendra, Wayanad, has already prepared an estimate and started the construction work of the building.

Activities

1. Printing Press (training and job works). 2. Handicraft work in coffee stump (training and sales). 3. Typewriting Institute. 4. Tailoring Institute. 5. Training in 3 wheeler driving. 6. Plastic welding unit. 7. Wood carving unit. 8. Handicraft making in coconut shell. 9. Handloom weaving. The activities are implemented with the funds allotted by the Tribal Development Department, District Industries Centre, etc. under various schemes and also with the limited income of various units of the institute.

A total number of 1,403 students had been imparted coaching in various courses from 1990-91 to 1995-96.

COFFEE BOARD

Coffee Board operates in this district under three wings.

Research Wing A Robusta Coffee Research Station is functioning under this, at .

Extension wing There are a Joint Director’s office and a Deputy Director’s office functioning at Kalpetta and eight liaison offices functioning at various centres in Wayanad under this wing.

M arketing Wing Marketing section of Coffee Board functions in Wayanad under an Assistant Marketing Officer at Kalpetta.

Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ambalavayal

A Regional Agricultural Research Station functions at Ambalavayal as a part of Kerala Agricultural University. This station caters to the research needs of the agricultural sector of the high ranges.

The station mainly concentrates on the research on spices, tropical and subtropical fruits, vegetables, especially cool season vegetables and hill paddy. A Krishi Vijnan Kendra, with the objective of dissemination of latest technologies to the farmers, is also attached to this station. Recently, a Plant Bio­ technology Centre started functioning here for the large scale production of tissue culture plants of high value crops.

The nursery of the station has a large The Regional Agriciilliiral Research Station of the Kerala collection of roses Agricultural University, functioning at Ambalavayal. and other ornamental plants. The station produces and distributes quality seeds and good planting materials to the farmers.

Spices Board The Spices Board has a field office at Kalpetta. The main functions of the Spices Board are the formulation and implementation of better production and quality improvement programmes, systematic research and development, educating and training growers, processors, packers and exporters, selective registration and licensing. It also acts as a data bank and communication channel for importers and exporters of Indian spices.

The Board helps exporters in establishing contact with overseas buyers of spices. The Board also forwards trade enquiries received from abroad to competent registered Indian exporters and helps the international buyer procure the right quality spices from India. The Board examines complaints receivedfrom importers for corrective andpreventive action.

Sugandhagiri Cardamom Project

This project is functioning under the South Wayanad Girijan oint Farming Co­ operative Society. It as been implemented by the <^erala Government with the sanction of he Planning Commission as a part of the Western Development Scheme. Now the Sugandhugiri Cartluiiioiii Project - iiitplcmenteci as a part of the Western Ghn\ dewlopmmi scheme. jadm inistrative Control of the project is vested with Scheduled Tribe Development iDepartment. It is located at the Pozhuthana village of Vythiri taluk. Seven hundred and fifty families were settled in this project area for the co­ operative joint farming of cardamom, coffee and pepper. This co-operative institution aims at the socio-economic advancement of the tribal people. Irhe project was started in 1976. Till now 1000 ha. has been brought under jjardamom cultivation.

Adivasis are rehabilitated in their own houses built for them by the Government. Seven anganwadies, seven creches, three primai;y 5chools, one primary health centre and one family welfare centre are jfunctioning in this project area, for the benefit of the rehabilitated tribal families.

MASS MEDIA

No major newspaper is being published from Wayanad. But important dailies like Mathriibhoomi, Malayala Manorama, Kerala kaimudi, Deepika, Desabhimani, Madhyamam, Mangalam, Chandrika, Jarimabhoomi, Veekshanam, etc. have their bureaus and correspondents ft the headquarters.

A Doordarshan relay centre is functioning at Kalpetta and there ire 36 cinema theatres in the district. t - " M h i-n - , JOC, No...... ART

The major tribal arts performed in the district are Vattakali and using thudi and kuzhal by Paniyas, Gadhika by Adiyas, Kolkkali hy Kurumas and Nellukiithu pattu by Kurichias.

CENTRES OF WORSHIP Ananthanatha Swami Temple at Puliyarmala A beautiful Jain temple, devoted to Ananthanatha Swami, one of the saints of the Jaina faith^ is located six kilometres from Kalpetta.

The Glass Temple of Koottamunda Located on the slope of Vellarimala, this temple, dedicated to Parswanatha Swami, the third Thirthankara of the Jain faith, is an exquisitely beautiful family temple. The icons of Parswanatha Swami and Padmavathi devi, set in the' sanctum of this temple, have thousand reflections in beautiful patterns on the mirrors placed on the inner side of the temple walls. It is twenty kilometres from Kalpetta.

