Malenadu

Terrain

True to its name Malenadu, the region is endowed with abundant hills and plenty of rainfall. The region comprises 13 districts spanning a broadly sub-coastal North-South axis, and is a prominent section of the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats are pivotal to the climate and seasons across India. The Sahyadri ranges (another name of the Western Ghats) block the rain-bearing South-West monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea, resulting in heavy rainfall along the western windward side and coastal Karnataka; and forming a rain shadow region on the eastern leeward side. Hills, heavy rainfall, rich sub-tropical forests and rivers flowing down the mountains are the defining geographical features. Temperatures in Malenadu remain moderate throughout the year. Summer temperatures remain within 35 °C (95 °F). Winters are mild and pleasant, while the monsoon months between June and September are a time of torrential rains, crossing 3,000 millimetres (120 in) in many stations.^[4]

Mountain Ranges, Peaks and Waterfalls

Malnad has some of the highest mountain peaks in Karnataka. Mullayyanagiri located in the Chandra Drona ranges of the Western Ghats of Chikmagalur Taluk at a height of 1,925 metres (6,316 ft), is the highest peak in Karnataka. Kodachadri, Kodagu (Coorg) are hill-stations in the region. Kemmannugundi, Kudremukh with distinctive horse-face shape, Kalhattagiri, Rudragiri, and Devarammannagudda^[5] are other significant mountain peaks also known for their scenic treks across high grasslands.

Apart from the well-known Jog Falls (Gersoppa), Mallalli Falls in the Pushpagiri range, Mookanamane Falls (or Mookana Mane Falls) near Sakleshpur, Abbey Falls near Madikeri in Coorg, Chelavara Falls (also called Embepare): near the Tadiandamol Peak, Irupu Falls in the Brahmagiri range, Unchalli Falls, (or Lushington Falls, or Keppa Joga) near Sirsi, the spectacular 200 ft Magod Falls near Yallapur, Devaragundi Falls near Thodikana, Jhari Falls (Buttermilk Falls) and the Hebbe Falls in Chikmagalur, and Kapilatirtha are some of the other known and visited waterfalls in Malnad.

Rivers and Groundwater

The dense forests and hill ranges of Malenadu region are vital for water security, serving as natural sponges, absorbing the monsoon precipitation, and for months beyond the season, steadily feeding major rivers like the Sharavathi, Tunga, Bhadra, and Netravathi, which support hydroelectric power projects and provide irrigation and drinking water across Karnataka.

Rainfall

The Western Ghats acts as the rain barrier during south-west monsoon season. This region is one of the wettest regions in the world, with some rainfall measurements of over 7,000 mm (280 in).

Agricultural Practices

Organised agriculture is known to be practised on land parcels reclaimed from forest clearings for a thousand years.^[20] Recent inclination towards intensive plantations, overuse of chemical inputs in farming and monocropping have led to degradation of soil, loss of fertility as well as a far-reaching negative impact on local agro-biodiversity and food-webs.

Development Projects

Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project is a ₹10,240 crore (US$1.2 billion) infrastructure initiative proposed by the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), claimed to generate 2,000 MW of renewable energy by storing and releasing water between two existing reservoirs to balance grid loads. The project critically threatens the region's biodiversity, especially the habitat of the endangered Lion-Tailed Macaque. The Karnataka government’s move to proceed with the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project without securing full environmental and forest clearances has prompted strong opposition from environmentalists and local communities.^[21] It is alleged by litigant individuals and organisations that the project has progressed without the requisite consent from the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change and National Wildlife Board, and that the acquisition of lands necessary for the project remains unresolved.^[22] Mapping Malnad, a Bengaluru-based non-governmental organisation, published an elaborate citizen research report^[23] on the project, claiming that the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project by KPCL is progressing based on inadequate, misleading, and flawed data, raising serious concerns such as the underreporting of forest land diversion and potential ecological impacts.^[24]

Overtourism

As much as large-scale road and energy infrastructure projects, the growing number of casual visitors, tourists in or near ecologically fragile regions such as pristine waterfalls, deep forests and mountainous grasslands is exerting a strain on the delicate ecology of the region. State supported encouragement to tourism^[25] is often limited by dangerous terrain,^[26] inadequate infrastructure like roads, bridges, lack of safety measures and waste management. There are simultaneous efforts and calls by individuals and environment organisations for caution and restraint.^[27] A social media content creator met with a fatal fall in the Western Ghats in July 2024.^[28] While some incidents make their way to the news,^[29] many more accidents go unreported due to the remote location of most waterfalls.

Development Projects in Malnad Region