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The name Wayanad is derived from the expression ‘Wayanadu’ which means
 the land of paddy fields. Wayanad offers the climate of the hill station similar to that of Oottacamand. It offers a panorama of undulating hills and dales. The hills, which might have been thick forests once, are now plantations of coffee, tea and cardamom. There is luxuriant green all
around. On a clear day from the river border of Kabini, Wayanad will seem to be a fairy land with the deep blue mountains juxtaposed with the less blue sky and white vagrant speks of clouds amidst them. The most characteristic aspect about Wayanad is the large tribal population. Wayanad has a small Jain Community consisting of the Grounders who came from Karnataka. They have built beautiful temples all over the district. The Kurichiyar of Wayanad have a great martial tradition. They constituted the army of Pazhazzi Veera Kerala Varma Rajah who fought against the British forces in several battles. The descendants of those warriors are still expert archers.
Wayanad with its peculiar and unique geographical position is blessed with mist-clad mountains and sylvan valleys. It is situated at a height of 700 to 1200 metres above sea level, bounded on the East by the Nilgiris and Mysore district of Tamilnadu and Karnataka respectively. On the North by Corg district of Karnataka. On the South by Malappuram district and on the West by Calicut and Cannanore districts. Wayanad’s climate and the geography make it ideal for the cultivatione of coffee, tea, cardamom, pepper and rubber. The soil of Wayanad District is mainly of the forest type. It promotes a lush growth of vegetation, which makes Wayanad clothed in uniform greenery. The fast flowing rivers of Wayanad are in striking contrast to the various river systems of the rest of Kerala. The Panamaram riverlet originating from Lakkidi and Mananthavady riverlet originating from Thondeumudi peak joins together six kilometres north of Panamaram town and after the confluence the river is known as Kabini. The Kabini river system of Wayanad is the perennial source of water to Cauvery. |
