PALAKKAD
Palakkad is one of the most picturesque districts in Kerala. The district that separates Kerala from Tamil Nadu, lies at the foot of Western Ghats. Palakkad is located at around 80 Km. north east of Thrissur and 50 Km south west of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. The district stands out with a number of dams and irrigation projects such as Walayar, Malampuzha, Pothundy and Parambikulam. With its extensive paddy cultivation, Palakkad is known as the rice bowl of Kerala.
History of Palakkad
There are a number of stories associated with the name Palakkad. When some believe that the name is derived from the words ‘Pala’ and ‘Kadu’ which means barren land and jungle respectively, others believe that the name originated from ‘Pala’, an indigenous tree that was densely grown in the district. Though not much is known about the history of Palakkad, many remains of the Paleolithic Age has been found here. According to the history, Perumals ruled the land for hundred years during the first millennium AD and later Utayavars took over its possession. Following the request of the Raja of Palakkad, Hyder Ali of Mysore freed the land from the invasion of Zamorin of Calicut. Later, Hyder Ali’s son Tipu Sultan ruled the region till he was defeated in his battle with British and ceded all Malabar territories to the British. Palakkad was then formed as part of the Malabar District of the Madras Presidency. The district of Palakkad was formed on January 1, 1957.
Economy of Palakkad
Agriculture is the main occupation of the people of Palakkad. Paddy is the most prominent crop cultivated here. Besides this, rubber, sugarcane, tomato, groundnut, jasmine and vegetables such as pumpkin, bitter gourd, brinjal etc are also grown in abundance in the district. Palakkad, also known as an important centre of export for mangoes and tamarind, cultivates neem and palm trees as well. Chittur Taluk in the district is well known for its production of jaggery, the unrefined sugar. The number of public sector companies and other large companies such as Coca Cola, Pepsi, BPL group, Fluid Control Research Institute etc established in the district add to its revenue.
Accessibility in Palakkad
The people of Palakkad depend on train and bus to commute from one district to another. Palakkad junction is a main station of the Southern Railway. Trains to all parts of the country pass through the Palakkad station. The Salem- Kanyakumari National Highway 47 and the Palakkad-Kozhikode National Highway 213, which pass through the district helps the public to travel via road to reach other districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Coimbatore Airport in Tamil Nadu which is about 60kmsfrom the district is the nearest airport.
Places of Interest
Nelliampathy: 
This beautiful picturesque hilly area is well known for its tea gardens, cardamom plantations and orange orchards. Lies at the foot of Western Ghats, Nelliampathy is blessed with silver waterfalls and dense forests. The place which is 52kms away from Palakkad is a must visit place for tourists visiting the district. Seethakundu waterfall, a 1000 meter high waterfall is another major attraction in Nelliampathy. The hilly areas and fascinating jungles make Nelliampathy an ideal place for trekking.
Malampuzha Dam:
Located 12kms away from Palakkad, Malampuzha is known for its lush green gardens and the dam built across river Bharatapuzha. The aquarium, snake park, toy train, Japanese garden, ropeway, telescopic tower and thread garden add to its attraction. Fantasy Park, the first amusement park of Kerala and rock garden are the other must visit sites in Malampuzha. Malampuzha is known as the ‘Vrindavan of Kerala’.
Palakkad Fort: 
The Fort built by Hyder Ali, Sultan of Mysore in 1766 AD was used by the British as a base for the final battle of Srirangapatnam. The fort, now under the protection of Archeological Survey of India was renovated in the European style by the British. The Fort offers panoramic views of the town of Palakkad.
Silent Valley National Park: 
Situated in the north eastern corner of the district, Silent Valley national park has an area of 90 sq kms. The national park has a unique preserve of tropical rain forests and is home to a large number of peninsular mammals. The unique mammals found here include Lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Tiger, Leopard (Panther), Leopard Cat, Jungle Cat, Fishing Cat, Common Plam Civet, Small Indian Civet,Brown Plam Civet, Ruddy Mongoose, Stripe necked Monogoose, Wild Dog, Sloth Bear, Otter, Flying Squirrel, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Indian Pangolin (Scaly ant eater), Barking Deer and Gaur. Indian Black-crested Baza, Bonellis Hawk Eagle, Rufous Bellied Hawk eagle, Shaheen Falcon, Short-Eared Owl, Penisular Scops Owl, Ceylon Frog Mouth, Great Indian Hornbill, Nilgiri Laughing Thrush, House Marin, Rufous Bellied-Shortwing, Malay Bitten are some of the rare species of birds found in the biosphere. Silent Valley houses around 170 distinctive species.
Parambikulam Wild Life Sactuary: 
This wild life sanctuary, located at a distance of about 125 km from Palakkad town is a haven for various distinctive species of wild animals, reptiles and birds. The sanctuary, located in the Western Ghats between the Nelliyampathy mountain range and the Nilgiris mountain range has a number of attractions that make it’s a must visit place. The main attraction here is the 360 year old teak tree named “Kannimari”, the oldest and largest teak tree in the world. The park is haven to Indian bison, crocodiles, tigers, leopards, sloth bears, snakes, deer and birds.
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