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Palakkad

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This article is about the municipality in Kerala, India. For its namesake district, see Palakkad district.
Palakkad
പാലക്കാട്
CITY
Nickname: 
Rice bowl of Kerala
Country India
StateKerala
DistrictPalakkad
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • ChairmanP.V Rajesh
 • District CollectorK.Ramachandran IAS
Elevation
84 m (276 ft)
 • Rank6th
 • Density5,038/km2 (13,050/sq mi)
DemonymPalakkadite
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
678XXX
Telephone code+91-491
Vehicle registrationKL-09
Websitehttp://www.palakkad.nic.in


Palakkad pronunciationⓘ, previously known as Palakkattussery, is a large town and municipality in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2 and is the administrative headquarters of the Palakkad District. Palakkad is the seventh most populous town in Kerala and lies near the Palghat Gap, Malayalam is the generally spoken language in Palakkad as it is the official language. The city is situated about 350 kilometres (217 mi) north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram and 54 kilometers south west of Coimbatore, and 66 km north east of Thrissur on the Salem-Kanyakumari National Highway NH 47.

Kerala would have an IIT in Palakkad under the 12th five-year plan. The land belonging to the Instrumentation Limited in Palakkad was finally chosen for the project. Since the IITs are set up by an act of Parliament, the whole process is the centre's prerogative, and the state government has only a limited role.[1][2]

Geography

Palakkad is the gateway to Kerala due to the presence of the Palakkad Gap, in the Western Ghats. Malayalam is the generally spoken language in Palakkad as it is the official language. The town is blessed with many small and medium rivers, which are tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River. Of the number of dams in Palakkad district, the largest Malampuzha dam is 12 km from Palakkad town.[3]

Icon:The Palmyra Trees

Palakkad is popularly known as land of Palmyra trees (കരിപനകളുടെ നാട് ) .Palmyra trees are known as the Icon of this district and has got vast cultural, heritage & literary association. Many novels, stories and poems revolve around these trees . The path-breaking Malayalam novel written by the Indian writer O. V. Vijayan, 'Khasakkinte Itihasam' mentions Palmyra trees in various angles. Many people especially in eastern Palakkad live on earnings by tapping Pamyra Toddy, which are sold in outlets controlled by Co-op Societies.The district authorities are taking very action to preserve these trees & maintain Palakkad’s Identity.

Climate

Palakkad has a tropical wet and dry climate. Temperatures remain high throughout the year, with March and April being the hottest months. A very high amount of precipitation is received in Palakkad, mainly due to the South-West monsoon. July is the wettest month, and the total annual rainfall is around 83 inches (211 cm).


Climate data for Palakkad
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 33.0
(91.4) 		35.4
(95.7) 		37.3
(99.1) 		36.5
(97.7) 		34.0
(93.2) 		29.7
(85.5) 		28.3
(82.9) 		28.8
(83.8) 		30.3
(86.5) 		31.2
(88.2) 		31.8
(89.2) 		31.9
(89.4) 		32.4
(90.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 21.8
(71.2) 		22.6
(72.7) 		24.2
(75.6) 		25.1
(77.2) 		24.8
(76.6) 		23.2
(73.8) 		22.5
(72.5) 		22.9
(73.2) 		23.0
(73.4) 		23.2
(73.8) 		22.9
(73.2) 		22.2
(72.0) 		23.2
(73.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 3.5
(0.14) 		6.7
(0.26) 		20.4
(0.80) 		72.9
(2.87) 		151.7
(5.97) 		408.2
(16.07) 		522.6
(20.57) 		317.6
(12.50) 		253.9
(10.00) 		215.2
(8.47) 		111.1
(4.37) 		27.6
(1.09) 		2,111.4
(83.11)
Source: [4]

Etymology

The commonly held belief is that the name is a fusion of two Malayalam words, Pala, a tree (Alstonia scholaris) that is found abundantly in Palakkad, and Kadu, which means forest.

