Palakkad Tourism

"The Gateway of Kerala" Palakkad Tourism The quaint twee town of Palakkad boasts of picturesque landscape, tranquil scenery and clear backwaters. Palakkad gets its name from pala trees which once dominated the area. 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 "gateway of Kerala". 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 ofKerala. This is the area which links Kerala toTamil Naduand 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. Some other locations that can be visited in the area include thePalakkad Fort, Silent Valley National Park, Pothundy Dam, Jain Temple,Dhoniwaterfalls, Walayar Dam etc. Download Palakkad PDF Guide > What's Great? Unexplored tourist destination. Easily accessible by rail and road. Chance to explore the authentic Malayali culture. What's not so Great? It has no coastline or beaches. The temperature here is higher than in the Western districts of Kerala For Whom 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.

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. 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. 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. 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.

Itinerary 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.

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 likeKootan, Kootu, Poduthuvaland more. Along with these one can enjoy the popularRasam, Papad and Payasam Also, one must not miss the Jackfruit Halwa also called the Chakka Halwa, while here. View 7 Restaurants in Palakkad >>

Jul-Maris 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. Weather in Palakkad Loading... Palakkad in Summer (February - May) Summer in Palakkad lasts from February to May, but there is not much variation in temperature during these months. April and May are the hottest months, and the temperature may rise more than 35 degrees Celcius. Precipitation is there throughout the year, and there is significant amounts of rainfall even during the summer months. This is not a good time to visit since the climate is hot and wet. Palakkad in Monsoon (June - October) Rainfall occurs in Palakkad throughout the year but is highest from June to October. The annual rainfall is more than 200 centimetres and is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. However, the months of January to March have the lowest rainfall. The temperature during the monsoon are lower than summer and average around 25 to 30 degrees Celcius. Palakkad in Winter (November - March) Winter lasts from November to March and this the best time to visit Palakkad since the temperature is pleasant and there is almost no rainfall. The lowest temperature is around 22 degrees Celcius, and December and January are the coldest months. This season sees a lot of tourists, and if you plan to go during the winter, it is best to make the travel and accommodation arrangements well in advance. Monthly Weather in Palakkad Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 22 32 February 22 33 March 24 34 April 26 36 May 25 34 June 24 31 July 24 31 August 24 31 September 23 31 October 24 32 November 23 32 December 22 31

Events in Palakkad Chinakkathoor Pooram 1st March The Sree Chinakkathor Bhagvathy Temple is located in the Palakkad district of Kerala. Every year the temple grounds are transformed on the ocassion on Chinakkathor Pooram. Beginning with a procession of elephants, perfrormances by the temple orchestra as well as puppet shows are also held. On the Pooram day, everyone comes together, irrespective of their beliefs, and the jubilant energy that they have is an event all by itself.