Palakkad
Surface
There are good motorable roads connecting Palakkad with important cities in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Train
Palakkad Junction is the main railway station and is only five km from the city.
Air
The nearest airport is Coimbatore, 55 km away in Tamil Nadu. However, Kerala's own Cochin Airport is 160 km away.
Palakkad Fort
Built by the ruler Hyder Ali of Mysore in 1766, this granite fort situated in the heart of Palakkad is known to be one of Kerala’s best preserved forts.
Malampuzha
An awe-inspiring structure, the Malampuzha dam is a 6,066 feet masonry engineered construction built across Malampuzha, a tributary of the Bharathapuzha river.
Jain Temple
Built by Jain diamond traders, this historical temple is said to be more than 1,500 years old and has withstood the test of time.
Kalpathy
Kalpathy is a 12th century Brahmin settlement established by migrant Brahmins from Tanjore in Tamilnadu. The village still practices age-old traditions and customs.
Silent Valley National Park
One of the last remaining patches of evergreen forest, the Silent Valley has been evolving for millions of years having remained undisturbed because of its difficult terrain.
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Situated in a valley stretching over 250 sq kms, this sanctuary boasts of being the first ever scientifically managed teak plantation and has the world’s tallest teak tree. It is a haven for many animals and is famous for its elephants, sloth bears and tigers.
Neliyampathy Hills
About 40 kms from Palakkad, this captivating hill station with its hair-pin bends is a favourite with trekkers.
Other highlights
- Pavakoothu (Shadow play) in the temples (March/April)
- Kaalapoottu Ox race (January)
- Pattambi Nercha’ festival which involves more than 100 elephants (February)
- Annual chariot festival in Kalpathy (November)
- Nenmara Vallangi temple Festival (March/April)
The district of Palakkad, also known as the rice granary of Kerala, is a land of hillocks, valleys, rivers, forests, mountains and meandering streams. Situated at the foot of the Western Ghats, this is the gateway to Kerala from the north. It was through this passage that, time and again, conquests and trade took place. Derived from the Malayalam words Pala (tree) and Kadu (forest), this land abounding in forests full of the Pala trees and lush green paddy fields is also a melting pot of various cultures. The Palghat Brahmins, or Palghat Iyers as they are called, speak both Malayalam and Tamil (language of the neighbouring state, Tamilnadu).
This is the only other place in Kerala that is not blessed with a sea coast, Palakkad could not care less. For it has trees, forests, greenery and the state's longest river Bharathapuzha. Though the river has little commercial significance, it holds a special place in the cultural psyche of the State. Palakkad's plains are so fertile that the whole district is well known as the Granary of Kerala. In addition, the area prides itself as a gateway to the state. The gateway is formed by a natural gap in the Western Ghats and has contributed to the development of the area's culture and commerce.