Transport

Air

The nearest international airport is Coimbatore International Airport, which is about 62 km from Palakkad. Coimbatore airport has

connecting flights to Malaysia, Singapore, Sharjah, Colombo and to Gulf and South-east Asia. Other nearby airports are Kozhikode Airport about 103 km & Cochin International Airport which is about 111 km from Palakkad.

There has been a proposal for a mini domestic airport at East Yakkara with respect to setting up domestic airports for enhanced air connectivity by the civil aviation ministry of India. 60 acres has been identified for the project at East Yakkara Palakkad.[5]

Railways

There are two railway stations serving Palakkad - Palakkad Junction is a broad gauge railway junction (located at Olavakkode, which can be called a satellite town, about 4 km from the heart of the main town) and Palakkad Town railway station located in the heart of the Palakkad town. Close to Palakkad Junction is the office of Palakkad Railway Division. The cities of Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kozhikode and Ernakulam are connected by the broad gauge line. Pollachi, Dindigul and Madurai were connected by a metre gauge line starting from the Palakkad Junction railway station through Palakkad Town station. Under the policy "Project Unigauge", meter gauge tracks have been dismantled for conversion to broad gauge.[6] As a result, trains on the Palakkad - Pollachi - Dindigul route have been indefinitely suspended till the broad gauge conversion is completed.

Road

Palakkad is well connected by roads. The National Highway 47 from Salem to Trivandrum via Coimbatore, Palakkad, Trishur, Kochi, Alappuzha, Kollam 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.

Apart from the National Highways, Palakkad is well connected through State Highways to nearby districts and towns in Kerala.

Demographics

As per provisional reports of Census India, population of Palakkad in 2011 is 131,019; of which male and female are 63,833 and 67,186 respectively. Total literates in Palakkad city are 112,479 of which 56,065 are males while 56,414 are females. Average literacy rate of Palakkad city is 94.20 percent of which male and female literacy was 96.83 and 91.73 percent. The metropolitan area of Palakkad include Hemambikanagar, Marutharode, Palakkad municipality, Pirayiri, Pudussery Central, Pudussery West, and Puthuppariyaram. Its urban / metropolitan population is 293,566 of which 143,650 are males and 149,916 are females. The literacy rate of Palakkad Metropolitan Area is 92.14%, much higher than the national average of 59.5%. Malayalam is the most spoken language.Even languages like Tamil, Hindi and English are also spoken by many people.

Places of interest

View from outside the northern wall of Palakkad Fort
  • Palakkad Fort – Fort dating from 1766, built by Hyder Ali of Mysore. In 1784, after a siege which lasted eleven days, the British Colonel Fullerton stormed the Fort.[7] Later it fell into the hands of the Zamorin’s troops, but was recaptured by the British in 1790.[8] This well-preserved fort is also known as Tipu's (Tipu Sultan, son of Hyder Ali) Fort. Today there is a functioning jail and Hanuman Temple in the fort grounds.
Paddy fields in Palakkad
  • Jainimedu Jain Temple of Jainimedu – Situated on the western border of Palakkad town and not far from the railway station, this is an historic Jain Temple. The area around the temple is known as Jainimedu. This is one of the few places in Kerala where vestiges of Jainism in Kerala have survived without substantial damage.[9] The granite walls are devoid of decoration. The temple, 32 feet (9.8 m) long and 20 feet (6.1 m) wide, 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.[10]
  • Kalpathy One of the 21 Agraharams of Palakkad District on the banks of the Kalpathy river, famous for its annual Ratholsavam (Temple car Festival) and annual music festival. One of the oldest settlements of Tamil Brahmins in Kerala, it dates back to the 15th century. These Brahmins speak both Malayalam and Tamil.[11]
  • Malampuzha Dam and Gardens - Situated about 8 km from Palakkad Town, Malapuzha Dam was completed in 1955 and is the largest reservoir in Kerala. The spot is also known for its scenic beauty and sprawling gardens. It is one of the major attractions in this part of Kerala. Kava : kava is a beautiful part of Malampuzha Dam where people used to go there for watching.

