Mananthavady is a small town on the banks of the Kabini River in the district of Wayanad in Kerala. It is nestled in the Western Ghats, southeast of Cannanore, at an elevation of 500 metres above the Mean Sea Level. It is the headquarters of the Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha. The Adivasi Autonomous Council, which led the tribal rights movement under the leadership of C. K. Janu, was formed in a small hamlet called Panavalli near Mananthavady.
Best For:
Its close proximity to the wild life sanctuaries such as Nagarhole, Begur and Muthanga, make Mananthavady a popular tourist destination. Most visitors prefer to stay here and enjoy their trips to the forests.
The area around Mananthavady was once ruled by the Pazhassi Dynasty. Panmaran located 29 kms from Sultan Battery, has the remnants of the historic Pazhassi Raja Fort. This fort was his stronghold till the British seized it in 1805. At Pulpally, there is a cave in which Pazhassi Raja took refuge until he was captured. The Raja is also believed to have gifted a temple, the Mariamma Kovil to the local tribesmen as a reward for their help in his fight against the British invaders.
The year is classified into four seasons – cold weather during December, January and February; hot weather from March to May; the southwest monsoon rains from June to September and the northeast monsoon during October and November. The mean average rainfall in the district is 2322 mm. High velocity winds are common during the monsoon season so it is not advisable to visit during this period. The best time to visit is during the cold season.
There are lots of ATM’s at Mananthavady but credit cards are not accepted so all card transactions have to be done at nearby Kalpetta. It is safer to get foreign currency exchanged at the three international airports of Kerala, namely, Thiruvanantapuram, Cochin and Calicut as there are inadequate resources at Mananthavady.
Domestic Flights The airports of Kerala are well connected to the major cities of India, with most domestic carriers plying daily.
International Flight:
Flights from most of the cities around the world operate to Thiruvantapuram, Cochin and Calicut, the three international airports of Kerala. Flights from some Middle East countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, operate on a daily basis. Emirates Airline follows the UK- Dubai-Kerala route while Air Sri Lanka flies UK- Colombo- Kerala.
Road Travel Mananthavady is well connected to all the major cities of Kerala and India by a network of roads. There are frequent buses from Cannanore, Tellicherry and Calicut to Mananthavady.
Train Travel The nearest railway station is at Calicut but if you plan to visit the Begur Wildlife Sanctuary, the nearest railway station is at Thalassery in Kannur district, about 80 kms from Mananthavady.
Pazhassi Kudeeram is the tomb of Pazhassi Raja. He died fighting against the British forces on 30th November 1805 and proved to be a source of inspiration to many others who chose to follow in his footsteps. There is a round the clock bus service here from the Calicut KSRTC bus stand. Lots of people from Mysore and Bangalore pay a visit to the tomb, travelling by road.
Gandhi Park is the junction where political meetings are held almost daily in Mananthavady.
Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, located 16 kms east of Sultan Battery and 15 kms from Mananthavady, near the Karnataka border, is the biggest abode of wild animals in the Malabar. Elephant, spotted deer, bison, tiger, cheetah and wild bear can be seen here amidst their natural habitat and visitors can also enjoy an elephant ride.
Tholpetty Wildlife Reserve, situated along the northern ridge of Wayanad is similar to Muthanga in terms of the flora and fauna found here. The moist dry deciduous forests and bamboo thickets are full of elephants, deer, tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bear and langurs.
Kuruva Island This is a breathtaking 950 acre wooded island wrapped around by rivulets and is ideal for camping and peaceful nature trails. It is uninhabited and has rare species of birds, orchids and herbs. It is 17 kms east of Mananthavady and 40 kms northwest of Sultan Battery.
Valliyoorkavu Temple located 3 kms from the town of Mananthavady is dedicated to the Mother Goddess. The deity is worshipped in three principal forms of Vana Durga, Bhadra Kali and Jala Durga. This temple is very important for the tribal community and visitors can see the tribal people performing their rituals here. The annual fifteen day festival of this temple, held between March and April, is a cheerful sight of colour and gaiety. In earlier times, bonded labour was bought and sold here during the festival, but this slave trade came to an end with the independence of India.
