Palakkad
For the district with the same name, see Palakkad District.
Palakkad, also known as Palghat, is a city in the state of Kerala in southern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District. Palakkad lies near the Palakkad Gap, a pass through the Western Ghats ranges that run parallel to the west coast of India, and connects Kerala to the state of Tamil Nadu to the east.
Palakkad is an important railway junction on India's Southern Railway. It is from here the trains take diversion to south and north Kerala. The cities of Pollachi, Dindigul and Madurai are connected by the meter gauge track starting from here. The trains on the meter gauge are like lifelines for the people of the town, bringing vegetables, fish and dairy products. The office of the Palakkad Division of Southern Railway is situated near Palghat Junction Railway Station.
Palakkad has also well connected by roads. The National Highway 47 between Salem-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. Walayar checkpost is located on the national highway to Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
Places of worship
- The Anjaneya (Lord Hanuman) Temple inside Palakkad Fort attracts good number of devotees.
- Manappulli kavu - Devi Temple.
- Thirupuraikkal Temple at Vadakkanthara.
- Guruvayoorappan Temple of Chinmaya Mission.
- Emoor Bhagavathi Temple at Kallekkulangara
Places of interest
- Palakkad Fort - 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 Fort.
- 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 sq. km., 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
- Nelliyambathi 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 an extensive mountain valley above the crest of the Ghat ranges with several rivulets of the river Bhavani. The area is dominated by the tribal people.
- 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.
Famous festivals
Kalpathi Ratholsavam
Manappullikavu Vela
Vadakkanthara Vela (only once in 3 years)
Kizhkencherry Ratholsavam - Dec 25
Thiruvara Niramaala - Dec 28
Karumanassery Ratholsavam - Dec 29
Nenmara-Vallanghi Vela- April 3
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