Malenadu
Malenadu
Malnad | |
|---|---|
Forests of Malenadu | |
Malenadu region shown in green | |
| Country | India |
| State | Karnataka |
| Region | Malenadu |
| Taluka | Belagavi District Khanapur Uttara Kannada Sirsi Joida Dandeli Haliyal Yellapur Mundgod Siddapur Shivamogga District Sagara Hosanagara Thirthahalli Soraba Shivamogga Chikkamagaluru District Sringeri Kalasa Koppa Narasimharajapura Mudigere Hassan District Sakleshpur Kodagu District Somwarpet Madikeri Virajpet Kushalanagar Ponnampet Dakshina Kannada Sullia |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Kannada |
| • Regional | Havyaka Kannada Kodava Tulu Konkani Arebhashe |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Malenadu (or Malnad) is a geographical region in the state of Karnataka, India. It covers the western and eastern slopes of the Western Ghats mountain range and is roughly 100 km (62 mi) in width. It includes the districts of Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Udupi, Belagavi, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Kodagu. The region experiences heavy annual rainfall of 1,000–3,800 millimetres (39–150 inches); most notably, the village of Agumbe in the region, receives the highest annual rainfall in Karnataka of 10,000 millimetres (390 inches).
This region of the state experiences unique infrastructure challenges due to settlement patterns, sparse population, topography, dense forest, and numerous rivulets. Villages in the Malenadu are scattered throughout remote areas. To encourage development in the area, the Area Development Board was created in 1991 to implement necessary projects.
The districts initially covering the region were Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu, and Hassan. Agumbe, Chikmagalur, Yana, Dandeli, Sirsi, Yellapur, and the historical region of Banavasi all belong to Malenadu.