Latin Church in the heart of the town is a historic monument designed in the traditional Kerala style, with a gabled roof. The interesting tombstones in the church grounds are a reminder of the colonial past.
Boy’s Town is located 15 kms north of Mananthavady. It delights visitors with its herbal garden, nature care centre established by the Wayanad Social Service Society and Gene Park, the Indo-Danish project for the promotion of herbal gardening.
Shopping:
There is a mid-size shopping centre at Mananthavady. Visitors can purchase spices, tea and coffee while trekking through the estates and plantations where small stalls are set up with spices on display.
Hotel Reviera Tourist Home located on the Post Office Road provides simple and comfortable accommodation.
Kandeth Home located 6 kms from the Mananthavady bus station is surrounded by three hectares of coffee, rubber, pepper, banana and jackfruit and mango plantations.
Hotel Manasa Saras and Elite Tourist Home on Thalassery Road, Hotel Kambani on Valliyoorkavu Road and Pachyderm Palace are some of the other staying options at Mananthavady.
Mananthavady is a very small town and does not offer any special attractions in the form of nightlife. The area around the wildlife sanctuaries is thickly forested so it is best not to venture out after sunset.
Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuaryis located 40 kms from Mananthavady. It has diverse species of plant and animal life. No bus service is available to Nagarhole from Mananthavady, so visitors have to rely on jeeps or their own vehicles. There is a Public Works Department (PWD) Rest House, a Forest Rest House and Inspection Bungalow at Mananthavady.
Lakkidi, Vythiriis the ‘Gateway to Wayanad’, 700 metres above Mean Sea Level at the crest of Thamarasseri Ghat pass. Lofty peaks, gurgling streams and luxuriant forests add a touch of magic to the journey up the winding roads.
Pakshipathalamis a bird sanctuary located in the Brahmagiri Hills at Thirunelli, 32 kms from Mananthavady and is accessible only by trekking 17 kms through the forests. Special permission is required from the Forest Department to reach there as it houses many rare species of birds.
Sultan Battery - This small town is situated at a height of 1000 metres above Mean Sea Level, 24 kms from Kalpetta, the headquarters of the district of Wayanad in Kerala. It lies on the Kozhikode-Mysore Highway NH 212, which passes through the town. Sultan Battery was earlier known as Ganapathivattom, but later derived its name from the famous ruler, Tipu Sultan, also known as the ‘Tiger of Mysore’. He wanted to prevent enemy warships from entering the Gurupur River so he captured the Jain Temples and built a battery or ammunition store in black stone in the 18th century. Although the battery was initially built as a watch tower, one gets the impression of a miniature fortress. The fortress no longer exists, but the place is visited for its Jain Temples.
Nearby Sites:
Amongst the numerous temples found near Sultan Battery in Wayanad, the Thirunelli Temple, located 64 kms from Kalpetta is revered as the ‘Dakshin Kashi’ or Benares of the South. The shrine is shielded by 30 granite columns and the ground is paved with huge square pieces of granite. It is believed to have been dedicated by Lord Brahma to Lord Vishnu, in the form of Chaturbhuja and draws pilgrims from all over the country.
Near the temple is the Papnashini River, believed to have the power to wash away the sins of the devotees.
Mananthavady can be reached by road while travelling from Sultan Battery to Panmaran or while travelling from Mysore (Karnataka) to Calicut.
Visitors should not expect much at Mananthavady, especially when there are much better staying options at Vythiri, in the district of Wayanad. It has a small town square where someone or the other is always ready to say something on the microphone. A stage with seats permanently set around it, evokes curiosity amongst visitors, who are later told that meetings are held here on a daily basis.
Mananthavady is visited for its historical importance and the connection of Pazhassi Raja, who was cremated here with full military honours. His tomb and the park built in his memory are reminders of this great ruler and infuse visitors with the spirit of patriotism.
