The name Wayanad has been derived from the expression 'Vayal nadu' - the village of paddy fields.This northern district, with it's rugged landscape and pastoral valleys, pose a delightful challenge for hikers and nature lovers.Wynad's climate and geography make it ideal for the cultivation of coffee, tea, pepper and rubber. The district Area is about 2131 sqkm. When the state of Kerala was formed in 1956, Wayanad was part of Kannur district. Later South Wayanad was added to Kozhikode district and then on November 1, 1980 North and South Wayanad joined together to form the present Wayanad district.Trekking to the Chembra peak is one of the risky tourist endeavours. Chembra peak is the highest peak in Wayanad at 2100m. above mean sea level. It is14 kms. west of Kalpetta. Trekking to the top of this peak takes almost a day. Tourists can also stay one or two days at the top of the peak in temporary camps.The Edakkal Caves are at Ambukutty Mala. It is a pre-historic rock shelter formed naturally out of a strange disposition of three huge boulders making one to rest on the other two with its bottom jutting out in between and serving as the roof. Edakkal literally means a stone in between.

BARE FACTS
District	Wayanad
Area (in sq.km.)	2,131
Population	786,627
Males	393,397
Females	393,230
Sex ratio : Females/1000	1000
Density of Population	369
Per Capita Income (in Rs)	34123
Literacy rate	85.52%; Male 90.28%; Female 80.80%
Coastal line in km.	Nil
Water bodied area in ha.	936
Forest area in ha.	78787
Assembly Constituencies	1. Kalpatta   2. North Wayanad  3. Sulthan Batheri