Malenadu

Malenadu Malnad
Malenadu region shown in Green
Country	India
State	Karnataka
Region	Malnad
Distritcs	Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Kodagu, Belagavi, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi district
Languages
• Official	Kannada
• Regional	Havyaka Kannada, Konkani, Kodava, Are Bhashe, Tulu
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)

Malenadu is a region in the state of Karnataka in India. Malenadu covers the western and eastern slopes of the Western Ghats or Sahyadri mountain range, and is roughly 100 kilometers in width. It is situated between Coastal Karnataka and Bayaluseeme regions of Karnataka.

The word Malenadu is derived from kannada word 'male' meaning 'rain' and 'nādu' meaning 'land'. Together, they mean 'Land of rain'.

Malenadu covers portions of Belagavi, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kodagu and parts of Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. The hills of Malenadu are richly forested. Coffee and Arecanut are grown in many places. Sirsi, Siddapura, Yellapur, Sagara, Thirthahalli, Koppa, Sringeri, Narasimharajapura, Mudigere, Sakleshpura, Aldur, Balehonnur are major business centres in Malnad part of Karnataka. Madikeri and Somavarapete, Chikkamagaluru are towns in the coffee-growing region. Mullayanagiri, at 6,317 feet (1,925 m), is the highest peak in Karnataka. Kemmangundi at 4,702 feet (1,433 m) 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.