Palakkad

Palakkad is a city in Central Kerala in India. Palakkad is known for its historical background and the remnants of Tippu Sulthan's Fort are still maintained.



Understand
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 km² 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.

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.

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 Kozhikode).

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.

See




Other places around Palakkad




Buy
Banana chips and jackfruit chips cooked in coconut oil are good take home food from Palakkad. Freshly fried chips will have a better taste and durability compared to packed chips. If you don't find shops deep frying chips, you can go with packed chips which are available at bakery shops and general shops in Palakkad.

Eat
Due to its traditional Tamil-Brahmin culture, Palakkad has maintained a slight distance from Malabar cuisine, focusing more on vegetarian Tamil foods. In snacks, you can take egg puffs, banana chips and jackfruit chips, while parotta with some masala or biryani is usually taken in dinner. You can also eat dosa, idli or vada. Kalan, a vegetarian dish, is unique to Palakkad.



Go next

 * 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