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About Wayanad

Comprising an area of 2126 sq. kms, Wayanad has a powerful history. Historians are of the view that organized human life existed in these parts, at least ten centuries before the Christ. Countless evidences about New Stone Age civilization can be seen on the hills of Wayanad. The two caves of Ampukuthimala located between Sulthan Bathery and Ambalavayal, with pictures painted on their walls and pictorial writings, speak volumes of the bygone era and civilization.

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 Rajas of Kottayam royal dynasty. When Hyder Ali became the ruler of Mysore, he invaded Wayanad and brought it under his sway. In the days of Tipu, Wayanad 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 Raja of Kottayam. When the Raja was driven to the wilderness of Wayanad, he organized the war, like people's militia with the help of Kurichye tribals and engaged the British in several guerrilla type encounters. In the end, the British could get only the dead body of the Raja, who killed himself somewhere in the interior of the forest.

Thus Wayanad fell into  the hands of 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 forestlands proved a verietable goldmine with incredible yields of cash crops.

When the state of Kerala came into being in November 1956, Wayanad was  part of Kannur district. Later, south Wayanad was added to Kozhikode district. In order to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Wayanad for development, north Wayanad and south Wayanad were carved out and joined together to form the present district of Wayanad. 

SALIENT  FEATURES

The total geographical area and population of Wayanad are 2126sq.kms, (2,12,560 hects.) and 6,72,128 respectively, which account for 5.48 per cent and 2.31 per cent of the state total. The male and female population are 3,41,958 and 3,30,170 respectively. The female-male sex ratio is 966 per 1000 males. The density of population is 315 per sq.km. (1991 census) against 260 in 1981, showing an increase of  21 per cent.

The literacy  in the region is 85.54 per cent Male literacy ratio is 90.28 and female literacy ratio is 80.80.

Its geographical position is peculiar and unique . The difference in altitudes of each locality within the district presents a variation of climatic conditions. Nature has blessed this part of the country beautifully with mist- clad mountains and sylvan valleys. The idyllic nature of Wayanad, its nearness to Udagamandalam (Ooty) and Mysore with well-laid roads to these centers, offer tremendous tourist potentialities.

A visitor may be impressed by the extensive paddy fields of the districts. Agriculture in Wayanad is equally divided between paddy and plantation crops, except coconut. The hills, which are deep blue in bright sunlight and lie mist-covered most of the time, juxtaposes with the green of these paddy fields. This, infact, is a splendid spectacle.

The east flowing rivers of Wayanad are in striking contrast to the various rivers of the rest of Kerala. The river Kabani of Wayanad is a perennial source of water to Cauvery. The Panamaram rivulet, originating from Lakkidi and the Mananthavady rivulet originating from Thondarmudi Peak meet six kms. north of Panamaram town and after the confluence, the river is known as Kabani.

Coffee is ubiquitous in Wayanad. It is cultivated in every panchayat, both in the form of large plantations and small holdings.Coffee is cultivated in an area of 75,057 hects.with Wayanad  having the highest area of 66,999 hectares. Pepper is grown as an additional crop on trees that are groomed to give shade to the coffee shrubs. In Pulpally area, there are exclusive pepper gardens. Tea is cultivated in large estates.

Wayanad has the highest concentration of tribals in Kerala. They form 17.1 per cent of the total population of the district. The aborigines of Wayanad have a great political tradition. This area was originally reigned by the Rajas of the Veda tribe. Later, political authority came to the Pazhassi   Rajahs of Kottayam royal dynasty.

The Kurichyas of Wayanad have a great martial tradition. They groomed to give shade to the coffee shrubs. In Pulpally area, there are exclusive pepper gardens. Tea is cultivated in large estates.

Wayanad has the highest concentration of tribals in Kerala. They form 17.1 per cent of the total population of the district. The aborigines of Wayanad have a great political tradition. This area was originally reigned by the Rajas of the Veda tribe. Later, political authority came to the Pazhassi   Rajahs of Kottayam royal dynasty.

The Kurichyas of Wayanad have a great martial tradition. They constituted the army of Pazhassi Veera Kerala Varma Rajah who engaged the British forces in several battles. The descendants of those warriors are still expert archers. The excellence of Kurichya archery has been exhibitted recently, at various centres.

Wayanad has an agricultural economy and it has no major industry to boast of. Heavy industry will probably tilt the ecological and demographic balance adversely. The idyllic nature of this district, together with its colourful tribal life and brazing climate, will make tourism pay rich dividends.

