Malnad

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Malnad (an English word for Malenadu in Kannada, male means 'hills' and nadu means 'land') is a region of Karnataka state in South India. In Kerala, it is called Malanad. Malnad covers the western and eastern slopes of the Western Ghats or Sahyadri mountain range, roughly 100 kilometers in width. The flatlands of the Deccan plateau, being north Karnataka and old Mysore, lie to the east. The Kodagu (Coorg) region lies to the south. To the west, between the Ghats and the Arabian Sea, lies the Tulu Nadu region of the Malabar coast. Malnad covers portions of Shimoga, Chikmagalur, North Kanara, and Hassan districts.

The hills of Malnad are richly forested, and coffee is grown in great abundance. Mudigere, Sakleshpura, Devarunda (also called Devavrunda), Balehonnur and Thannodi are towns in the coffee-growing region. Mullaiyanagiri, at 6,317 feet, is the highest peak in Karnataka. Kemmangundi at 4,702 feet 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. Mudigere is also famous as the birthplace of the Hoysala dynasty. Hoysala, the founder of the dynasty, was born in the small village of Angadi.

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