Wayanad
Wayanad District, in the north-east of Kerala, was formed on November 1 1980 as the 12th district, carved out of Kozhikode and Kannur districts. It is set lofty on the majestic Western Ghats and is an ideal hill resort, with altitudes ranging from 700 to 2100 m.
Basic Information
Area: 2132 sq. km
Population (2001 census) : 786,627
Density of Popn: 369 persons/ sq. km
No. of Taluks: 3 (Mananthavadi, Sulthan Bathery, Vayithiri)
No. of State Assembly Legislators: 3 (North Wayanad, Sulthan Bathery and Kalpetta)
Lok Sabha Representation: North Wayanad Assembly Seat is in Kannur Lok Sabha Seat, the other two in Kozhikode.
District Headquarters: Kalpetta (Municipality, pop: 29,602 in 2001 census)
Other Important Towns: Sulthan Bathery, Mananthavady.
Economy
Wayanad is an industrially backward district. Agriculture, mainly plantation and estate type, is the main stay of the economy. Coffee, tea, cocoa, [black pepper|pepper]] and lately, vanilla are the main cash crops. Besides cash crops, the most important crop in the district is rice. Dams and aqueducts have been constructed to take water to the otherwise dry areas in the district.
Access
The Kozhikode- Mysore National Highway No. 215 passes through Wayanad district. Nearest railway station is at Kozhikode, 67 km from Kalpetta. Kozhikode airport at Karippur is the nearest airport. There are good road connections to various parts of Kerala and other neighbouring states. Buses ply frequently between important centres.
Places of Importance
There are various places of tourist importance in the district, like peaks, caves and lakes. Edakkal Cave, 32 km from Kalpetta near Ambalavayal, is famous for its pre-historic carvings and paintings. There is a famous Jain Temple near Koottamunda. Lakkidi, the entry-point to Wayanad on the road from Kozhikode, receives one of the highest rainfalls in India. Pookkot lake nearby is a famous tourist centre as well. Thirunelli is a very old temple. Sulthan Bathery is famous for its fort, which was built by Tipu Sultan. The government tourism board and other entrepreneurs are opening up many eco-tourism and other resorts in parts of the district. A ride through the tea estates is also very beautiful.
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