Religious places

  • Emoor Bhagavathy Temple also known as Hemambika Temple (or) the Kaipathi (i.e. palm of the hand in Malayalam) Ambalam is situated in kallekulangara
  • Vadakkanthara Thirupurakkal Bhagavathy temple is a popular Bhagavathy temple in Palakkad town situated at Vadakkanthara.Meenkulathi Bhagavathi and Perungottukavu Bhagavathi Temple is an another famous Temple in Palakkad.Prad.[12]
  • Manappullikavu temple : Hindu religious place situated near the N.H.47 on the eastern side of the town.[13][14]
  • Viswanatha Swamy Temple or locally as kundukovil is a famous Hindu temple located in the Kalpathy village of Palakkad
  • C.S.I Church of Hope : The only remaining presbytirian church in Palakkad town which was built by the Basel mission missionaries on 1910 situated in Mepparamba (also known as Melparamba) on the western side of the town. The congregation started in 1866.[15][16]
  • C.S.I Robinson church Palakkad : The Basel Mission church which was renovated recently and is named after Mr.Robinson, [dubious – discuss] who was the collector of Palakkad during the British days. The congregation dates backs to 18th century.[17][better source needed]

Education

There are numerous schools and colleges in Palakkad, including: Kishore Poor Baba KI JAI, data executive, training co ordinator

Institute of national importance:

In budget 2014 by NDA government, a new Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) has been sanctioned for the state to be set up in Palakkad. Its reported that Kerala has already acquired 237 acres of land near Palakkad. Also, another 273 acres of land required to set up this premium institute has also been notified.

Colleges

Schools

See also

References

  1. ^ "Kerala gets 18th IIT - Times Of India". indiatimes.com. 2011-09-25. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  2. ^ "IIT proposal revived". thehindu.com. 2013-08-11. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  3. ^ Fact sheet on Indian dams at Diehardindian.com
  4. ^ "climate of palakkad, palakkad climate, palakkad climate information, weather and climate of palakkad, palakkad climate information, temperature in palakkad, palakkad temperature, temperature data of palakkad, climate data of palakkad, climate and rainfall information of palakkad, palakkad weather and climate". Delhitourism.com. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  5. ^ "60 Acres Identified For Airport Project". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 2011-05-21.
  6. ^ "Even the ministry is clueless about the completion of work in the Palani-Pollachi and Pollachi-Podanur stretch," said K Kathirmathiyon of Coimbatore Consumer Forum. The 55-km stretch linking Pollachi with Palakkad in Kerala is also in the same state. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-18/coimbatore/28614594_1_gauge-conversion-broad-gauge-meter-gauge
  7. ^ ^ Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 19, p. 358. http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V19_364.gif
  8. ^ Pankaja Srinivasan (2011-09-23). "Life & Style / Metroplus : The story of a forgotten fort". Chennai, India: The Hindu. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  9. ^ When Haider Ali set about restoring the fort, he is said to have used granite from the nearby Jain Medu. http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article2479470.ece
  10. ^ Kerala Tradition & Fascinating Destinations - Biju Mathew - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
  11. ^ "Kerala / Palakkad News : Kalpathy to become first heritage village in State". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 2008-02-03. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  12. ^ "Splendour". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 2011-05-12.
  13. ^ "Temple festivals attracting foreign tourists". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 2007-04-22.
  14. ^ "Bhagavati in ethereal surroundings". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 2002-06-14.
  15. ^ "mission 21 / Basel Mission Image Archive". Digitallibrary.usc.edu. 1906-09-18. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  16. ^ "mission 21 / Basel Mission Image Archive". Digitallibrary.usc.edu. 1906-09-18. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  17. ^ "Grace Presbytery". Grace Presbytery. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  18. ^ "Mercy College, Palakkad". Mercy College Palakkad. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  19. ^ "Chinmaya Vidyalaya Pallavur". Chinmayapallavur.com. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
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