Maha Ganapathi Temple at Sulthan Batliery This temple is believed to have been built eight centuries ago. In the past, it was under the control of the Kottayam royal dynasty. Beft)re the conquest by Tipu Sulthan, Sultan Bathery was known as Ganapathivattam. The temple is devoted to Ganapathi.

Ponkili Temple This is an ancient temple associated with the myth of Sita devi.| It is located on the Karnataka border.

Santhinatha Temple at Venniyod This is another Jain temple devoted to saint Santhinatha Sw'ami! and is situated 20 kilometres away from Kalpetta. The Chandranatha Swami Temple at Puthanangadi, Vi ishabhadeva Swami Temple at Mananthavady and Parswanatha Swami Temple at Palkunnu are the other important Jain temples in the district.

Sita Devi Temple at Piilpally

This is another centuries old temple, dedicated to Sita devi. The incons of Leva and Kusa are also installed here.

Thirunelli temple Located m a valley baneath a hill called Brahmagiri in the reserve forest, this tem ple is often referred to as the ‘Kasi of the south’. The temple is dedicated by to in the form - "The Kasi oj the South". of Chatturbhuja. A little away from this temple is the mountain spring called Papanasini wliich literally means the destroyer of all sins. It is believed that a dip in the holy water of papanasini will wipe off all sins. Pakshipathalam, an interesting trekking centre, is seven kilometers away from this temple.

Puthari, Chuttuvilakku, Navarathri, Sivarathri and Sreekrishna Jayanthi are the festivals conducted in this temple. The location of this temple has an enchanting natural beauty. Thirunelli is 66 kilometers away from Kalpetta.

Valliyoorkavu Bhagavathy Temple

This tem.ple is located about three kms. east of Mananthavady town. It is devoted to godess . Every year, a festival that lasts for 10 days, is celebrated in March-April. Adivasis from all over the district attend this festival. The Maidani Mosque

This is an| important mosque| located at Kalpetta.

Varampattai Mosque

This importanti ftlosque is located at| Padinjarethara.

Church at Sulthan Bathery

This is an important church of the Jacobite Christians.

Lourd Church at Pallikkunnu

This is a Roman Catholic church.

St. Peter's Church at Meenangadi

This is an important church of Jacobite Syrian Christians.

Important Festivals

The following is a table of major festivals and the dates in which they are celebrated.

1. Seethadevi Temple, Pulpally - January 1st week. 2. Nadavayal St. Thomas Church - January 1st week. 3. Pallikunnu Church - Febmary 2nd week. 4. Varampatta Mosque - March 1st week. 5. Valliyoorkavu Temple - March - 14-28. 6. Maidani Mosque, Kalpetta - March - April. 7. Thirunelli - Karkidaka Va\oi - August. PLACES OF TOURIST IMPORTANCE

Banasura Sagar Dam This is the largest earth dam in India. The topography here is such that many islands will be formed in the upstream of the dam when the dam is full. These islands with the background of the wi 11 provide a hypnotising sight to tourists.

Cliembra Peak The rocks and valleys which contribute to the very unique character of Wayanad provide a lot for adventure tourism. Trekking to the is ‘ ' " ‘kkers'para,Use. a risky mountaineering endeavour. Chembra peak, the highest hill in Wayanad, is near Meppady town. Trekking to the top of this peak takes almost a day. Tourists can also stay one or two days at the top of the peak in temporary camps. District Tourism Promotion Council provides guides, sleeping bags, canvases, huts and trekking implements on hire. The scenic beauty of Wayanad, which is visible from the top of Chambra, is very exhilerating.

Edakkal Cave

This location of breath­ taking beauty is three kilometres from Arabalavayal which is 25 kilometres from Kalpetta. Cave - a marvel of nature. The Edakkal cave in the Ambu- kuthy mountain, is not a cave in tlie real sense. As statedin the India Antiquary (Vol.XXX, page- 410) and quoted in the District Cannings oj a prehistoric age, on the interior of the Gazetteer, Kozhi Edakkal Cave. kQde,itisonly‘ack il about 96 ft. long and 22 ft wide in the rock’. It is a fissure made by a corner of rock splitting off from the main body due to some natural causes. The depth of both the cleft and the fissure is 30 ft. What makes it a cave to the ordinary observer is the fact that in the other portion of the large cleft, an enormous rock, w^eighing several tonnes, has fallen forming a roof'over a large part of it. The rock wall contains some interesting carvings, which represent human aad animal figures and objects of human use and symbols. These carvings speak of a highly civilized people of pre-historic age and inspi res the archaeologists and historians to rewrite the and Kerala as a v/hole.

