Malnad (or Malenadu) is a region in the state of Karnataka, India. Malenadu covers the western and eastern slopes of the Western Ghats mountain range and is roughly 100 kilometers in width. It includes the districts of Uttara Kannada, Chikmagalur, Chamarajanagar, Udupi, Belgaum, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Kodagu, Shimoga. The region experiences heavy annual rainfall of 1,000–3,800 millimetres (39–150 inches); it includes the village of Agumbe, which receives the highest annual rainfall in Karnataka (over 10,000 mm).
This region of the state experiences unique development problems due to settlement patterns, sparse population, topography, dense forest, and numerous rivulets. Villages in the Malnad are scattered throughout remote areas. To encourage development in the area, the l Area Development Board was created to implement necessary projects. The districts covered initially in this region were Shivamogga, Chikmagalur, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu, and Hassan. Presently, the Development Board operates in part or all of 13 districts of the state, and comprises 65 Assembly constituencies and 61 taluks:
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).
13°10′N 75°30′E / 13.167°N 75.500°E / 13.167; 75.500