Malnad (Kannada: ಮಲೆನಾಡು) (an English word for Malenadu in Kannada, male means 'hill' and nadu means 'land') is a region of Karnataka state in South India. Malnad covers the western and eastern slopes of the Western Ghats or Sahyadri mountain range, roughly 100 kilometers in width. Malnad covers portions of Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Uttara Kannada,Coorg and Hassan districts.

Geography

The hills of Malnad are richly forested, and coffee is grown in great abundance. Mudigere, Sakleshpura, Aldur, Balehonnur, Thannodi, Madikeri and Somavarpeet are towns in the coffee-growing region. Mullayanagiri, at , is the highest peak in Karnataka. Kemmangundi at above sea level, is a popular hill station, and was a favorite retreat of Mysore's former Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. Kalhatti Falls, 10 km from Kemmangundi, has a drop of 122 meters. Gangamoola peak, 10 km from the town of Kudremukh, is revered as the source of the Bhadra, Nethravathi and Tunga rivers.

The Western Ghats are an area of great biodiversity, and is one of Conservation International's biodiversity hotspots. Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary in Muthodi is one of India's Project Tiger sanctuaries.

The important towns in the region are Chickmagalur, Mudigere, Koppa, Sringeri, Sakleshpur, Sagara, Hosanagar, Teerthahalli, Sirsi, Siddapura, Dandeli, Yellapura, Virajpet, Narasimharajapura, Madikeri and Kushalnagar.

Angadi in Mudigere taluk, Chikmagalur district is famous as the birthplace of the Hoysala dynasty.

Climate

The malnad region is humid and has an annual rainfall of 1000 to 3800 mm.

Notes

External links

• Elephant attacks spread fear in Malnad region
• Coming home to Malnad
• Nyctibatrachus major in Malnad, India
• Malenadu Region of Karnataka