DIRECTION SOORAJ PUTHIYEDAM PRODUCED BY MINI ANTONY (IAS) RESEARCH & SCRIPT RAMESH VELLAMUNDA PROJECT GUIDE E SAJEEV (DEPUTY DIRECTOR PRD) RASHEED BABU (INFORMATION OFFICER) PROJECT COORDINATOR CR RADHAKRISHNAN TIMELAPSE & EDITING GEORGE THENGUMMOOTTIL MUSIC LEROY C JERSON CHIEF ASSOCIATE SARAN LAL S DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY RAMSHAJ ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY SHAFI SOUND RAJITH VR NARRATION LISHA KAMAL KAMAL MANGALASSERY FIELD ASSISTANCE BHASKARAN OFFICE ASSISTANCE SUMA. K PUSHPARANI M.K SOUMYA K.S DIVYA RAJ.K SHIHABUDEEN AJITH KUMAR.T THOMAS P.J Wayanad District is a district in the north-east of Kerala state, India with headquarters at the town of Kalpetta. The district was formed on 1 November 1980 as the 12th district in Kerala by carving out areas from Kozhikode and Kannur districts. The district is 3.79% urbanised, with only one municipal town of Kalpetta. Wayanad district is in the southern tip of the Deccan Plateau. Part of the Western Ghats is in the district. In the centre of the district hills are lower in height while the northern area has high hills. The eastern area is flat and open. The region was known as Mayakshetra (Maya's land) in the earliest records. Mayakshetra evolved into Mayanad and finally to Wayanad.The Folk etymology of the word says it is a combination of Vayal (paddy field) and Naad (land), making it 'The Land of Paddy Fields'. There are many indigenous tribals in this area.Unlike all other 13 districts of Kerala, in Wayanad district, there is no town or village named same as the district (i.e., there is no "Wayanad town"). Wayanad is the only district in Kerala that borders both the neighboring states Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Wayanad borders Kozhikode, Kannur, and Malappuram districts in Kerala; Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu; and Chamarajanagar, Mysore, and Kodagu (Coorg) districts in Karnataka.According to archaeological evidence, the Wayanad forests have been inhabited for more than 3,000 years. Tipu Sultan went in appeal before the Governor General. Considering his arguments, relying on the successive Karnatic rule for centuries in Wayanad and its geographical detachment from Malabar, in 1798, Governor General Lord Mornington declared by proclamation[10] that Wayanad had not been ceded to the East India Company by the treaty of 1792. Consequently, the British troops withdrew from Wayanad conceding to Tipu’s rule. In 1799, after the fall of Sultan, the British handed over Wayanad by treaty of 1799 to the Raja of Mysore and . But by a supplementary treaty dated 29 December 1803 the East India Company repossessed Wayanad and thereafter administrated by Col. Arthur Wellesley from Srirangapatna and North Wayanad came under the rule of the Pazhassi Raja dynasty of ancient Kottayam. Wayanad eventually became part of Kerala despite its geographical delimitations and political descent in 1956 on State’s reorganisation. Even now there is a considerable Kannada speaking population and the reminiscence of centuries old Karnatic rule is omnipresent in Wayanad. Agriculture Cultivation started broadly after 1900 A.D onwards. The British authorities opened up the plateau to cultivation of tea and other cash crops by constructing roads across the dangerous slopes of Wayanad, to Kozhikode and Thalassery.Later, they extended these new roads to the cities of Mysore and Ooty through Gudalur. Settlers emigrated from all parts of Kerala and the fecund lands proved a veritable goldmine with incredible yields of cash crops. When the State of Kerala came into being in November 1956, Wayanad was part of Kannur district. Later, south Wayanad was added to Kozhikode district. To fulfil the aspirations of the people of Wayanad for development, North Wayanad and South Wayanad were carved out and joined together to form the present district of Wayanad. This district came into being on 1 November 1980 as one the twelve districts of Kerala The Information & Public Relations Department (I & PRD) is an agency within the Government of Kerala. It is charged with "disseminating information on various activities of the Government to the people through the media and providing feedback to the Government on important matters reflected in the media. I & PRD is also charged with activities connected with cultural affairs."

• published: 02 Oct 2015
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