Wayanad District History

Introduction

Wayanad, Located in the misty green Western Ghats of Kerala, is honestly not just some weekend hill station,Wayanad District also wishpers a lots of history and It’s one of those places where if you walk through the forests or step into a cave, you feel like the past is still alive. Every stone, every little stream almost has a story to whisper.

People usually come here for the cool weather, the waterfalls, or to see wild elephants. But Wayanad has layers and layers of history—tribes, kings, spice traders, Tipu Sultan, the British, and of course, the brave Pazhassi Raja.

So, in this piece let’s just wander through Wayanad’s past… not in a boring classroom way, but more like how locals talk about it—bits of fact, a little storytelling, and a lot of history hidden in plain sight.

Prehistoric Wayanad – The Dawn of Civilization

Edakkal Caves history

Edakkal caves where main Wayanad district history begins, If you ask anyone about history in Wayanad, the first name that pops up is Edakkal Caves. These caves sit on Ambukuthi hills near Sultan Bathery. They are not just holes in rocks, they’re like an ancient art gallery.

The carvings here are said to be over 6000 years old. Imagine that—long before any dynasty, long before written Malayalam even existed, people here were already drawing their lives on cave walls. You’ll see animals, hunters with bows, strange symbols, and even human figures. Standing there, you get goosebumps. It’s like someone from thousands of years ago is saying: “Hey, we were here too.”

Stone Age & Megalithic Culture

Apart from the caves, Wayanad is sprinkled with megalithic structures—dolmens, cairns, and those tall menhir stones. Some people say they were burial places, others think rituals. Whatever the case, they show that Stone Age life here was organized and spiritual, not just survival.

Ancient Kingdoms of Wayanad

Dravidian Settlements

Another part of Wayanad district history is related to Dravidian Settlements. Before any “kingdom” stuff, Wayanad was home to Dravidian tribes like Kurichiyas, Paniyas, Adiyas, and Kurumas. These were the real first locals. They hunted, farmed, sang songs, and passed on traditions. Even today, you’ll still see some of those customs alive in festivals or tribal villages.

Chera Dynasty Rule

From the 3rd century BCE till around 12th century CE, Wayanad came under the Cheras. Because of its location between Mysore and Malabar, this place became a spice highway. Pepper from here reached ports like Muziris, then off to Arabia and even Rome. Hard to believe, but tiny peppercorns from Wayanad helped connect Kerala to the world.

Ganga & Hoysala Invasions

Later, Karnataka dynasties like the Gangas and Hoysalas came marching in. They built temples, forts, and left their cultural fingerprints. You can see traces even today in ruins scattered around the hills.

Vijayanagara Empire

By the 14th century, the big Vijayanagara Empire absorbed Wayanad. They taxed the land, used its resources, and also forced tribes to work. On the other hand, they set up better routes which made trade smoother.

Mysore Wodeyars

Then came the Mysore Wodeyars. They built strong trade networks, especially for pepper, cardamom, and rice. Their rule basically set the ground for what was to follow—Tipu Sultan’s entry and the fight with the British.

Colonial Wayanad – Tipu Sultan, Kottayam Rajas & The British

Tipu Sultan’s Rule

In the late 1700s, Tipu Sultan—the “Tiger of Mysore”—took control of Wayanad. He built garrisons, military roads, and even turned a temple into an armory. That’s why the place got the name Sultan Bathery (Sultan’s Battery). Wayanad became a war-front against the British.

Kottayam Rajas in Wayanad

At the same time, the Kottayam Rajas from North Malabar had deep roots here. They weren’t like outside invaders; they were tied to the land and the tribes. Especially the Kurichiyas, who trusted them.

The most famous among them, of course, was Pazhassi Raja. While many rulers compromised, the Kottayam Rajas stood up against both Tipu and the British. They knew the forest, they knew the people, and that made them a nightmare for colonial armies.

Pazhassi Raja’s Resistance

If there’s one name people remember in Wayanad’s history, it’s Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja—the Lion of Kerala. From 1795 to 1805, he waged guerrilla war against the British. His soldiers hid in bamboo groves, attacked suddenly, and vanished into the mist. The Kurichiyas were his backbone.

He was killed in 1805, but ask anyone in Wayanad and they’ll tell you his story proudly. For locals, Pazhassi Raja wasn’t just a king, he was a freedom fighter before India even started talking about independence.

British Rule

After Tipu fell in 1799 and Pazhassi Raja died, the British East India Company finally got Wayanad under their thumb. Plantations of tea and coffee popped up, roads were built, and administration tightened. But this “progress” mainly pushed tribes out of their lands and made Wayanad’s economy serve colonial profit.

Tribal Heritage of Wayanad

Main Tribes

Paniyas – Farmers and field workers.

Kurichiyas – Deadly archers, backbone of Pazhassi Raja’s army.

Adiyas – Once bonded laborers.

Kattunaikkans – True forest people, skilled hunters.

Kurumas – Considered descendants of ancient tribes.

Tribal Culture

Even today, tribal communities keep alive old customs. Their songs, dances, drumming… everything ties back to nature. They pray to forests, hills, rivers, and ancestors. For them, nature isn’t separate—it’s family.

Post-Independence Wayanad

After 1947, Wayanad stayed under the Malabar district of Madras Presidency. Then in 1956, it joined Kerala. Finally, in 1980, Wayanad was made its own district, separated from Kozhikode and Kannur.

Heritage Sites

Edakkal Caves – Those ancient carvings.

Pazhassi Tomb – His memorial at Mananthavady.

Jain Temples – Silent witnesses of another era.

Thirunelli Temple – Called the “Kashi of the South.”

Wayanad’s Role in Kerala’s Identity

Wayanad is more than misty hills and tea estates. Its history of tribes, trade, and resistance is what shaped much of northern Kerala’s identity. Ask any Malayali about Wayanad and you’ll see their eyes light up—it’s both heritage and pride.

FAQs

Q1: Why is Wayanad historically important?
Because it has Stone Age caves, ancient spice trade routes, tribal heritage, and the famous Pazhassi Raja rebellion.

Q2: Who all ruled Wayanad?
Chera dynasty, Gangas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara, Mysore Wodeyars, Kottayam Rajas, Tipu Sultan, and later the British.

Q3: Oldest sites in Wayanad?
Edakkal Caves, Thirunelli Temple, Jain Temples, Pazhassi Tomb.

Conclusion

The story of Wayanad is not just about kings and dates. It’s about cavemen scratching drawings on rocks, tribes singing in the forest, kings fighting foreign armies, and everyday people keeping their traditions alive.

When you walk here today, between misty hills and green paddy fields, you’re not just seeing a tourist spot—you’re stepping on the footprints of thousands of years of human life. And that’s what makes Wayanad so special.