Palakkad is one of the districts for Kerala state.  Palakkad is headquarters for the district.  Palakkad is bounded by Malappuram District on the Northwest, by Thrissur District on the Southwest and by Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu on the East.  The district urbanization is around 13%.  The district is also known as "the granary of Kerala". The city is located around 350 km north to state capital of Thiruvananthapuram.  Palakkad is near the Palghat Gap, a pass of natural depression through the Western Ghats ranges that run parallel to the West coast of India, and connects Kerala to the plains of the state of Tamil Nadu to the East.

Palakkad History

Previously, Palakkad was under the rule of the Chera kings.  With the decline, parts of the district was ruled by Palakkad Rajas who were Zamorins of Calicut who later gave the independence.  Some parts were under Kollengode Rajas of Vengunad and the Valluvanad part of the district was under Valluvakonathiris.  For short duration, some regions of the district near Chittur came under the attack of the nearby Kongu King when the local people opposed the Kongu invasion successfully. Palakkad was a part of the Malabar District of Madras Presidency previously, and then came under the princely state of Cochin and Madras state.  It was identified as separate district of Kerala in 1956 when the state was formed.

Palakkad Culture

Palakkad has a wonderful cultural tradition, it is known that Thunchathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, father of Malayalam literature had his last days in Chittur Kunchan Nambiar, the founder of Thullal, the famous Poet ofMalayalam had his birth in a small village called Killikurissimangalam in this district.Mani Madhava Chakkiar for Koothu and Vazhenkada Kunjhu Nair for Kathakali are two famous names to be remembered here.  The district is blessed with the birth of Sri. Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavather, the exponent of Carnatic Music and Sri. Palakkad Moni Iyyer the master of Mridangam.  Sri. C.Sankaran Nair belongs to Mankara is also in this district. The great poet of Malayalam Literature Mahakavi Kumaranassan wrote his famous poetry Veena Poovu here.

Palakkad Tourism

Tourist places in Palakkad
Nelliampathy
Malampuzha
Pothundy
Ottappalam
SilentValley
Mangalam
Siruvani
Meenkara
Dhoni
Parambikulam
Kanjirapuzha
Mayiladumpara
J.P.Smrithi Vanam
Palakkad Fort
Kottayi
Mennvallom
Attappadi
Thunchan Gurumadom
Kunchan Smarakom