Kuruva Island

The Kuruva island, 950 acres of ever green forest on the tributaries of east flowing river Kabani, is an ideal picnic spot, far away from the disturbances of city life. The island is Kuruva Island - a treasure trove oj rare Jauna and flora. uninhabited. Rare species of birds, orchids and herbs are the sovereigns of this supernal kingdom. It is 17 kms. east of Mananthavady and 40 kms. north west of Sulthan Bathery.

Lakkidi

One of the highest locations in Wayanad, I.akkidi also commands a picturesque scenery. It is about 58 kms. north east of Kozhikode and five kms. south of Vythiri. Lakkidi, the gate way of Wayanad, lies atop , a ghat pass at an elevation of 700 m. above mean sea level.

The lofty mountain peaks, the gurging stream, luxuriant vegetation and the bird’s eye view of the deep valley on the south, with its winding roads, are breath taking. The 12 kms. long journey from Adivaram to Lakkidi through ghat Chain tree at Lakkidi, the guleway to H'ayanad - popular myth has it that road with nine hairpin bends amidst thick the wanton spirit o f a nahve tribal forests, is a fascinating experience. has been harnessed to this tree by a powerful magician. IMuthanga Wild Life Sanctuary

Muthanga, which is 16 kms. east of Sulthan Bathery, is located very near to the Karnataka border. Wild forests covering an area of 345 sq. kms. form the Muthanga wild life sanctuary; the biggest abode of wild animals in Malabar. Elephant, spotted deer, bison, tiger, cheeta, wild bear, etc. are found in this sanctuary. The Forest Department has facilities for providing elephant rides to tourists, here.

Pakshipathaiam

Pakshipathalam in the Brahmagiri hills at Thirunelli, is a challenging tourist spot for any adventure seeking tourist. To reach Pakshipathalam seventeen kilometres have to be covered through wild forest. The deep rock caves, formed among the thick blocks of rocks at ithe northern top end of the Brahmagiri, are the abode of various birds and wild beasts. Special permission has to be obtained from Forest Department to go to Pakshipathalam. District Tourism Promotion Council arranges vehicle, guides, camping equipments, etc. to the tourists, on hire.

Pazhassi Tourist Resort

P a z h a s s i Tourist Resort at Mananthavady i.s a good picnic centDe in north Wayanad. There is a good aquarium here. Coin­ The tomb o f l’azhassi Raja. operated toys for children and boating facilities for tourists are available here. Pazhassi Raja, the Lion of Kerala, who organised guerilla type warfare against British , was cremated here in 1805.

Pookot Lake

It is a natural fresh water lake, brimmed with ever green mountains. The w eather here is salacious; the scenic beauty, hypnotising and the nature, Pookot Lake - a natural fresh water lake, rimmid with unspoiled. Pookot ever green mountains. lake tourist resort in Vythiri is the most sought after tourist spot of Wayanad. There i.s an aquarium and a green house here. Boating facilities also are available. Spices and handicraft items are also arranged for sale at Pookot. The laki has an area of 8.5 ha. and the maximum water depth is 6.5 mtrs. This lake is three kms. south of Vythiri.

Sentinel Rock Waterfall

This waterfall is at Vellarimala village near Chooralmala in Meppadi panchayat. It is a picnic spot as well as a trekking centre. The sentinel rock, a rock of more than 200 m. m height, is ideal for rock climbing.

Souchippara Waterfall

The water­ falls at Soochippara near Meppadi is really a treasure of nature, yet to be discovered. The stretches of water­ falls ranging at places The Kunthanpara mtterfalls - Wayamul district has many from 100 to 300 feet grand waterfalls and Kanthipara falls is one of them. height is a treat to the eyes. The pool below, provides for water rafting, swimming, bathing, etc. The tree top huts at Soochippara give an unique view of the valleys of the Western Ghats and the glimmering shallow waters of the surrounding springs.

