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Kuttanad
Kuttanadan Below Sea Level Farming Region | |
|---|---|
Region | |
| GIAHS Kuttanad | |
 Kettuvallams line up in the Kuttanad region | |
| Nickname(s): Lowest Region of India, Lowest Region of the Indian Subcontinent | |
  Kuttanad Location in Kerala, India  Kuttanad Kuttanad (India) | |
| Coordinates: 9°25′30″N 76°27′50″E / 9.42500°N 76.46389°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta |
| Elevation | −2.7 m (−8.9 ft) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 688- |
| Telephone code | 0477 |
| Vehicle registration | KL 66 |
| Nearest city | Alappuzha, Kottayam, Changanassery |
| Website | https://www.kuttanadan.com |
Kuttanad is a river delta landscape region in the state of Kerala, India, known for its vast paddy fields and geographical peculiarities.[1] It is in the Districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. The region has the lowest altitude in India, and is one of the few places in the world where farming is carried on around 1.2 to 3.0 metres (4 to 10 ft) below sea level,[2][3], using rice paddies largely located on reclaimed land amid the delta.[1] Kuttanad is historically important in the ancient history of South India and is the major rice producer in the state. Farmers of Kuttanad are famous for Biosaline Farming. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has declared the Kuttanad Farming System as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) in 2013.
Four of Kerala's major rivers, the Pamba, Meenachil, Achankovil and Manimala flow into the region. It is well known for its boat race in the Punnamada Backwaters, known in Malayalam as Vallamkalli.
Kuttanad has no recorded history on the origin of the land. But a blend of myths and legends is transferred from generation to generation orally among local people. Kuttanad was once believed to be a wild forest with dense tree growth which was destroyed subsequently by a wild fire. Chuttanad (place of the burnt forest), was eventually called Kuttanad. Until the recent past burned black wooden logs were mined from paddy fields called as ‘Karinilam’(Black paddy fields). This fact substantiates the theory of Chuttanad evolving to Kuttanad. Ramankary, Puthukkary, Amichakary, Oorukkary, Mithrakary, Mampuzhakary, Kainakary, Chathurthiakary, Thakazhy, Edathua, Chambakkulam, Mankombu and Chennamkary are some familiar place names in Kuttanad.
- ^ a b "Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System | FAO". www.fao.org. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Press Trust of India (1 June 2020). "Kerala Boat Ferries Lone Passenger To Help Her Take Exam". NDTV. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ Suchitra, M (13 August 2003). "Thirst below sea level". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2020.