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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 Soraba Shikaripura Bhadravati ThirthahalliChikkamagaluru District Sringeri Kalasa Koppa Narasimharajapura Mudigere Hassan District Sakleshpur Arkalgud Belur 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 ofKarnataka,India. It covers the western and eastern slopes of theWestern Ghats mountain range and is roughly 100 km (62 mi) in width. It includes the districts ofUttara 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 ofAgumbe 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.[citation needed][1]
The districts initially covering the region wereShivamogga,Chikkamagaluru,Uttara Kannada,Kodagu, andHassan.Agumbe,Chikmagalur, Yana,Dandeli,Sirsi,Yellapur, and the historical region ofBanavasi all belong to Malenadu.
The origin of the term Malenadu is unclear, as the wordMale in Kannada can have two different meanings depending on pronunciation. Malē (without theretroflex 'ḷ') means ‘mountain,’ and when combined with Nadu (‘land’), it gives the meaning ‘mountainous land,’ reflecting the region’s terrain. With the retroflex 'ḷ', however, Maḷē means ‘rain,’ and thus Malenadu also suggests ‘rainy land,’ a fitting description of the region’s high rainfall.[2][3]
Presently, the Development Board operates in part or all of 13 districts of the state, and comprises 65 Assembly constituencies and 61taluks:
| District | Constituencies |
|---|---|
| Belagavi district | Bailahongal, Belgaum, Hukkeri, Khanapur, Saudi |
| Chamarajnagar | Chamarajnagar,Gundlupete,Kollegala,Hanuru |
| Chikmagalur | Kadur, Koppa,Chikkamagalur, Mudigere, Narasimharajapur, Shringeri, Tarikere, Ajjampura |
| Dakshina Kannada | Mangaluru, Puttur, Sulya, Bantwal, Belthangadi, Mudubidri, Kadaba |
| Davanagere | Channagiri, Honnali, Nyamathi |
| Dharwad | Kalaghatagi, Alnanavara |
| Hassan | Alur, Arakalagud, Belur, Sakaleshpur |
| Haveri | Hangal, Hirekerur, Rettihalli, Byadagi, Savanur, Shiggaon |
| Kodagu | Madikeri, Somavarpet, Virajpet |
| Mysore | Heggadadevana kote, Hunasur, Periyapattana, Sargur |
| Shivamogga | Bhadravati, Shivamogga, Sagar, Soraba, Hosanagara, Thirthahalli, Shikaripura |
| Udupi | Udupi, Kundapur, Karkala, Brahmavara, Kapu, Byndoor, Hebri |
| Uttara Kannada | Ankola, Bhatkal, Haliyal, Honnavara, Karwar, Kumta, Mundagod, Siddapur, Sirsi, Joida, Yallapur, Dandeli |
True to its name Malenadu, the region is endowed with abundant hills and plenty of rainfall. The region comprises 13 districts spanning a broadly sub-coastal North-South axis, and is a prominent section of theWestern Ghats. The Western Ghats are pivotal to the climate and seasons across India. TheSahyadri ranges (another name of the Western Ghats) block the rain-bearing South-Westmonsoon winds from theArabian Sea, resulting in heavy rainfall along the westernwindward side andcoastal Karnataka; and forming arain shadow region on the easternleeward side. Hills, heavy rainfall, rich sub-tropical forests and rivers flowing down the mountains are the defining geographical features. Temperatures in Malenadu remain moderate throughout the year. Summer temperatures remain within 35 °C (95 °F). Winters are mild and pleasant, while the monsoon months between June and September are a time of torrential rains, crossing 3,000 millimetres (120 in) in many stations.[4]
Malnad has some of the highest mountain peaks in Karnataka.Mullayyanagiri located in theChandra Drona ranges of theWestern Ghats ofChikmagalur Taluk at a height of 1,925 metres (6,316 ft), is the highest peak inKarnataka.Kodachadri,Kodagu (Coorg) are hill-stations in the region.Kemmannugundi,Kudremukh with distinctive horse-face shape,Kalhattagiri, Rudragiri, and Devarammannagudda[5] are other significant mountain peaks also known for their scenic treks across high grasslands.
Apart from the well-knownJog Falls (Gersoppa),Mallalli Falls in thePushpagiri range, Mookanamane Falls (or Mookana Mane Falls) nearSakleshpur,Abbey Falls nearMadikeri inCoorg,Chelavara Falls (also called Embepare): near theTadiandamol Peak,Irupu Falls in theBrahmagiri range,Unchalli Falls, (orLushington Falls, orKeppa Joga) nearSirsi, the spectacular 200 ftMagod Falls nearYallapur,Devaragundi Falls nearThodikana, Jhari Falls (Buttermilk Falls) and the Hebbe Falls inChikmagalur, and Kapilatirtha are some of the other known and visited waterfalls in Malnad.
The dense forests and hill ranges of Malenadu region are vital forwater security, serving as natural sponges, absorbing the monsoon precipitation, and for months beyond the season, steadily feeding major rivers like theSharavathi,Tunga,Bhadra, andNetravathi, which supporthydroelectric power projects and provide irrigation and drinking water across Karnataka.
