Mananthavadi
Mananthavady is a municipality and taluk in the Wayanad district of Kerala, India.It is the Largest City in Wayanad and also largest municipality of Kerala in terms of area. The town is located on the banks of Mananthavady River,[not verified in body] a tributary of the Kabini River. The Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha is headquartered in the town,[not verified in body] and the district hospital and the Medical College in Mananthavady is the only major treatment facility for the tribal communities of Wayanad.
Mananthavady is located 28 kilometres (17 mi) north-east of the district headquarters of Kalpetta, 38 km (24 mi) from sultan Bathery, 80 km (50 mi) east of Thalassery and 92 km (57 mi) north-east of Kozhikode (via Kutyady). Mananthavady is the nearest municipality in Kerala to Mysore, 105 km (65 mi) away via Kartikulam, Bavali and H D Kote through Nagarhole National Park.
Source - Wikipedia [Apr 2021]
The area had once been ruled by the Pazhassi dynasty and the tomb of Pazhassi Raja is an important heritage site located in the heart of the town. Mananthavady had also been a major army camp for the British during their campaign against Pazhassi. Vestiges of the colonial period can still be seen around Mananthavady.
Mananthavady has been referred to as Hosenkadi in a dictum scribbled under a copper artefact found at the Ananthanathaswamy Temple at Varadoor. The dominant view on the etymology is that the word is derived from "Mane Eytha Vady" (English: "The place where an arrow was shot at the deer"). This view is strengthened by the existence of a place called Ambukuthy, literally "the location where the arrow pierced", on the outskirts of the town.
The nearest railway station is at Vatakara, 65 km (40 mi) away. A Thalassery–Manathavady–Mysore railway line is being planned. The nearest airport is Kannur International Airport at Mattannur, 66 km (41 mi) away. Mysore Airport is 109 km (68 mi) away, followed by Kozhikode International Airport at 120 km (75 mi) and Bengaluru International Airport at 290 km (180 mi).
The Thalassery–Bavali Road passes through Mananthavady and is the town's main road, allowing connection to Mysore, Karnataka. The road to Mysore through Nagarhole National Park has been declared a National Highway by the central government; it is parallel to the Kabini River ,night travel in this road is regulated so that the road is closed from 6PM to 6AM. The highway goes from Kainatty (at the junction of NH 212[766]) to Mysore via Bavali, Jayapura. Another road permits access to Gonikoppal, Kodagu district, 60 km (37 mi) away via Kartikulam, Tholpetty forest, Kutta and Ponnampet.
