Welcome to Kerala - God's Own Country

About: The district of Palakkad known as the granary of Kerala, is a land of valleys, hillocks, rivers, forests, mountain streams, dams and irrigation projects. Situated at the foot of the Western Ghats , this is the gateway to Kerala from the north.Palakkad derives its name from the Malayalam words Pala ( Alsteria scholaris) and Kadu (forest) which goes to prove that this place was once a beautiful stretch of forests covered with the sweet scented flowers of the Pala tree.

The land of Palmyra trees and paddy fields - thats how Palakkad is often referred to as Palakkadu and Palghat are the other names of this place that entices you with its myriad forms of attractions. There are temples thronged by a number of devotees with faith in their hearts and sheen in their eyes; there are wildlife sanctuaries nurturing the lives of a number of animals, reptiles and birds; there is a historical fort that stands today to narrate its past and there are gramams where the inhabitants still follow the age old custom of passing down the vedas verbally. Attractions like these are abundant in Palakkad so you can expect to get a variety of entertainment options during your trip.

Mountainous Terrain: Palakkad lies at the foot of gigantic Western ghats , on the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This district with mountains, forest and fertile valleys, rivers and mountain streams are rich in flora and fona. The Sahya ranges bordering the region and the 20 mile gap in the mountains exert a dominant influence on the climate of the region. Many rivers that flow in the Bharatapuzha, the life line of Kerala, arise from these mountains. In olden days, Palakkad was known as Paalakkattusery. Etymologists trace the word Palakkadu from Paalainilam, meaning dry area. Palakkad has a long history dating back to the Paleololithic period. A large number of megalithic relics have been discovered from here.

Origin of name: How Palakkad derived its name is a bit of a matter of choice since there are so many opinions and views tracing its etymology. According to one version, “Pala” (barren) along with “kadu” (jungle) joined together to give the land its name.Yet another version says that it was with respect to the Jain Temple of the place that led to its name, Palighat, since Pali is the sacred language of the Jains. Palighat subsequently gave way to Palakkad. The most believed version is the third one according to which Palakkad owes its name to the Pala trees that once occupied its major portion. As for the history of Palakkad goes, very little is known about it. Evidence in the form of relics suggests that Palakkad existed during the Paleolithic age. First millennium AD saw the Perumal rulers exercising their control over the land. This control was later disintegrated into smaller divisions by the Perumal governors. Accounts of William Logan, the Scottish author of the Malabar Manual also mentions Palakkad as one of the Malabar regions that was captured by the Pallavas of Kanchi.

Another record describes a war that was fought by the king of Palakkad in 988 AD to stop the invading army of King of Kongunadu at Chittur. The victory of Palakkad in that war is still celebrated in the form of a festival. In 1757, yet another invasion by the Zamorins made the then Raja seek the help of Mysore ruler, Hyder Ali. Hyder Ali obliged and eventually secured Palakkad for himself and later his son, Tipu Sultan. However, with the defeat of Tipu in the third Anglo Mysore war of 1792, Palakkad, along with other Malabar territories (belonging to Tipu) passed off to the British. The British made Palakkad a part of the Malabar District of Madras Presidency which post independence became a part of the Madras state. In 1956, when Kerala came into existence, Palakkad became a part of it.

Strategic position: Palakkad is supposed to have derived its name from the “Pala tree” (Alsteria Scholaris) and “kadu” (forest). Palakkad, due to its geographical position, has a strategic role in Kerala. Before the commissioning of Konkan Railway along the Western coast, Palakkad was the gateway to Kerala from the country.The 32 to 40 km gap in the 960km Western Ghats functions as an inlet for northeast monsoon and dry winds. N H 47, a major artillery of Kerala, passes through this Ghat section.The whole area is said to have been once covered by pala trees.

Palakkad, the largest producer of rice is known as the granary of Kerala. As many as eight rivers originate from the Palakkad hills. Among the rivers include Bharathapuzha, the longest river in the state. The hilly district has 136257 hectares of reserve forest including Silent Valley . The district which lies at the foot of the colossal Western Ghats has only midland and highland areas. Palakkad had witnessed several alien invasions that had left indelible impressions on the history of Kerala. The Palakkad Fort of Hyder Ali speaks volumes of Mysore invasions and the advent of the Britishers to the region.

