Palakkad Tourism (2024) - Kerala > Top Places, Travel Guide

Palakkad Travel Essentials

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"The Gateway of Kerala"

Palakkad Tourism

The quaint town of Palakkad in central Kerala boasts of picturesque landscape, tranquil scenery and clear backwaters. Also known as Palghat, Pallakad is located near a wide low pass in the Western Ghats mountain ranges. Palakkad is the land of Palmyras and Paddy Fields and is famous as the chief granary of Kerala.

Palakkad gets its name from pala trees which once dominated the area. This is the area which links Kerala to Tamil Nadu and perhaps does so in a cultural sense too, since the language spoken in the villages here is Tamil, unlike the rest of the state where Malayalam is prevalent.

Palakkad is known for the ruins of Tipu Sulthan's Fort, four dams and one of the first amusement parks of Kerala - Fantasy Park. Some other locations that can be visited in the area include the Palakkad Fort, Silent Valley National Park, Pothundy Dam, Jain Temple, Dhoni waterfalls, Walayar Dam etc.

Palakkad Fort

Silent Valley National Park

Parambikulam Tiger Reserve

Seetharkund Waterfalls

Nelliampathy

Chinakkathoor Pooram

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The Wildlife of Palakkad

There are two major forested areas in Palakkad district - the Silent Valley National Park and the Parambikulam national park. One of the oldest teak trees in the world - the Kannimara Teak - can be found in these forests. In Parambikulam, there are tree houses that can be booked in advance for tourists to live in and this is a unique experience rarely found anywhere else in India. It also has a reservoir inside the forest and visitors can enjoy boat rides and cruises on this reservoir. The Silent Valley national park is rich not just in wildlife but also has a great significance for the environmental movement in India. This district has some of the most pristine and unspoilt rainforests in India.

Shopping in Palakkad

Palakkad has a lot of touristy shopping options. The hub is Valiya Angadi or Big Bazaar where you can purchase traditional Kerala souvenirs- peacock feather vilakkus (lamps), bells, nillavilakkus (floor-lamps), wall- hangings, utensils and jewellery. Pallakad has a wide range of jewellery options and is known to have the second highest number of jewellery shops in Kerala.

History of Palakkad

Palakkad is supposed to have derived its name from “pala trees” and "kadu" meaning forest which once inhabited the district. It is a land of palmyrahs and paddy fields and is also known as the “gateway of Kerala” from the north. The history dates back to the Palaeolithic era owing to the discovery of relics and ancient findings. It was ruled by several rulers including Pallavas of Kanchi, Perumals, Utayavars, Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan and finally came under the jurisdiction of the Madras Presidency.

Paddy Feilds in Palakkad

Though still known as the traditional rice bowl of Kerala, the lush green paddy fields of Palakkad are disappearing at an alarming rate. Palakkad is responsible for the bulk paddy production in Kerala but the cultivation is declining at a rapid rate partially due to farmers resorting to other lucrative crops and partially due to the altering land use patterns.

Restaurants and Local Food in Palakkad

Palakkad cuisine, thought is essentially the same as the popular cuisine around the state, carries strong hints of influence of the Brahmins that live here, developing a unique food culture about themselves. The cooking is done usually through steam and the staple items here include white rice with curries like Kootan, Kootu, Poduthuval and more. Along with these one can enjoy the popular Rasam, Papad and Payasam
Also, one must not miss the Jackfruit Halwa also called the Chakka Halwa, while here.
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Suggested Itinerary for Palakkad

Day 1: Arrive in Palakkad by road or rail and take the morning to settle in your hotel rooms and have a sumptuous breakfast. Stroll the city streets and take a whiff of the street life of this city. There are many snacks shops serving pakoras, fried bananas and the famous parotta. In the evening, leave for the Jainmedu temples located on the banks of the Kalpathy River. This austere temple is one of the last remaining monuments of Jain culture in Kerala, and the location makes this palace a must visit.

Day 2: Proceed to the Palakkad fort located in the heart of the city. It was built by Haider Ali of Mysore in the late 1700 and later used by the British. In the evening, proceed to the Alappuzha Dam located a few kilometres from the city. The beautiful backwaters and gardens developed in the premises make it a favourite tourist spot.

Day 3: Proceed to the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary located about 100 kilometres away from the city. Spend the day in the forest and get a chance to view some rare animals like elephants, deer, leopards and a large number of birds. Enjoy the boating facilities and tree houses built in the heart of the forest.

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How to Reach Palakkad

How to Reach Overview

Palakkad is known as the Gateway to Kerala, and it is located strategically at the base of the Western Ghats near a mountain pass that allows easy access to this district. It is well connected by road and rail to the rest of India and major cities in South India, but it does not have an airport. Coimbatore is the nearest airport, and there are regular bus and taxi services to ferry people to and from the airport.

How to reach Palakkad by road

Road transport is the most well-developed form of transport in and out of Palakkad. It is well connected by road to other major cities in Kerala and the nearby states. Coimbatore is the nearest big city and is well connected by buses operated by the Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments. There are also buses and taxis operated by private companies that ply on different routes. Cars for hire are rare and so need to be booked in advance.

How to reach Palakkad by train

Palakkad has two railway stations - Palakkad junction for the broad gauge line and Palakkad Town Railway station for the narrow gauge line. The cities and towns of Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Mangalore, Kozhikode and Ernakulam are connected through Palakkad junction and Pollachi, Dindigul and Madurai are connected through the Palakkad Town Railway station.

Local transport in Palakkad

Taxis and Buses are easily available. Many places can be covered on foot.

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FAQs on Palakkad

What is the best way to reach Palakkad?

What are the places near Palakkad?

The top places near to Palakkad are Ooty which is 69 km from Palakkad, Munnar which is located 89 km from Palakkad, Nelliyampathy which is located 28 km from Palakkad, Alleppey which is located 150 km from Palakkad, Wayanad which is located 119 km from Palakkad

What are the things to do in Palakkad?

The top things to do in Palakkad are Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Silent Valley National Park, Palakkad Fort, Ottapalam, Mangalam Dam, Seethargundu Viewpoint. You can see all the places to visit in Palakkad here

What is the local food in Palakkad?

What is the best time to visit Palakkad?

Palakkad is a landlocked district, and so sees more extreme temperatures that the coastal regions. The climate here is hot and wet, and the rainfall is mainly due to Southwest winds. Palakkad received high rainfall and also has hot summers. Winter is the best season to visit this place since there is hardly any rain and the temperature is pleasant.

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Who should visit Palakkad?

For the wildlife enthusiasts, Palakkad has a unique blend of wildlife from the Western Ghats and the southern plains. Hailed as the granary of Kerala, you can observe the rich paddy fields here. It is also a perfect spot for religious tourism and to peek into the history of Kerala.

What is not so good about Palakkad?

It has no coastline or beaches. The temperature here is higher than in the Western districts of Kerala

What is famous about Palakkad?

Unexplored tourist destination. Easily accessible by rail and road. Chance to explore the authentic Malayali culture.

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