on the basis of geography the state's districts are generally grouped into three parts :- the "north kerala" districts of kasaragod, kannur, wayanad, kozhikode ; the "central kerala" districts of palakkad, thrissur, ernakulam, idukki, malappuram, kottayam and the "south kerala" districts of thiruvananthapuram, kollam, alappuzha, pathanamthitta.