Palakkad has quite a good number of options for shoppers. There is a big bazaar (Valiya Angadi) where shops sell items like traditional bells, peacock vilakkus, thooku or hanging villakus, nilavillakkus and utensils. Tranvancore sarees, Kerala souvenirs and jewelleries are other options for shoppers. Infact, after Thrissur, it is Palakkad that has the highest number of jewellery shops. You can have a look at the new designs and also pick up the ones you like.

Tipus Fort: Unlike the other forts of the country, the Palakkad Fort, also known by the name of Tipus Fort was built to enhance communication between Palakkad and Coimbatore . The fort was originally constructed by Hyder Ali, Tipus father. However it fell into the hands of the British in 1784 and Zamorins in 1790. Today, the fort is under the protection and care of the ASI (Archaeological Survey of . The fort is not only worth visiting because of its historical importance, rather it has a pleasant ambience that encourages you to take a walk in the evenings. Moreover, the Children’s parks ensure that the place is full of cheerful and enthusiastic voices. There is also an auditorium and a small museum in the fort.

JainTemple,Jainmedu: This temple is located just 3 km from the city centre on the banks of the Kalpathy river and is believed to be around 500 years old. The builder of the temple is supposed to be the Jain head of the time who went by the name of Inchanna Satur and is dedicated to Jain sage, Chandranathswamy.Inside the temple, the main division (1st one) contains an idol of Chandranathswamy while the other division has idols of Vijayalaxmi and Jwalamohini (in the 2nd division), Rishabhanathan (in the 3rd division) and the Parswanathan (in the 4th division). The interior of the temple is marked by simplicity, so you have plain granite walls and an unadorned main altar. There was a time when the Jain population in the town consisted of 400 families. The number is much less now, still this temple commands the same respect as previously. The temple is open from 7 to 10.30 am and later from 5 to 7 pm.

VadakkantharaTemple: This temple can be visited on your way to the Jain Temple in Jainmedu. The presiding deity here is Bhagavathy, an incarnation of Kannagi, the heroine of Tamil epic Silappadhikaram. In the evening, sharp at six, a small firework is set off as per the tradition (which can be witnessed in most of the other Keralite temples as well). The timing of the fireworks remains the same all the time, so much so that the people around have no qualms in setting their clock on hearing the sound of the crackers.

Manapullikaavu: This is the second of the two most important Bhagavathi devi temples in Palakkad believed to be 1200 years old. The idol here is swayambhu (self created) and is found on one side of the Sreekovil. The main idol of the temple was installed at a much later date. The Vela Festival is the main festival of the temple. The temple is open between 6 to 10.30 am and 5 to 7 pm.

KalpathyAgraharam&VishwanathaswamyTemple: This temple is located on the southern banks of river Kalpathy and is around 3 km from Palakkad. The temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva in 1425, is not a huge structure, nevertheless it has a huge flagpole which is put to good use during the annual Chariot festival. The festival, a huge crowd puller, continues for seven days and has people competing with each other to pull the elegantly beautified chariot supposed to be made sacred by the presence of Lord Shiva. On usual days, the temple is open from 5 to 11.30 am and then from 5 to 7.30 pm.

KumarapuramTemple: Past the Kumarapuram agraharam, on the banks of river Bharatapuzha, the Kumarapuram Temple was once a hotspot for vedic learning. The deity at the temple, Lord Prasanna Venkatachalapathy has his consorts, Alamelu and Mangalambal accompanying him. Venkatachalapathy is equated with Lord Balaji of Tirupati and even the rites performed here are similar to the ones carried out at Tirupati. The temple is open between 6 to 10.30 in the morning and 5 to 7 in the evening.

Emoor BhagavathyTemple: An interesting legend associates itself with the temple. According to it, Goddess Bhagavathy agreed to appear before a holy man but disappeared when she saw a number of people waiting for her. The holy man had, in his excitement, spread the news throughout the village which resulted in devotees thronging in large number. However, the devotees did see her upraised hand as she was emerging from the temple. Since then, the deity is worshipped in three forms here - as Sarasawati in the morning, as Lakshmi in the noon and as Durga in the evening. Navarathri is celebrated with much fervour in this temple. It is 8 km from Palakkad.