The Western Ghats acts as the rain barrier during south-west monsoon season. This region is one of the wettest regions in the world, with some rainfall measurements of over 7,000 mm (280 in).
| Rank | Hobli / Village | District | Taluk | Year | Rainfall (mm) | Elevation (metres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amagaon | Belgaum district | Khanapur | 2010 | 10,068 | 785 |
| 2 | Mundrote | Kodagu district | Madikeri | 2011 | 9,974 | 585 |
| 3 | Hulikal | Shimoga district | Hosanagara | 2013 | 9,383 | 614 |
| 4 | Agumbe | Shimoga district | Thirthahalli | 2013 | 8,770 | 643 |
| 5 | Kokalli / Kakalli | Uttara Kannada | Sirsi | 2014 | 8,746 | 780 |
| Year | Rainfall (mm)[10] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hulikal | Agumbe | Amagaon | Talacauvery[11] | Kokalli[12][13] | Nilkund | Castle Rock | |
| 2017 | 5,700 | 6,311 | 4,733 | 5,859 | 3,130 | 4,981 | 5,560 |
| 2016 | 5,721 | 6,449 | 4,705 | 5,430 | 2,682 | 4,655 | 4,968 |
| 2015 | 6,035 | 5,518 | 4,013 | 5,319 | 2,730 | 4,367 | 3,667 |
| 2014 | 7,907 | 7,917 | 5,580 | 7,844 | 8,746 | 6,710 | 5,956 |
| 2013 | 9,383 | 8,770 | 8,440 | 8,628 | 4,464 | 7,082 | 3,667 |
| 2012 | 8,409 | 6,933 | 5,987 | 5,722 | 5,036 | 5,398 | 6,165 |
| 2011 | 8,523 | 7,921 | 9,368 | 6,855 | 4,437 | 6,593 | 7,083 |
| 2010 | 7,717 | 6,929 | 10,068 | 6,794 | 4,002 | — | — |
| 2009 | 8,357 | 7,982 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | 7,115 | 7,199 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | 9,038 | 8,255 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2006 | 8,656 | 8,457 | — | — | — | — | — |
Abundant water, favourable soil and climate conditions, and limited human interaction have endowed the Malnad region with richbiodiversity comprising hundreds of endemic species offlora andfauna. The natural habitats of the region such as theKudremukh National Park,Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, andPushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary play a crucial role in the conservation of several endangered species. These protected areas are home to tigers, leopards, elephants, gaurs, lion-tailed macaques, hornbills, king cobras, as well as countless other plant species. New species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians,[14] insects,plants,[15] lichens[16] and fungi[17] keep getting discovered by field biology researchers. It is not without reason that the Western Ghats is among the eighthottest ofbiodiversity hotspots in the world.[18]
Responding to the urgency of conservation of endangered riverine fish species likemahseer,haragi,gar,beril,setnai barb, glassy fish andkillifish, the Karnataka Biodiversity Board in 2020 recommended setting up fishsanctuaries, ormatsyadhamas in numerous riverbeds in Malnad.[19]
Like everywhere else on Earth,climate change is causing noticeable and erratic variations in rainfall and temperature patterns in Malenadu. Apart from the now unavoidable climatic uncertainties, the Malnad region faces major short-term and long-term anthropogenic threats despite, or perhaps due to, its rich natural wealth.
Organised agriculture is known to be practised on land parcels reclaimed from forest clearings for a thousand years.[20] Recent inclination towards intensive plantations, overuse of chemical inputs in farming andmonocropping have led to degradation of soil, loss of fertility as well as a far-reaching negative impact on localagro-biodiversity andfood-webs.
Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project is a₹10,240crore (US$1.2 billion) infrastructure initiative proposed by theKarnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), claimed to generate 2,000 MW ofclean energy by storing and releasing water between two existing reservoirs to balance grid loads. The project critically threatens the region's biodiversity, especially the habitat of the endangeredLion-Tailed Macaque. The Karnataka government’s move to proceed with the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project without securing full environmental and forest clearances has prompted strong opposition from environmentalists and local communities.[21] It is alleged by litigant individuals and organisations that the project has progressed without the requisite consent from the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change and National Wildlife Board, and that the acquisition of lands necessary for the project remains unresolved.[22]Mapping Malnad, a Bengaluru-basednon-governmental organisation, published an elaborate citizen research report[23] on the project, claiming that the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project by KPCL is progressing based on inadequate, misleading, and flawed data, raising serious concerns such as the underreporting of forest land diversion and potential ecological impacts.[24]
As much as large-scale road and energy infrastructure projects, the growing number of casual visitors, tourists in or nearecologically fragile regions such as pristine waterfalls, deep forests and mountainous grasslands is exerting a strain on the delicate ecology of the region. State supported encouragement to tourism[25] is often limited by dangerous terrain,[26] inadequate infrastructure like roads, bridges, lack of safety measures and waste management. There are simultaneous efforts and calls by individuals and environment organisations for caution and restraint.[27] A social media content creator met with a fatal fall in the Western Ghats in July 2024.[28] While some incidents make their way to the news,[29] many more accidents go unreported due to the remote location of most waterfalls.