Palakkad, also known as Palghat, is a medium sized town and a municipality in the state of Kerala in the Southern state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District. Palakkad lies at the foot of the Western Ghats, near the Palghat Gap, which is a pass or natural depression through the Western Ghat ranges that run parallel to the west coast of India and connects Kerala to the plains of the state of Tamil Nadu to the east. Palakkad derives its name from the Malayalam words Pala

( Alsteria scholaris) and Kadu (forest) which goes to suggest 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. This place entices one with its myriad forms of attractions.

The languages spoken here are Malayalam, Tamil, little Hindi and English.

 Best For:

Palakkad is known as the Rice Bowl of Kerala as it is the present day granary of Kerala. It has also produced some of the best engineering minds the country has to offer. The district is known for its excellent Ayurvedic treatments that are offered in some of the best resorts and hospitals built there.

The best time to visit Palakkad is anytime of the year except during the monsoon season as the monsoon is heavy in this state. However, the most preferred time is from March to October. Tropical cotton is the recommended clothing. Carrying an umbrella is also a wise option.

All foreign visitors are required to carry a passport valid at least for 6 months. Special restrictions apply to Pakistani and Afghan nationals.

Palakkad is well connected by Road and Rail throughout Kerala and can be easily accessed by the nearest Air heads.

By Air:
The nearest international airport is at Coimbatore-52 km from Palakkad. Coimbatore airport is connected to Singapore, Sharjah, Colombo and major Indian cities.

By Rail:
Palakkad is a railway junction on India's Southern Railway. Palghat Station has many trains that connect to many destinations within and outside the state of Kerala.

By Road:
Palakkad is well connected by roads. National Highway 47 from Salem to Kanyakumari and the Palakkad-Kozhikode National Highway 213 pass through the district. Another important road is the Palakkad-Ponnani which connects NH 47 and NH 17. Palakkad is well connected to cities like Kochi, Kozhikode, Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai by road.

Local Transport:
Palakkad is well networked by Public Bus Transport. The State run KSRTC and many private operators operate bus services across the district and to different parts of India.
Taxis and Autorickshaws are the cheap ways of transportation between attractions.
Many attractions in Palakkad Town like the Tippu's Fort, the Open air Auditorium, the Stadiums etc. are walkable from Palakkad town.

The main tourist attractions of Palakkad are:

Palakkad Fort: It is this fort situated in the middle of Palakkad town that first welcomes the tourists to the town. The fort tells the tale of many a subjugation and surrender. Built by Hyder Ali, the Sultan of Mysore in 1766, this fort has seen many a battles. In the war with the English in 1767 the fort was damaged and Hyder Ali reconstructed it on a solid foundation. Hyder Ali was succeeded by his son Tipu Sultan as the Nawab of Mysore in 1782 and the fort came under his control. At present, some government offices and a sub jails are functioning at this fort.

Kottamaithanam, West of the fort: It is said that it was here that Tipu’s cavalry camped.  Today, the fort is under the protection and care of the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India).

Malampuzha dam garden: 13 kms from Palakkad town, this is a large irrigation dam built on the river Bharathapuzha at the base of the hills of the Western Ghats. The gardens, the amusement park for children and the boating facilities on the reservoir make Malampuzha a centre of interest for tourists, easily accessible from Palakkad.

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 within. 

Chulannur Peacock Protection Centre: Mailadumpara in Chulannur situated 22 kms away from Palakkad town is famed for the peacock protection center located here. Kunjan Nambiar Smrudhi forest is also here.

Kottayi: Chembai Village which gave birth to Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavather, the maestro of Karnatic music is in Kottayi. The birth place of guru Kunju Kurup, the great Kathakali master is also in Kottayi. The famous Kandethan temple which attracts people from within and without the district is also situated here.

Seetharkundu: Seetharkundu at Nelliampathy offers a fantastic view of the valley below. The 1000 meters high water falls is one of the major attractions. Legend has it that during the vanavasa, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana had lived here. Seetharkundu got its name from the legend that Sita devi during the vanavasa period with Rama, took a bath here.

Tripallavoor Siva temple Pallavur: Located 20 kms from Palakkad, the giant walls of this temple is at least 1 1/2 times taller than an elephant, built of stones unbelievable in size. There are no stone quarry nearby from where this has could have been taken. These stones are laid one on top of another without any sealing in between. They have been standing like that for centuries just on gravity. Also on the walls are writings in some ancient language.

JP Smirthivanam & Deer Park: Located at Walayar reserve forest which has an area of 100 acres, one can see deer and other animals roaming about in their natural habitat here. Situated 22 kms away from Palakkad town in Palakkad-Coimbatore road, the facilities for elephant riding are also available here.

Where To Eat:

The good places to try out food at Palakkad are: Hotel Sri Chakra, Hotel Indraprastha, Fort Palace Hotel , Hotel Noor Jahan specializing in Authentic Kerala Style Muslim dishes and Hotel Kapilavasthu, which serves Vegetarian cuisine.

There are quite a few options for tourists to choose from in Palakkad. Some of the recommended ones are: Kairali Ayurvedic Resort, Hotel Indraprastha Srichakra International, ATS Residency  East Fort Resort, Hotel Rajdhani,  Hotel International Marhaba Residency , Tharavad Heritage Home, Hotel Surya Residency, Surya Retreat , Hotel Soorya City and Valyath Shelton Home.

Parambikulam Wild Life sanctuary: Parambikulam in Western Ghats is about 125 kms from Palakkad. All sorts of animals and birds are seen here. Famous for teak plantations, the oldest teak tree, Kannimaree, stands here. There is a national park here, which is named after Salim Ali, the famous bird observer.

Silent Valley National Park: The Silent valley National Park is highly popular in the state of Kerala, as being amongst those untouched by the passage of time. Its topographical seclusion ensures that the area remains uninhabited and continues to preserve the flora and fauna it houses. 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 kms north east of Palakkad.

Palakkad is definitely one of the recommended places to visit in Kerala-India.