Kuttanad (Malayalam: [kuʈːɐnaːɖə̆]) is a river delta landscape region in the state of Kerala, India, known for its vast paddy fields and geographical peculiarities. 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, using rice paddies largely located on reclaimed land amid the delta. 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.

The first recorded history of this land is obtained from the Sangam period literature. According to the Sangam era texts, Uthiyan Cheralathan ('Perum Chorru Udiyan Cheralathan, Athan I or Udiyanjeral) is the first recorded Chera dynasty ruler of the Sangam period in ancient Kerala.

He had his capital at a place called Kuzhumur in Kuttanad (central Kerala) and expanded the kingdom northward and eastward from his original homeland. His lifetime is broadly determined to be between first century BC and 2nd century AD. His queen was Veliyan Nallini, the daughter of Veliyan Venman. Uthiyan Cheralathan was a contemporary of the Chola ruler Karikala Chola. He is praised for his elephant corps and cavalry. Present day Changanassery end of Kuttanad was the capital of the Chera dynasty king Uthiyan Cheralathan. The native place of the Kuttuva tribe came to be known as Kuttanadu. According to sangam literature, Uthiyan Cheralathan was defeated in the Battle of Venni against Karikala Chola and the capital was burnt down.^{[citation needed]}

Kuttanad is named after the Chera king Cheran Chenkuttuvan. The name means "Land of the Kuttuvan." Cheran Chenkuttuvan, also known as Kadal Pirakottiya Vel Kelu Kuttuvan ("the Kuttuvan who pushed back the sea"), is credited with reclaiming land from the sea, part of which became Kuttanad. Another theory is that 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. However, this theory is not widely accepted, as there is no historical or linguistic evidence supporting the existence of Chuttanad as an earlier name. Additionally, geology of the place suggest that Kuttanad was a reclaimed marine ecosystem rather than a forest destroyed by fire and the purported 'charred wood' findings just peatified organic matter.

The Kuttanad region is categorised into:

Lower Kuttanadu comprises taluks of Ambalapuzha, Nedumudy, Kuttanadu (excluding Edathua, Thalavady, Kidangara and Muttar), and the northern half of Karthikapally taluk in Alappuzha district.

Upper Kuttanad comprises Veeyapuram, Pallippad and Cheruthana in Karthikapally taluk, Edathua, Thalavady, Kidangara and Muttar in Kuttanad taluk; Chennithala and Thripperumthura villages in Mavelikkara taluk; Mannar, Kurattissery, Budhanoor, Ennakkad villages in Chengannur taluk of Alappuzha district; and Parumala, Kadapra, Niranam, Pulikeezhu, Nedumpuram, Chathenkary, Peringara, and Kavumbhagam villages in Pathanamthitta district.