Wayanad, one of the loveliest hill stations of
Kerala, is nestled among the mountains of the
Western Ghats. The name 'Wayanad' is believed to have been derived from the word, 'Vayalnadu,' meaning 'the land of paddy fields.' Wayanad is bounded by
Nilgiris District of
Tamil Nadu and
Mysore District of
Karnataka in the east,
Kodagu District of Karnataka in the north,
Malappuram District in the south and
Kozhikode District and
Kannur District in the west.
The total geographical area is 2,131 sq km. Wayanad has a salubrious climate. Lakkidi,
Vythiri and
Meppadi are the areas of high rainfall. A major portion is covered by coffee plantations. The plantation crops include coffee, tea, pepper, cardamom and rubber. Most of the reserve forests in the state of Kerala are in Wayanad.
The idyllic nature of Wayanad and its nearness to Ooty (Udhagamandalam) and Mysore offer tremendous tourist potentialities. Pakshipathalam in the Brahmagiri hills at Thirunelli, is a challenging tourist spot for any adventure-seeking tourist. Chembra peak, the highest hill in Wayanad, is near Mepadi town. The Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary is developing itself into a major center of tourist attraction. The Sentinel Rock Waterfall at Vellarimala village near Chooralmala is a picnic spot as well as a trekking center.
