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Wayanad district,Kerala- India

Coordinates: 11°36′18″N 76°04′59″E / 11.605, 76.083
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area 2,131 km² (823 sq mi)
Headquarters Kalpetta
Population
• Density 780,619
• 369 /km² (956 /sq mi)
Collector Ashwini Kumar Rai
ISO abbreviation IN-KL-

Wayanad District, in the north-east of Kerala, India, was formed on November 1, 1980 as the 12th district by carving out areas from Kozhikode and Kannur districts. Wayanadu evolved from the combination of Vayal (paddy) and Naad (land), making it 'The Land of Paddy Fields'. There are many indigenous tribals in this area. It is set high on the majestic Western Ghats with altitudes ranging from 700 to 2100 m.

Basic information

Area: 2132 km²
Population (2001 census) : 780,619
Density of Popn: 369 people/km²
No. of Taluks: 3 (Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery, Vayithiri)
No. of state Assembly Legislators: 3 (North Wayanad, Sulthan Bathery and Kalpetta)
Lok Sabha Representation: 1 (Wayanad constituency).
District Headquarters: Kalpetta (Municipality, pop: 29,602 in 2001 census)
Other Important Towns: Sulthan Bathery, Mananthavady.

History

In ancient times the land was ruled by the Vedar Rajas. Kurumbranadu Royal Dynasty of Kannur held rights to the land 18th century after the decline of tribal kings. It briefly came under the rule of the Kingdom of Mysore as it campaigned in the Malabar coast. Pazhassi Raja of Kottayam royal family, a branch of Kurumbranadu helped the British in their fight against Tipu Sultan. Following Mysore's withdrawal the Raja and the British parted their ways. And in 1799,after the fall of Tipu, the British took over Wayanad. Pazhassi Rajah engaged in a prolonged guerrilla war with the British until he was killed in 1805. When the state of Kerala came into being in 1956, Wayanad was a part of Kannur district; later in 1957 south Wayanad was added to Kozhikode district and north Wayanad remained with Kannur district. By amalgamating the north Wayanad and south Wayanad, the present Wayanad district came into being on the 1st November 1980 comprising of three taluks; Vythiry, Mananthavady and Sulthan Bathery.