Kasaragod district is the northernmost district of the Indian state of Kerala. Created on 24 May 1984 by carving out the northern portion of the erstwhile Kannur district, it borders Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district to the north and east, the Arabian Sea to the west, and Kannur district to the south. The district headquarters is the town of Kasaragod.
Kasaragod is known for its linguistic and cultural plurality, with Malayalam, Tulu, Kannada, Konkani, Beary and Marathi spoken across the region. It is sometimes referred to as Sapta Bhasha Sangama Bhumi, the land where seven languages meet.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Kerala |
| Headquarters | Kasaragod |
| Formation | 24 May 1984 |
| Region | North Malabar |
| Neighbouring districts | Kannur (Kerala); Dakshina Kannada (Karnataka) |
| Major languages | Malayalam, Tulu, Kannada, Konkani, Beary |
The district stretches along the Arabian Sea coast and rises eastward into the foothills of the Western Ghats. Its terrain comprises a narrow coastal plain, undulating midlands, and forested highlands. Several rivers, including the Chandragiri, Payaswini, Karingote, Mogral, Shiriya and Uppala, traverse the district before emptying into the sea. The Ranipuram hills in the eastern part of the district are noted for biodiversity and shola–grassland ecosystems.
Kasaragod district is divided into two revenue subdivisions, Kasaragod and Hosdurg, and further into taluks including Kasaragod, Hosdurg, Manjeshwar and Vellarikundu. Local self-government is organised through the Kasaragod district panchayat, municipalities at Kasaragod and Kanhangad, and a network of grama panchayats and block panchayats. The district sends representatives to the Kerala Legislative Assembly from constituencies such as Manjeshwar, Kasaragod, Udma, Kanhangad, Trikaripur and Vellarikundu, and forms part of the Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituency.
The region was historically part of the Tulu Nadu and Kolathunadu cultural zones, and over centuries came under the rule of dynasties including the Kadambas, Chalukyas, Vijayanagara empire and the Ikkeri Nayakas. The Bekal Fort, one of the largest and best preserved forts in Kerala, was built during the 17th century under Shivappa Nayaka of Keladi. The area later passed to Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore, and following the Anglo-Mysore wars came under British rule as part of the Madras Presidency's South Canara district.
After Indian independence and the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, the Kasaragod taluk was transferred from South Canara to the new state of Kerala and attached to Kannur district. On 24 May 1984, Kasaragod was constituted as a separate district.
The economy is largely agrarian, with coconut, areca nut, cashew, rubber, paddy and pepper as principal crops. Coir, beedi rolling, fisheries and handloom weaving are significant traditional occupations. Remittances from migrants working in the Gulf countries form an important component of household income. The Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) at Kudlu is a major agricultural research centre. Kasaragod is also home to a campus of the Central University of Kerala at Periye.
The district has rich traditions of Theyyam, Yakshagana, Poorakkali and Kolkali. Temples such as Madhur Mahaganapathi, Ananthapura Lake Temple at Kumbla, and Mallikarjuna Temple, along with the Malik Dinar Mosque at Thalankara—one of the oldest mosques in Kerala—reflect the district's layered religious heritage. The Bekal Fort and adjoining beach, developed under the Bekal Resorts Development Corporation, are leading tourism destinations.
From the 1970s onward, aerial spraying of the pesticide endosulfan over cashew plantations operated by the Plantation Corporation of Kerala in parts of Kasaragod