Palakkad City Guide
Submerged in the aromatic aura of cardamom, coffee and cashew plantations, Palakkad, located on the foothills of the Western Ghats in Kerala lures you into its lovely green wilderness and treats you to soul stirring natural beauty. The Bharathapuzha River wraps entire Palakkad in a glittering silver ribbon. The region is full of valleys, hillocks, rivers, forests, palmyra trees, mountain streams, extensive green paddy fields, dams and irrigation projects providing it a unique scenic beauty. Among Kerala's most picturesque districts, Palakkad has probably the biggest mountain pass in the world (about 32 km) separating the two folds of the Western Ghats on the border of Kerala with Tamil Nadu and so Palakkad is also known as the 'Gateway of Kerala'.
Palakkad gets its name from the Pala trees that grew in profusion all over the picturesque Palakkad hills in the olden days. The term Kadu literally means a forest in Malayalam.
Chief Tourist Attractions in Palakkad
Palakkad Fort : It is the most beautiful and well- preserved fort of Kerala, constructed in 1766 by Hyder Ali of Mysore.
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary : Situated 130 km from Palakkad, the sanctuary offers an amusing sight of exotic wild animals.
Children's Park : This Park has a toy train, miniature zoo, aquarium and swimming pool, and provides boating facilities in the canal and reservoir.
Thrithala : A Shiva temple and the ruins of a mud near Thrithala Chalissery Road are the notable cultural monuments here.
Lakkidi : Killikurissimangalam of Lakkidi is well-known as the birth place of Kunchan Nambiar, and the Sri Rama Temple at Thiruvilwamala is located just across the river.
Kottayi : This tiny village became famous as the native place of the late Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, the doyen of Karnatic music.
Nelliampathy hills : This cool hill resort has enormous potential for trekking, camping and rock climbing.
Jain Temple : This broad temple consists of four divisions with images of Jain Thirthankaras and Yakshinis in three of them. Silent Valley : This National Park has been named Silent Valley being devoid of the chirping of cicadas.
Dhoni : This reserve forest area has a marvelous waterfall that can be reached after a three-hour climb.
Palakkad Excursions
There are many places to see near Palakkad. These places can be seen as a part of excursions from Palakkad. Most of these places are a good visual treat and it is always a nice change to see places around the countryside to get the rustic feel of a particular destination.
Thrithala : Located at a distance of 75 kilometers from Palakkad, Thrithala is known for its Shiva Temple. It also has a small granite structure indicating Buddhist influence and was possibly around the 9th or 10th century.
Attappady : Situated on the northeastern side of the district of Palakkad, Attapaddy has the largest tribal settlement in Kerala. The place is marked by rugged terrain and is watered by the tributaries of the Cauvery River.
Dhoni Hills : A three-hour trek from Palakkad will take you to the base of the Dhoni hills where you can visit a small reserve area that has a beautiful waterfall.
Kanjirapuzha : The catchment area of the dam, this place attracts a lot of tourists. The forest adjoining this place adds to the charm and is definitely worth a visit.
Malayalappuzha : Malayalappuzha is famous for the Bhagawathy Temple, which is said to have magic powers. The temple is adorned with beautiful wall paintings and stone works.
Manglam Dam : Constructed on the river Cherukunnapuzha, the Mangalam Dam is a very popular picnic spot and is located around 48 kilometers from the town of Palakkad. It is built on a tributary of the river Mangalam.
Nelliyampathy : Nelliyampathy is a chain of mountain ranges that have steep valleys in between them. The ranges flourish in extensive vegetation and also have plantations of tea, coffee and cardamom.
Climate
The district of Palakkad is situated on the tropical regions, so the climate is hot and humid with sufficient rainfall. The district of Palakkad is also blessed with forests, hill stations, and many small rivers which are the tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River. During dry weather, hot winds blow from the burning plains of Coimbatore.
Festivals
Festivals like the Pattambi Nercha and the Kalpathy Ratholsavam add color to the scintillating Palakkad culture.
Accommodation
Some of the major hotels in Palakkad, offering an impressive blend of tradition and modernity, are Hotel Indraprastha, Hotel Srichakra International, Kairali Ayurvedic Resort, etc.
Things to see
