Wayanad
Wayanad
WAYANAD:
Nestled among the mountains of the western ghats , lies Wayanad, one of the
loveliest 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
2100m.above sea level, on the northeastern 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 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, perhaps one of the biggest foreign exchange earners of the state , thanks to its cash crops of pepper, cardamom, 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, Kattunaikkans, etc.
Tourists were late to find this unsung paradise which is Kerala's answer to Tamilnadu's Ootty or Karnataka's Madikeri. In many fronts, the hilly-district stands unique. In monsoon days Wayanad is soaking wet. Colonial presence in the district in the second half of the 19 the century has transformed the district, then a vast reserve forest, into plantations of coffee and tea. Even then, the district is credited with 78787 hector reserve forest, the largest forest tract in a Kerala district. Wayanad is in fact cordoned off by six districts of Kerala, Tamilnadu and Karnataka.
Several microscopic communities such as Jains and Kurichiyars are housed in the district. The district offers much for anthropologists and archeologists. The Kurichiyars, now a decadent group, have a great martial tradition. They constituted the army of Pazhassi Rajah who fought against the British forces in this part of the country. They still excel in archery. The district is the largest producer of pepper in the country.
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