Mananthavady is a municipality and taluk in the Wayanad district of Kerala, India.It is the Largest Town in Wayanad. The town is located on the banks of Mananthavady River, a tributary of the Kabini River. The Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha is headquartered in the town, and the district hospital in Mananthavady is the only major treatment facility for the tribal communities of Wayanad. 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". 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 Government College Mananthavady was established in 1981, and was the only centre for higher learning in North Wayanad for more than a decade. In 1995, Mary Matha Arts & Science College opened in the government-aided sector. The two private colleges are P.K.K.M. College of Applied Science and W.M.O. Imam Gazzali Arts & Science College. All of the above colleges are affiliated with Kannur University, which has a campus in Mananthavady providing instruction in teacher education, zoology, and rural and tribal sociology. In 1999, Government Engineering College, Mananthavady, opened as the first engineering college in Wayanad district. It is affiliated with Kerala Technological University, and offers bachelor's and master's degree courses in computer science, electronics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, network security and communications engineering.
Post office road or Thazhe angadi is a suburb of Mananthavady, known for its temples, rivers, bridges and other attractions.
Boys Town
Boys town has a herbal garden, nature care centre, and sericulture unit. These were established by the Wayanad Social Service Society and Gene Park.
Kuruva Islands
is a protected river delta system.
Pakshi Pathalam
is a hiking site about from Thirunelli temple, near Kattikkkulam. The trails feature an ancient cave on a hillock with birdwatching.
Pazhashi Memorial
is the tomb of Pazhassi Raja, who died while fighting the British Raj. This museum is located half a kilometre from the bus station.
Wildlife sanctuaries
Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary is located towards Coorg. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1973, and borders the protected area network of Nagarhole and Bandipur on the northeast and Mudumalai of Tamil Nadu on the southeast. Rich in bio-diversity, the sanctuary is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which has been established with the specific objective of conserving the biological heritage of the region. The sanctuary is very rich in flora and fauna.
Valliyoorkavu Temple
Valliyoorkkavu is a temple located from the town, dedicated to the mother goddess which is worshipped in three principal forms of Vana Durga, Bhadrakali and Jala Durga. It is the most important place of worship for the tribal communities. An annual 15-day festival held in March is the grandest of all festivals in the district, and is the largest congregation of tribal peoples in the district.
Minor attractions
The Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery is located on the Mysore Road. It regularly hosts exhibitions of various Indian artists and organizes cultural events.
A Latin church is situated at the heart of the town, and dates to the colonial past.
Paalamandhapam Devi Temple and Malakkari Temple Koolivayal are located from Mananthavady, towards Panamaram town.
Thrissilery Siva Temple is a well-known shrine in Wayanad situated in Thrissilery. There is a Jala Durga temple in the same complex.
Muthireri kavu is a temple associated with Kottiyoor Vysakha Mahotsavam, situated in the small village of Muthireri, about from Mananthavady.
Holy Trinity CSI Church Mananthavady is an 18th-century church in Wayanad, located near the municipal bus stand.
Transportation
The nearest railway station is at Vatakara, away. A Thalassery–Manathavady–Mysore railway line is being planned. The nearest airport is Kannur International Airport at Mattannur, away. Mysore Airport is away, followed by Kozhikode International Airport at and Bengaluru International Airport at. 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 and closed at night due to animal crossings. The highway goes from Kainatty to Mysore via Bavali, Jayapura. Another road permits access to Gonikoppal, Kodagu district, away via Kartikulam, Tholpetty forest, Kutta and Ponnampet.
