Palakkad

Palakkad District or Palghat is one of the 14 districts of Kerala state in South India. The city of Palakkad is the district headquarters. Palakkad is bordered on the northwest by the Malappuram District and on the southwest by the Thrissur District. To the east lies the Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu. It is a predominantly rural district. Palakkad is the gateway to Kerala due to the presence of Palakkad Gap, in the Western Ghats.

Places of interest

Palakkad Fort - Palakkad Fort, situated in the very heart of the town, is the most beautiful and the best preserved fort of Kerala. The sober silence of the granite walls reminds us of old tales of valour and courage. Fort which dates back to 1766, built by Hyder Ali of Mysore. In 1784 after a siege which lasted for eleven days, the British Colonel Fullerton stormed the Fort. Later it fell into the hands of the Zamorin’s troops, but was recaptured by the British in 1790. This well-preserved Fort is also known as Tipu's (Tipu Sultan son of Hyder Ali) Fort. The fort is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Malampuzha dam garden - It is a large irrigation dam built on the river, Bharathapuzha at the base of the hills of the Western Ghats. The beautiful gardens, the amusement Park for the children, the boating facility on the reservoir etc. make Malampuzha a paradise for the tourists. This important tourist spot is easily accessible from Palakkad.

Parambikulam -The Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, sprawling over 285 km²., is 135 km from Palakkad and adjacent to the Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. Besides being an abode of elephants, wild boar, sambar, bison, guar, crocodiles, and a few tigers and panthers, it has rich diversity of flora and fauna. Treking in the forest is allowed with prior permission. Boating can be done at the lake. The Cannimare Teak Tree, which is said to be Asia’s largest, is here near Thunakadavu.

Silent Valley National Park - Thick Rain Forest, Habitat of rare species. Declared National Park. This National Park is 80 km. from Palakkad. It is popularly known as the evergreen forest and noted for its eerie silence because of the lack of cicadas. It is an important biosphere reserve in the Western Ghats and Home of the tribal people. The Valley known for the rare Lion-Tailed Macaque. This National Park is a protected area for tigers also .

Killikkurussimangalam Birth place of Kunchan Nambiar and home of Mani Madhava Chakyar. This cultural village has a memorial and library dedicated to the great Malayalam satire poet and founder of Ottamthullal art form Kunchan Nambiar. The home of authority of abhinaya (acting); legendary Natyacharya Vidushakaratnam Padma Shri Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar, who took Koodiyattam to new heights; is also a special cultural attraction of the village.

Nelliyampathi mountains- Nelliyampathi Known as Ooty of Kerala. Nelliampathy, about 80 km from Palakkad, is a hill station in the Nelliampathy forest ranges. This forest range constitutes a series of ridges cut off from one another by valleys of dark evergreen forests.

Sholayar- Higest peak in the district. coffee, tea, plantations.

Attappady - Attappady is about 38 km. North east of Mannarkkad. Above everything else, one will be awe-struck by the grandiloquence of the divine architect who created this loveliness of forests, rivers and mountains. It is also a place of great interest to anthropologists as many Irulas and Mudugas inhabit here. The mountain peak 'Malleswaran' is worshiped by these Adivasis as a gigantic Shiv-Ling. This peak and the River Bhavani exert tremendous influence on the lives of the tribal.

Punarjani Guha- The Punarjani Guha is a natural tunnel 15 meters long in the rocky cliff. It is situated 2 km from the Thiruvilwamala Temple and the chief presiding deity is Sri Rama. The idol is believed to be ‘swayamboo’ ie. born on its own. It is believed that by performing ‘noozhal’ or crawling through the tunnel from one end to the other will wash away all of one’s sins and thus attain rebirth. Only men are allowed to do the ‘noozhal’ and women can only visit the cave. This ritual is practised only one day in a year on Guruvayur Ekadashi.

Chulanur - Peacock sanctuary.

Dhoni - Dhoni a reserve forest area is about 15 km. from Palakkad. This forest has among other capivating sights a small but splendid waterfall. The site can be reached after a fairly long climb of three hours from the base of the Dhoni hills.

Jain Temple of Jainimedu - Situated on the western border of Palakkad town and not far from the Railway station, is a historic Jain Temple. The place around the temple is known as Jainimedu. This is one of the few places in Kerala where the vestiges of Jainism have survived without substantial damages. The granite walls are devoid of decoration. The 32 feet long 20 feet broad temple consists of four divisions with images of Jain Thirthankaras and Yakshinis in three of them. Kumaran Asan wrote his monumental poem 'Veena Poovu' (the fallen flower) at a Jain house here during his brief stay with his master Sri. Narayana Guru.