Palakkad

Palakkad lies near a wide low gap or pass in the Western Ghats mountain ranges that separates Kerala from Tamil Nadu. Consequently the city is a major conduit for travel between the two states. Palakkad is 4,480 square kilometres and the population is 2,617,072.
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 city surrounded by 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's Fort are still maintained.
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 50 km away. The nearest international airport is in Kochi. There are three airports in 2-3 hr travel distance (Kochi, Coimbatore and Calicut).

By train

Palakkad is well connected and one of the railway divisional headquarters. Serviced by rail from 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,Salem. However there is no direct bus from Hyderabad.

By car

Palakkad is well connected to other cities Chennai, Kozhikode, Ooty, Palani, Kodaikanal, Kochi, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Salem and 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 runs KSRTC and many private operators operate bus services.
• Autorickshaw - This is cheap way of transportation between attractions. Rickshaw drivers are generally very polite unlike big cities of India. However, if you are a foreigner trying to get around by yourself, agree on fare before boarding.
• Taxi - Local taxis are also available at cheap rates. You will have to bargain.
• Walk - Many attractions in Palakkad like the Tippu's Fort, the Open air Auditorium called "Rapadi", the Stadiums etc are walkable.

• Agali Hills

• AttappadyTribal villages. 38 km Home of Irulas and Mudugars

• Brahmakumaris Yoga Center

  phone: +91 4912578525
  address: Kalpathy.

• Chulliar Dam

• Chittur Gurumadam

• Cholanoor Peacock Sanctury

• Dhoni Reserve Forest15 km

• Government Victoria CollegeColonial structure.

• Guru Mandir

  address: West Yakkara

• Jain temple

• Kanhirapuzha Dam

  address: muhammed karakkadan

• Killikurrussi Mangalam

• Lakkidi

• Mahadeva Kshetram

• Malampuzha Gardens

  address: Malampuzha.15km
  Spectacular Garden, Suspension Bridge, Boating facility, Japanese Garden, Fantasy Water Theme Park, Toy Train, Acquarium and Cable Car. Entrance 9.00 am to 7.30 pm Video Cameras are charged ₹1,000

• Mangalam Dam

• Meenkara Dam

• Meenvallamwaterfalls

• Meenvallam Water Falls

  address: Kalladikode

• Museum of Musical Instruments

  address: olavakkod Road, Palakkad

• Nelliyampathi'Ooty of Kerala' hill station.

• Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary135 km

• Pothundi Damwith a garden and good views.

• Seetharkundu water falls

• Silent Valley National Park80 km. 'Evergreen forest' with many rare species. Advance reservation by telephone is needed. Please contact: Phone: +91-4924-222056, +91 4924 253225, +91 8589 895652

• Sholayar ForestCoffee and Tea estates.

• Siruvani

• Thiruvalathoor

• Tippu's Fort

• Walayar Dam25 km.

• Walayar Deer ParkYou can see deer and other small animals roaming about in their natural habitat. The park is in a poor condition due to lack of investment. The park spreads over 110 acres of forest area, mainly teak plantation. There are plans to convert it into a safari park, providing more amenities for the deer and other animals and also to the visitors.

Other places around Palakkad

• Ayalur Temple

  address: Ayalur
  Car festival during winter

• Chulanur Peafowl Sanctuary

• Hemambika/Emoor Bhagavathi temple and Siva TempleBus available every 5 min from Palakkad Town Bus Stand. Board Rly Colony bus and alight at Kallekulangara bus stop.

• Kakkayur Kottamala Ayyappa Temple

  address: Kakkayur
  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.

• Kakkayur Siva Temple

  address: Kakkayur

• Meenkulathhi Amman Temple

  address: Pallasena

• Nellikulangara Temple

  address: Nemmara

• Pothundy DamIt is a reservoir built across Ayalur river as an irrigation project in 1968. It provides water to Nenmara and Ayalur villages. It is in a valley just below the Nelliyampathy Hills.

• Tripallavoor siva temple

  address: Pallavur

• Alampallam RadhotsavamThe biggest Chariot in Kerala.

• Chinakathur PooramA spectacular festival.

• Chittur KonganpadaThe 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).

• Kalpathy RathotsavamColourful Temple car festival where all the streets of the village will be lightened and the procession of Ratha's will take place.

• Kunissery KummattiA traditional Indian festival.

• Nemmara VelaA traditional Indian festival.

• Walk in the paddy fields

  address: Azhchapparamba Junction, Thrissur Road

Due to its traditional Tamil-Brahmin culture, Palakkad has maintained a slight distance from Malabar cuisine, focusing more on vegetarian Tamil foods.

• 10/10 Restaurant

  address: West Yakkara

• 20/20 Fast Food

  address: Yakkara Junction

• Aryas Vegetarian Restaurant

  address: Near Town Railway Station

• Fort Palace HotelVeg and non-veg.

• Hotel Ashok BhavanVegetarian.

• Hotel Indraprastha

  address: English Church Road
  Veg and non-veg.

• Hotel KapilavasthuVegetarian.

• Hotel NoorJehanAuthentic Kerala style Muslim dishes.

• Hotel Royal TreatVeg and non-veg.

• Hotel Sri Chakra

  phone: +91 491-2570901

• Indian Coffee House

  phone: +91 491 2524910
  address: Opp. KSRTC

• Indian Coffee House, Opp. Post Office

  address: Olavakkod Junction

• K R BakesVeg and Non Veg

• Kudumbashree Caffe

  address: Abudhabi Complex, Near Stadium

• Magic Oven Cafe

  address: Near Stadium

• Manis Cafe

  address: Near Railway Police Station, Olavakkod
  Specialists in Elayada or Leaf-covered-rice-cake

• Noor Jahan Open Grill

  address: Near Stadium

• Railway Retiring Room

  address: at Palakkad Junction Railway Station (Olavakkod)

• A.V.Tourist Home

  phone: +91 4912504193
  address: G.B.Road, Palakkad

• Hotel Chanakya

  address: Chandra Nagar, Palakkad

• Hotel Gazala

• Hotel Kairali

  address: Near Stadium Bus stand, Palakkad

• Hotel Malabar

  address: Near stadium Bus stand
  Delicious & Ethnic Veg & Non Veg Cuisine

• India Lodge

  address: Near Railway Police Station, Olavakkod

• Indraprastha Hotel

  phone: +91 4912534641 2539531
  address: English Church Road

• Kairali Resort

  address: Olassery
  Kairali Resort, Kodumbu Olassery Road, Palakkad

• Landmark Residency

  phone: +91 4912555708
  address: Palakkad

• Malang Lodge

  phone: +91 4912529665
  address: Kannara Street, Near Noorajahan Hotel, G.B.Road cross

• Sri Chakra International

  address: Chandranagar

Be careful when you travel to the eastern mountains of Kerala as there are frequent Maoist attacks. Avoid lonely treks.

• Agali Hills Hill Station
• Nelliyampathi a hill station in the Western Ghats, 60 km from Palakkad.
• Parambikulam wild life sanctuary and boating
• Silent Valley National Park
• Malampuzha Gardens