'''Palakkad''' [http://palakkad.nic.in] is one of the northern districts of Kerala, The Palakkad town is of size 4,480 Square Kilometres and population 2,617,072 according to Census 2001.

Palakkad is the land of Palmyras and Paddy fields. It is the chief granary of Kerala, often called the Gateway of Kerala. Palakkad lies at the foot of the gigantic Western ghats on the border of Kerala. This district with mountains, forests and fertile valleys, rivers and mountains streams are rich in flora and fauna. Palakkad is known for its historical background and the remnants of Tippu Sulthan_fs Fort are still maintained. The famous tourist spot of Malampuzha is situated just 8km away from Palakkad Town.

Its a place of tourist importance. Some of the picnic spots are Tippu_fs Fort , Malampuzha - Garden, Snake park, Aquarium, Rope way, Rock garden, Loknayak J.P.Smrithi Vanam and Deer Park, Mayilladumpara - Cholanoor Peacock Sanctury, Kanhirapuzha dam, Mangalam Dam, Pothundy Dam, Seetharkundu water falls near Nelliyampathy, Meenkara dam, Parambikulam wild life sanctuary and boating, Chulliar dam, Killikurrussi Mangalam, Meenvallam, Siruvani, Silent Valley National Park and Attappady ghats.

Understand

Palakkad is the present day grainery of Kerala(It was once Kuttanad and Palakkad overtook in Paddy Cultivation).

Talk

Malayalam is widely spoken language as the rest of Kerala. However Palakkad is close to the Tamil Nadu border and people understand and speak Tamil well. You won't be very far from a person who speaks perfect English or Hindi just in case you need one.

Get in

By plane

  • The nearest airport is the domestic airport at Coimbatore 50km away from Palakkad town.
  • The nearest International Airport is in Kochi.
  • 3 airports in 2 to 3 hr travel(Kochi, Coimbatore and Calicut).

    By train

    Palakkad district is well connected and one of the railway divisional headquarters. Serviced by rail to all major cities in India like Hyderabad, Kozhikode, Mangalore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata.

    By bus

    You can also reach here by bus from big cities like Kozhikode, Mangalore, Kochi, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Mumbai, Coimbatore. However there is no direct bus to and from Hyderabad.

    By car

    Palakkad is well connected to other cities Chennai, Kozhikode, Ooty, Palani, Kodaikkanal, Kochi, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai by road. National Highways NH 47 and NH 217 pass through Palakkad

    Get around

  • '''Bus''' - 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.
  • '''Autorickshaw''' - This is cheap way of transportation between attractions.
  • '''Taxi''' - Local taxis are also available at cheap rates. You'll have to bargain with these guys.
  • '''Walk''' - Many attractions in Palakkad Town like the Tippu's Fort, the Open air Auditorium called "Rapadi", the Stadiums etc are walkable if you reach Palakkad town
  • See

  • '''Government Victoria College''' - More than a century old, established by British during colonisation
  • '''Manapullikaavu Hindu Temple'''
  • '''Chittur Gurumadam'''
  • '''Dhoni'''
  • '''Kollengode -- the beautiful green lands, the great Palace of Kollengode "Kovilakam" '''
  • '''Kottayi'''
  • '''Lakkidi'''
  • '''Malampuzha Garden'''
  • '''Nelliyampathy'''
  • '''Palakkad Fort'''
  • '''Silent Valley National Park'''
  • '''Siruvani'''
  • '''Thiruvalathoor'''
  • '''Elappully (Para)
  • '''Bold text'''

    Do

  • '''Nemmara Vela''' - A traditional Indian festival April 2nd/3rd every year.
  • '''Chinakathur Pooram''' - A spectacular festival celebrated in every March-April
  • '''Kalpathi Rathotsavam'''- Colourful Temple car festival celebrtated during December every year
  • '''Kunissery Kummatti'''- A traditional Indian festival in March/April every year (On Punartham of Meenam)
  • ''' Alampallam Radhotsavam ''' - The biggest Chariot in Kerala.The chariot festival is celebrated in the month of april
  • ''' Chittur Konganpada'''- The festival combines religion with mythology and history ( It normally celebrates in the March Month of every year) . The celebrations commemorate the victory of the '''Chittur Nairs over the militia of nearby Konganadu during 918 AD'''. It is said that there was constant fight in the Palakkad region between the Kerala kingdoms on the western side and the princely state of Konganad on the eastern side of the Western Ghat mountains.
  • On the third day of the Konganpada festival 101 rounds of the kathina vedi (ironpipe crackers) commemorates the historic victory. Later, there is a kolam procession of little boys dressed as girls carried on the shoulders of men. At night men engage in mock fights wearing buffalo head masks to symbolise the dead buffaloes of the Konganpada (Kongan militia).

    Eat

  • '''Hotel Sri Chakra''' Veg and Non Veg
  • '''Hotel Indraprastha''' Veg and Non Veg
  • '''Fort Palace Hotel''' Veg and Non Veg
  • '''Hotel Ashok Bhavan''' Vegetarian
  • '''Hotel Royal Treat''' Vegetarian and Non-vegetarian
  • '''Hotel Kapilavasthu''' Vegetarian
  • '''Hotel NoorJehan''' Authentic Kerala Style Muslim dishes
  • Get out

  • '''Ayalur Temple''' Ayalur - 33 km from Palakkad - Car festival during winter. A bus for every 30 minutes.
  • '''Nellikulangara Temple''' Nemmara - 28 km from Palakkad
  • '''Meenkulathhi Amman Temple''' Pallasena - 15 km from Palakkad.
  • '''Tripallavoor siva temple''' Pallavur - 20 km from Palakkad.
  • '''Kakkayur siva temple''' kakkayur - 15 km from Palakkad.
  • '''Kakkayur KOTTAMALA Ayyappa temple''' Kakkayur - 15 km 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 very old language.
  • '''Pothundy Dam''' is on the way to Nelliyampathy. thumb|portrait|Pothundy 38 km from Palakkad. It is a reservoir built across Ayalur river as an irrigation project in 1968. It provide water to Nenmara and Ayalur villages. It is in a valley just below the Nelliyampathy Hills.