Development activities are bringing about a change in the poor man's quality of life. Through the co-operative sector, Adivasis are provided with a better deal in the economic life. A labour contract co-operative society for the benefit of Adivasis is also functioning here.

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

TOPOGRAPHY

Wayanad lies between north latitude 110 27' and 150 58' and east longitude 750 47 ' and  700 27'. It is bounded on the east by Nilgiris and Mysore districts of Tamilnadu and Karnataka respectively, on the north by Coorg district of Karnataka, on the south by Malappuram  and on the west by Kozhikode and Kannur .

Placed on the southern tip of the Deccan plateau, its prime glory is the majestic Western Ghats with lofty ridges interspersed with magnificent forests, tangled jungles and deep valleys. In the centre of the district, hills are lower in height, while the northern area has high hills and they give a wild and mountainous appearance. Some of the major peaks are Vellarimala, Banasura, Brahmagiri, Chembra, etc. ranging from 1500 mts. to 2100 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 cardamom while the valleys have a predominance of paddy fields.

The altitude of Wayanad varies from 700 to 2100 meters from sea level. The hill ranges of Vythiri 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 Western Ghats on the western boarder 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 forest once, are now plantations of coffee, tea or cardamom. There is 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 juxtaposed with the blue sky and white vagrant wads of cottonwools like clouds amidst them.

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

CLIMATE

Wayanad has a salubrious climate. The mean average rainfall in this district is 2322. mm Lakkidi, Vythiri and Meppadi are the high rainfall areas in Wayanad. Annual rain falls in these high rainfall areas ranges from 3000 to 4000 m.m. High velocity winds are common during the southwest monsoon and dry winds blow in March-April. High altitude regions experience severe cold. In Wayanad (Ambalavayal) the mean maximum and minimum temperature for the last five years were 29°Cand 18°C respectively. This place experiences a high relative humidity, which goes even up to 95 per cent during the Southwest monsoon period.

Monthly rainfall (mm)
 

Generally the year is classified in four seasons, namely, cold whether (December-February),hotwhether(March-May),Southwest monsoon (June-September)and Northeast monsoon (Octber-Novvember)                                                               

The dale, “Lakkidi', nestled among the hills of Vythiri taluk has the highest average  rainfall in Kerala. The average rainfall in Wayanad is 300 m.m. per year. There is a decreasing trend in  rainfall  in this area the average rainfall data shows that the lowest rainfall received from northeast monsoon, is in Wayanad district.

RIVERS

Kabani river one of the three east flowing rivers of Kerala, is an important tributary of the river Cauvery. Kabani and its tributaries constitute a powerful river system in the landscape of Wayanad.

Panamaram rivulet takes its origin from the Perennial Lake called, 'Pookkode Lake' it flows swiftly through mountain gorges and joined by other streams, tumbles down into Panamaram valley. Six kms. further from Panamaram, this river joins with the Mananthavady rivulet, 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, joins with the river Cauvery. Almost entire Wayanad is drained by the Kabani River and its tributaries  namely Panamaram  Mananthavady  and Thirunelli .

FLORA AND FAUNA

The flora 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 rosewood, anjili (Artocarpus),mullumurikku ( Erthrina) and 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 give a semblance of wilderness to the landscape of  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 jack trees are also grown here. Tea is grown as an industry in large estates.

The soil and climate of Wayanad are suitable for horticulture on commercial basis. For promoting the cultivation of vegetables and rising of orchards, the Kerala Agricultural University is running  a Regional Agricultural Research Station at Ambalavayal.

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

Elephant, bear and other wild animals from the neighbouring wild life sanctuaries of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, stray into the Begur forest range and the forests around Muthanga,  which is 20 kilometers away from the town of Sulthan Bathery.

RELIGION AND CUSTOM

No religion can be said to be predominant in this district. The different religious groups of the state are more or less equally represented. A characteristic aspect of Wayanad is a large Adivasi 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 Thampuratty and Vettakkorumakan.They also worship the Hindu gods of various temples in the district. Adivasis do not have any temple of there own. Paniyar, Adiyan, Kurichyar, Kurumar, Kattunaicker, Kadan and Oorali are the different aboriginal tribes of Wayanad. The Kurichyar the most developed among them. They are small land owners, 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 of 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 Sita, Rama'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 forth 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.

Arts

The major tribal arts performed in the district are Vattakali and Koodiyattam using thudi and kuzhal by Paniyas, Gadhika by Adiyas, Kolkali by Kurumas and Nellukuthu pattu by kurichias.