Wayandu district was raised in 1980. It has a total area of 2130 sq.km, 40% of which is forest areas. The district is landlocked and shares boundary with the States of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, besides having borders with Kozhikode, Malappuram and Kannur districts of Kerala. The Western Ghats cuts through Kerala, between Kozhikode and Wayanad districts and the plateau portion of Wayanad merges with the Deccan Plateau. The altitude of the district ranges from 700 m to 2100 m. Wayanad has a cooler climate than the plains of Kerala. Wayanad district has only one river, Kabani, originating in the eastern side of Western Ghats and drains into, the Cauvery river.
Wayand has experienced hetrogenous ethno-migration from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and the plains of Kerala since several centuries. Wayanad has the lowest density of population (383/sq.km- 2011) in Kerala. Another significant feature of the district is its sizeable number of tribal population. 18.5% of the population belongs to various tribal communities, which mainly includes the Paniyas, Adiyas, Mullu Kurumas, Urali Kurumas, Kurichiyas and Kattunaikas. Nenmeni Gram Panchayat lies at the south-eastern corner of Wayanad district.
The most important crops cultivated in Wayanad are Pepper, Coffee and Tea. The narrow valley portion between hillocks was converted into paddy fields which have recently experienced land-use changes in favour of banana and Arecnut crops. Wayanadu has diverse local water resources; streams with round the year flowing water, Keni, a local shallow spring well with palm wood protection is a traditional and trusted local water source, ponds and surface open sunk wells are also common.
The Sulthan Bathery Panchayath was bifurcated into Sulthan Bathery and Noolpuzha Grama Panchayats in 1968. Subsequently, the Noolpuzha GP was further divided into Noolpuzha and Nenmeni Gram Panchayats in 1973. The Nenmeni GP consists of 23 ward divisions. The GP has a total population of 46950 (Census 2011), of which 4% is SC, 17% Scheduled Tribes and 79% of general category population. The GP is situated in the south east corner of Wayanad district. The Edakkal Caves, famous for its petroglyphs, is located atop the Ambukuthimala in the Nenmeni Gram panchayat. The engravings on the rocky wall inside the cave dates back to the pre-historic– neo-lithic period.
