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 in width. It includes the districts of Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Udupi, Belgaum, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan District, Kodagu district. The region experiences heavy annual rainfall of ; most notably, the village of Agumbe in the region, receives the highest annual rainfall in Karnataka of .
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 Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu district, and Hassan district. Agumbe, Chikmagalur, Yana, Dandeli, Sirsi, Yellapur, and the historical region of Banavasi all belong to Malenadu.
Etymology
The origin of the term Malenadu is unclear, as the word
Male in Kannada can have two different meanings depending on pronunciation. Malē (without the retroflex '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.
Constituencies
Presently, the Development Board operates in part or all of 13 districts of the state, and comprises 65 Assembly constituencies and 61
taluks:
|
|
| Bailahongal, Belgaum, Hukkeri, Khanapur, Saudi |
| Chamarajanagar, Gundlupet, Kollegal, Hanuru |
| Kadur, Koppa, Chikmagalur, Mudigere, Narasimharajapur, Shringeri, Tarikere, Ajjampura |
| Mangaluru, Puttur, Sulya, Bantwal, Belthangadi, Mudubidri, Kadaba |
| Channagiri, Honnali, Nyamathi |
| Kalaghatagi, Alnanavara |
| Alur, Arakalagud, Belur, Sakaleshpur |
| Hangal, Hirekerur, Rettihalli, Byadagi, Savanur, Shiggaon |
| Madikeri, Somavarpet, Virajpet |
| Heggadadevana kote, Hunasur, Periyapattana, Sargur |
| Bhadravati, Shivamogga, Sagar, Soraba, Hosanagara, Thirthahalli, Shikaripura |
| Udupi, Kundapur, Karkala, Brahmavara, Kapu, Byndoor, Hebri |
| Ankola, Bhatkal, Haliyal, Honnavara, Karwar, Kumta, Mundagod, Siddapur, Sirsi, Joida, Yallapur, Dandeli |
Climate and Geography
Terrain
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 the
Western Ghats. The Western Ghats are pivotal to the climate and seasons across India. The
Sahyadri ranges (another name of the Western Ghats) block the rain-bearing South-West
monsoon winds from the
Arabian Sea, resulting in heavy rainfall along the western windward side and coastal Karnataka; and forming a
rain shadow region on the eastern
leeward 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 . Winters are mild and pleasant, while the monsoon months between June and September are a time of torrential rains, crossing in many stations.
Mountain Ranges, Peaks and Waterfalls
Malnad has some of the highest mountain peaks in Karnataka.
Mullayyanagiri located in the
Baba Budangiri ranges of the
Western Ghats of
Chikkamagaluru Taluk at a height of 1,925 metres (6,316 ft), is the highest peak in
Karnataka.
Kodachadri,
Kodagu district (
Coorg) are hill-stations in the region.
Kemmangundi,
Kudremukha with distinctive horse-face shape, Kalhattagiri, Rudragiri, and Devarammannagudda
are other significant mountain peaks also known for their scenic treks across high grasslands.
Apart from the well-known Jog Falls (Gersoppa Falls), Mallalli Falls Falls in the Pushpagiri range, Mookanamane Falls (or Mookana Mane Falls) near Sakleshpur, Abbey Falls near Madikeri in Coorg, Chelavara Falls (also called Embepare): near the Tadiandamol Peak, Irupu Falls in the Brahmagiri range, Unchalli Falls, (or Unchalli Falls Falls, or Keppa Joga) near Sirsi, the spectacular 200 ft Magod Falls near Yallapur, Devaragundi Falls near Thodikana, Jhari Falls (Buttermilk Falls) and the Hebbe Falls in Chikmagalur, and Kapilatirtha are some of the other known and visited waterfalls in Malnad.
Rivers and Groundwater
The dense forests and hill ranges of Malenadu region are vital for
water security, serving as natural sponges, absorbing the monsoon precipitation, and for months beyond the season, steadily feeding major rivers like the
Sharavati, Tunga, Bhadra, and
Netravati River, which support hydroelectric power projects and provide irrigation and drinking water across Karnataka.
Rainfall
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 .
| +Malenadu villages with highest rainfall
! rowspan="2" | Year
! colspan="7" | Rainfall (mm)[ Hulikal in Shimoga district is wettest in State from TheHindu.com accessed 23 March 2013] |
|
| 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 | | | | | |
Biodiversity
Abundant water, favourable soil and climate conditions, and limited human interaction have endowed the Malnad region with rich
biodiversity comprising hundreds of endemic species of
flora and
fauna. The natural habitats of the region such as the Kudremukh National Park, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, and Pushpagiri 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,
insects,
Plant,
lichens
and fungi
keep getting discovered by field biology researchers. It is not without reason that the Western Ghats is among the eight
hottest of biodiversity hotspots in the world.
Responding to the urgency of conservation of endangered riverine fish species like mahseer, haragi, gar, beril, setnai barb, glassy fish and killifish, the Karnataka Biodiversity Board in 2020 recommended setting up fish sanctuaries, or matsyadhamas in numerous riverbeds in Malnad.
Anthropogenic Threats and Challenges
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.
Agricultural Practices
Organised agriculture is known to be practised on land parcels reclaimed from forest clearings for a thousand years.
Recent inclination towards intensive plantations, overuse of chemical inputs in farming and
monocropping have led to degradation of soil, loss of fertility as well as a far-reaching negative impact on local
Agrobiodiversity and
Food web.
Development Projects
Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project is a infrastructure initiative proposed by the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), claimed to generate 2,000 MW of
clean 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 endangered Lion-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.
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.
, a Bengaluru-based non-governmental organisation, published an elaborate citizen research report
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.
overtourism">
Overtourism
As much as large-scale road and energy infrastructure projects, the growing number of casual visitors, tourists in or near ecologically 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
is often limited by dangerous terrain,
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.
A social media content creator met with a fatal fall in the Western Ghats in July 2024.
While some incidents make their way to the news,
many more accidents go unreported due to the remote location of most waterfalls.
Development Projects in Malnad Region
