Wayanad District
A highland district in the Western Ghats known for its forests, wildlife, spice and plantation agriculture, tribal heritage and archaeological sites.
Source: Government source: Wayanad District Administration: About District Supports the neutral highland, forest, agriculture and tribal-heritage context. Government source: Wayanad District Administration: History Supports the archaeological-site context.
District overview
Area
2,130 sq km
Source: Government source: Kerala Department of Economics & Statistics: Wayanad Current district profile reports 2,130 sq km. Government source: Wayanad District Administration: Demography Reports the district area as 2,130 sq km.
Population (Census 2011)
817,420
Source: Government source: Kerala Department of Economics & Statistics: Wayanad Reports population 817,420 (Census 2011). Government source: Wayanad District Administration: Demography Reports the district Census 2011 population.
Literacy Rate (Census 2011)
89.03%
Source: Government source: Kerala Department of Economics & Statistics: Wayanad Reports literacy of 89.03% for Census 2011. Government source: Wayanad District Administration: Demography Reports literacy of 89.03% for Census 2011.
Sex ratio (Census 2011)
1,035 females per 1,000 males
Source: Government source: Kerala Department of Economics & Statistics: Panchayat Level Statistics 2011, Wayanad Supports 1,035 females per 1,000 males (Census 2011).
Headquarters
Kalpetta
Economy
Important crops include pepper, cardamom, coffee, tea, spices and other condiments. Kerala Ecostat reports total cropped area of 160,277.97 hectares (2023-24) and GDVA at current prices of ₹20,306.96 crore (2024-25 Quick).
Source: Government source: Kerala Department of Economics & Statistics: Wayanad Reports total cropped area for 2023-24 and GDVA at current prices for 2024-25 Quick. Government source: Wayanad District Administration: About District Identifies spice and plantation agriculture in the district.
Climate
Wayanad has a highland climate influenced by the Western Ghats, with substantial monsoon rainfall and cooler conditions at higher elevations.
Source: Government source: Wayanad District Administration: About District Supports Wayanad as a highland plateau in the Western Ghats. Government source: Kerala Department of Economics & Statistics: Wayanad Provides the official district profile used for the neutral highland climate context.
District background
History
The District Administration derives the name Wayanad from “Vayal Nadu,” meaning “land of paddy fields.” Its history records that Wayanad was part of Kannur and that South Wayanad was later added to Kozhikode. North and South Wayanad were joined to form the present district, which came into existence on 1 November 1980 as Kerala’s 12th district, comprising Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery and Vythiri taluks. During British rule, roads were laid across the highland slopes and the plateau was opened to tea and other cash-crop cultivation. The District Administration also records Pazhassi Raja’s resistance and his organization of a Kurichiya militia against the British.
Source: Government source: Wayanad District Administration: History Supports the concise district history and the attributed Pazhassi Raja and Kurichiya resistance account. Government source: Wayanad District Administration: About District Supports the Vayal Nadu name derivation and 1 November 1980 formation date.
Geography
Wayanad is a highland plateau in the Western Ghats in northern Kerala, adjoining Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The District Administration reports an elevation between 700 and 2,100 metres above mean sea level and about 885.92 sq km under forest. Karnataka lies to the northeast and east, Tamil Nadu toward the southeast, and Kozhikode and Kannur districts are on the Kerala side. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary includes the Muthanga and Tholpetty wildlife areas and forms an important part of the district’s protected forest landscape.
Source: Government source: Wayanad District Administration: About District Supports the highland plateau, elevation, neighbouring states and attributed forest-area figure. Government source: Wayanad District Administration: Places of Interest Supports the Muthanga wildlife-area context. Government source: Wayanad District Administration: Tourist Places Supports the Tholpetty wildlife-area context.
Culture
The District Administration describes Wayanad culture as mainly tribal-oriented. Its cultural heritage also includes agricultural and plantation traditions, forests, local religious and cultural sites, traditional arts and archaeological heritage.
Source: Government source: Wayanad District Administration: About District Describes the district culture as mainly tribal-oriented. Government source: Wayanad District Administration: History Supports the historical Kurichiya resistance reference. Government source: Wayanad District Administration: Places of Interest Supports the archaeological-site and local cultural-site context.
Popular Attractions
Source: Government source: Wayanad District Administration: Tourist Places Official attraction listing used for Wayanad records. Government source: Wayanad District Administration: Places of Interest Supports the cited Chembra, Kuruva, Muthanga and Pookot descriptions. Government source: Wayanad District Administration: Edakkal Caves Supports the concise Edakkal rock-shelter description. Government source: Wayanad District Administration: Banasura Sagar Dam Supports the concise Banasura Sagar Dam description.
Attractions by type in Wayanad
District Services
Sources
- Government source: Kerala Department of Economics & Statistics: Wayanad Current district profile used for area, Census 2011 population and literacy, cropped area, and 2024-25 Quick GDVA.
- Government source: Wayanad District Administration: About District Supports the district name, formation, plateau, elevation, forest-area attribution, agriculture and cultural context.
- Government source: Wayanad District Administration: Demography Supports current district area and Census 2011 demographic figures.
- Government source: Wayanad District Administration: History Supports historical references to Kannur, Kozhikode, British-era development, Pazhassi Raja, Kurichiya resistance and district formation.
- Government source: Wayanad District Administration: Tourist Places Used for the official attraction listings, including Tholpetty, Banasura Sagar Dam and Edakkal Caves.
- Government source: Wayanad District Administration: Places of Interest Supports the cited descriptions of Chembra Peak, Kuruva Island, Muthanga and Pookot Lake.
- Government source: Wayanad District Administration: Edakkal Caves Supports the rock-shelter, engravings and attributed archaeological dating description.
- Government source: Wayanad District Administration: Banasura Sagar Dam Supports the dam construction date, river tributary, boating and attributed superlative.
- Government source: Kerala Department of Economics & Statistics: Panchayat Level Statistics 2011, Wayanad Used for the Census 2011 sex-ratio figure; older figures are not substituted for the current district profile.
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