Kuttiady is a major town situated along the banks of the Kuttiady River, is one of the fastest-growing and most significant towns in the North Malabar region. Kuttiady is one among the 140 assembly constituencies in Kerala and is situated in the slopes of the Western Ghats. Kuttiady is one of the few towns in Kerala that uniquely spans across four different panchayats, making it administratively and geographically distinct.

The four-sided junction of Kuttiady helps travelers to reach different destinations. To the east of Kuttiady is Wayanad district, and the state highway to the north of the Kuttiady junction allows travelers to enter Kannur International Airport and Thalassery.The state highway to the south of the junction helps travelers to reach Calicut. The one and only hydro-electric station in Malabar is situated in Kuttiady River, which flows through the heart of Kuttiadi. Kuttiadi can be called as Coconut city of Kerala for its rich coconut cultivation.

The name Kuttiady is derived from the word kutti, an ancient term used to denote administrative units that were under the control of Thiyyar which existed before the formation of swaroopams by Nambudiri brahmins. Names such as Paddykutty, Kuttykol, illamkutty, Kuttyatoor, Kizhakkekutty, and Vadakkekutty are commonly found across North Malabar. The Kuttiady Thandan holds a significant position at Kottiyoor.

During the ancient Chera Dynasty, the region was an important military strategic pass to the mountainous terrains of Wayanad.

Kuttiady was ruled by the Kingdom of Kottayam until 1773. During the Pazhassi rebellion (Cotiote War), Kuttiady, which served as one of the major passes to Wayanad, was of great strategic importance. In 1957, the shafts of two golden swords supposed to have been used by Pazhassi Raja were unearthed in Kuttiyadi.

Kuttiady has a hydroelectric power plant that supplies much of North Malabar with electric power. The Kuttiyadi Dam is located 25 km (16 mi) from Kuttiady, and it also serves as an irrigation project. The region was originally a forest owned by the Vengalil family, but was nationalized following the accession of the communist E.M.S ministry

Kuttiady is an important agricultural area, with many plantations in nearby villages. The region is famous in Kerala for its high-yielding coconut trees. Important rubber plantations in the area include Manimala estate, Velom, Mangalam estate, and Kunduthode. Other important cultivated items in the area include areca nut, pepper, coffee, and more. There are numerous agriculture-based, small-scale industries like coconut oil production in this region.

The Kuttiady River rises from the Narikota Ranges on the western slopes of the Wayanad Hills, a part of Western Ghats at an elevation of 1,220 m (4,000 ft) M.S.L.. The river flows through Vatakara, Koyilandy and Kozhikode Taluks. The river is also known as the Murat River and yellow river. It is 74 km (46 mi) long. It flows into the Arabian Sea at Moorad about 6 km (3.7 mi) from Vadakara and along with its tributaries it drains in an area of 583 km² (225 sq mi).