Thiruvalathoor Shiva Temple: This Shiva Temple is in the southern part of Palakkad. The temple has a conical roof and whitewashed walls replete with oil lamps. The woodwork and stone sculpture of the temple, it is said, were completed in a period of just one night. They are worth seeing. The main festival celebrated in the temple are Mahashivarathri and Karthikapoornima. The temple is open from 6 am to 12 pm and then from 5 pm to 7.30 pm.

Gramam: Gramam of Palakkad traces its history to the love story of a Kochi Prince who fell in love with a tribal girl of Palakkad. He was banished from his kingdom and the brahmins of Kochi refused to formalise the ceremonies when he settled in Palakkad. The prince did not give up and requested the brahmins from Tamil Nadu to oblige him. They did so and he settled down in Palakkad. The area which his people inhabited and its surroundings came to be known as gramam or agraharam. The gramam today encompass the areas of Kalapathy, Kumarapuram, Ramanathapuram, Ambikapuram, Chokkanathapuram. There are around 35 families that still follow the customs of the Tamil brahmins, viz., vedas and shashtras are passed down verbally from one generation to another.

Malampuzha : Malampuzha has something to offer to every kind of visitor. There is a wonderful rose garden with 100 species of roses for you to savour, a snake park with a large variety of reptiles to send a chilly sensation down your body, a ropeway ride at a height of 60 feet to view the garden from above, a fancy park with as many as 20 ride options and a KTDC Garden House offering pedal boats, motor boats, row-boats and water scooters for a trip round the reservoir. If none of the above interests you, then you can simply have a look at the sculpture of the bare bodied Yakshi (demoness) with the head flung back and raised fisted hands positioned close to the ears. Malampuzha is an ideal picnic spot in every sense and is just 14 km from Palakkad.

Silent Valley National Park: The Silent valley National Park is highly popular in the state of Kerala, it being one amongst those that are untouched by the passage of time. Its topographical seclusion ensures that the area remains uninhabited and continues to preserve the flora and fauna that house it. Visitors get permission to explore a limited area and overnight stay is discouraged.Special permission needs to be sought from the Wildlife Warden for this purpose. The park is located on the Kundali Hills of Western Ghats , 65 km north east of Palakkad.

Nellliyampathy: 54 km south of Palakkad is Nellliyampathy, a hill station perched at a height of 4600 feet above sea level. The small town is perfect to soak in the magical beauty of hills, coffee, tea and orange plantations. Moreover, there are also opportunities to explore the dense forests and sight some exotic animals.

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary: The Wildlife Sanctuary, 47 km from Palakkad is an excellent place to get a good sight of elephants, gaurs, chitals, sambhars, deer, Nilgiri langurs, wild dogs, leopards and not to forget, tigers. The park occupies an area of 277 sq km between Anamalai hills and Nellliyampathy at a height of 980 - 4600 feet. There are three dams within the sanctuary where you can have the pleasure of boating amidst beauty.

Attapadi: This valley is famous for its population of tribal people mainly irulas and mudugars. The place is also perfect to enjoy the scenic beauty of mountains, rivulets streams and forests. The Shivalinga at the Malleshwaram peak is highly revered by the tribals and the festival of Shivarathri is celebrated with much enthusiasm

Access
By Air: The closest airport from Palakkad lies at a distance of 60 km, in Coimbatore . Flights from there connect Palakkad to Ahmedabad, Bangalore , Chennai, Colombo , Delhi , Goa , Kolkata, Kozhikode , Lucknow and Mumbai.

By Rail: Palghat Station has many trains that connect it to destinations within and outside the state of Kerala. There is the Amritha and Kerala Express that connect it to Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam. Other trains also link Palakkad and Ernakulam on a daily basis. Kanyakumari Express runs to destinations like Bangalore and Mumbai. This is the only direct daily train to Mumbai. However, it is much time consuming and it is better to travel to Shoranur and then move to Mumbai. The journey time in this way is reduced by almost a day. The Kerala Express also connects Palghat to Delhi .

By Road: NH - 47 that links Salem to Kanyakumari passes through Palakkad and connects it to various other destinations lying on the route, apart from these two places. So, Coimbatore is 47 km, Thrissur is 67 km, Ernakulam is 146 km, Allepey is 209 km, Kollam is 296 km and Trivandrum is 359 km from Palakkad. Palakkad is connected to Kozhikode as well. Regular bus services are also available that link Palakkad to Thrissur, Kochi , Kozhikode , Coimbatore and Bangalore .