Thirunelli Temple

Thimnelli is situated 29 kms. north east of Mananthavady under the Brahmagiri hills in the reserve forests. The temple at Thirunelli is often called ‘Thekkan Kasi’. It is believed theit a bath in the holy water of ‘Papanasini’ will wipe off all the sins. Apart from the temple, Thimnelli is a place of scenic beauty. Pakshipathalam, an interesting trekking centre, is 7 kms. away from the temple. Important Tourist Centres Places Distance from Kalpetta Ambalavayal Farm 25 kms. 21 kms. Banasura sager Hills 29 kms. Boys town 45 kms. Begur wild life sanctuary 52 kms. Chain tree 15 kms. Cheengeri hills 23 kms. Cheeyambam waterfalls 37 kms. Chembra peak 15 kms. Edakkal cave 27 kms. Jain temple (Sulthan Bathery) 24 kms. Kanthanpara waterfalls 18 kms. Kappikalam waterfalls 24 kms. site 16 kms. Karlad chira 15 kms. Kuruva island 35 kms. Mananthavady Pazhassi Tomb 34 kms. Meenmutti waterfalls 29 kms. Meenangadi Church and Temple 13 kms. Muthangadi 23 kms. Muthanga wild life sanctuary 39 kms. Pallikunnu church 14 kms. Pakshipathalam 72 kms. Pazhassi Tourist Resort 33 kms. Papanasini 66 kms. Ponkuzhi 41 kms. Pookot lake 13 kms. Puliyarmala 3 kms. Pulpally Sitadevi temple 34 kms. Soochippara waterfalls 22 kms. Tholpetty wild life sanctuary 52 kms. Thirunelli temple 65 kms. Trikaipatta temple 11 kms. Varampatta mosque 22 kms. Velliyoorkavu temple 31 kms. Distance to Major Tourist Centres in From Kalpetta 282 kms. Udagamandalam (Ooty) 115 kms. Mysore 142 kms. Coorg 80 kms. 282 kms. Th j ru vananthapuram 497 kms. Where to Stay At Kalpetta

Phone PWD Rest House 602241 Hotel Harithagiri 602073 PSS Tourist Home 603431 Hotel MGT International 60264 Woodlands Tourist Home 602547 At Sulthan Bathery Govt Guest House 20225 PWD Rest House Motel Aram (KTDC) Hotel Dwaraka 21397 The Resorts 20512 At Pulpally Kabani Resorts 40529 Hotel Pealmount ^ 40397 At Mananthavady PWD Rest House 40230 Hotel Manasasaras 40236 At Meenangadi

Hotel Vanarani 47572

For more details, contact: District Tourism Promotion Council, Kalpetta, North Wayanad. Phone 0493 -602134,602712

SOME IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS

President (District Panchayat) 647268 Secretary " 602490 Kalpetta Municipality 602349 District Collector, Office 602230 " Residence 602300 District Police Superintendent 602525 District Information Officer 602529 District Planning Officer 602626 District Supply Officer 602273 District Tourism Promotion Council 602134 II 602714 DPEP Office 603338 P.S.C. District Office 603202 SC/ST Development Corporation 602869 District Employment Office 602534 District Education Officer 602264 KSRTC 602611 District Informatic Centre 602763 Field Publicity Office 602263 Govt. Hospital, Kalpetta 602037 Govt. Ayurvedic Hospital 604053 Nearest Airport - Kozhikode 0495 -766050 Nearest Railway Station - Kozhikode 703822 BARE FACTS

Area (sq. kms.) : 2131 Population (in OOO’s) : 672 Percentage to state population ; 2.31 Males (in OOO’s) : 342 Females (in OOO’s) : 330 Sex ratio : females/1000 males : 966 Density of population : 315 Per capita Income (1992-93) : Rs.5707 No. of households : 135 Average size of family : 4.99 (Population Statistics - 1991 Census) Projected population as on 1st March Year : 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Population (in OOO’s) : 709 719 728 738 748 758 (Source : Dept, o f Economics Statistics) Average monthly rainfall -1991 (m.m.) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Rainfall 0 11 12 109 125 796 1036 407 53 179 65 0 2792 Gross area under irrigation (cropwise) 1990-91 Crops Paddy Tubers Vege- Coconut Areca- Cloves & tables nut Nutmeg Area 4,148 2 68 38 4 (in hects) Crops Other Spices Banana Betal Sugar- Others Total & Condiments leaves cane Area - 32 - - 139 4431 (in hects) Live Stock Population (1987) Cattle Buffaloes Goats Sheeps Pigs Others 1,22,303 20,681 32,421 148 4,642 44 Total Livestock: 1,80,641 Total poultry : 4,28,087 No. of registered working factories (1992) - 123 No. of SSI Units as on 31.3.93 1363 Distribution of PWD Roads (in kms.) as on 1.4 93 State Major Dist. Other Dist. Village Total Highways Roads Roads Roads 40.07 327.63 148.46 120.52 636.68 Schools (1992-93) Section No.of scliools No. of Students No. ofteachevs LPS 125 64,484 1,557 UPS 76 47,703 1,392 HS 59 35,440 1,094 Total 260 1,47,627 4,043 Arts & Science Colleges Govt. 2 951 31 Private 2 2,491 9>6 Total 4 3,442 127 Medical Institutions Allopathy Ayurveda Homeopathy No. of Medical Institutions 43 20 13 No.of Beds 590 100 25

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