Palghat
or 'Palakkad' is the land of palmyras and
paddy fields. Along with Kuttanadu, Palakkad
is one of the chief graneries of Kerala. It
is often called the Gateway of Kerala. The
Sahya Ranges bordering the region and the
20-mile gap in the mountains exert a dominant
influence on the climate of the region. Many
rivers that flow into the Bharathapuzha originate
from these mountains.
In
the past, this land was known as Palakkattusseri.
Etymologists trace the word Palakkadu from
Paalainilam, meaning dry area. Palakkad had
a long history dating back to the paleolithic
period. A large number of megalithic relics
have been discovered from here.
PALAKKAD
FORT
Palakkad
Fort, situated in the very heart of the town,
is the most beautiful and the best preserved
fort of Kerala. The sober silence of the granite
walls reminds us of old tales of valour and
courage. It was constructed in 1766 by Hyder
Ali of Mysore. In 1790 the fort was taken
over and remodified by the British. The fort
is protected by the Archaeological Survey
of India.
PARAMBIKULAM
The
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, which is
130 kms away from Palakkad, extends over an
area of 285 sq, Kms. It offers a scintillating
sight of rare wild animals. There are quite
a few hill tribes here like Malayars, Kadas
and Muthuvaans.
Boat
cruises can be arranged in the Parambikulam
Reservoir. The rest house of State Forest
Department at Thoonakadavu. Thellikkal and
Elathode offer comfortable lodging facilities.
Tree house in the Reserve forest area in Thoonakkadavu
has to be booked in advance.
THRITHALA
A
temple of Siva and the ruins of a mud for
near Thrithala Chalissery Road are notable
cultural monuments. The Kattilmadam temple
on the Pattambi-Guruvayoor road has archaeological
significance. The small granite structure
is a testimony of Buddhist importance, built
probably during the 9th or 10th century A.D.
A memorial for Pakkanar the Pariah saint,
stands near Thrithala Kootanad road.
Renowned
writer and social worker V.T.Bhatathiripad
was born here.
LAKKIDI
The
Killikurissimangalam of Lakkidi near Ottapalam
is renowned as the birth place of Kunchan
Nambiar, the 18th century satirist and trendsetter
in Tullal and its poetry. Nambiar's house
is a protected monument of the State Government.
The
Sri Rama Temple at Thiruvilwamala, though
located in the neighbouring district, is just
on the other side of theriver.
KOTTAYI
Kottayi
is about 15 kms via Putur from Palakkad. The
tiny village had become famous as the native
place of the late Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar,
the doyen of Karnatic music.
NELLIYAMPATHY
The
Nelliyampathy hills are extremely fascinating
and offer an easy escape from the scorching
summer of Palakkad. About 52 kms. South of
Nenmara is this cool hill resort. The height
of the hills ranges from 467 metres to 1572
metres.
You
have to negotiate at least 10 hair-pin curves
on the Ghat road passing though breath-taking
evergreen forests of the Sahya Ranges. Pothundi
Reservoir glints in the distance as a sapphire
set amidst the green of the forests.
Nelliyampathy had immense trekking potential.
At Kaikatty there is a community hall which
could be used as a camping place for trekkers.
Seethakundu
at Nelliyampathy offers a fantastic view of
the valley below-a wide angled panoramic picture
of about one third of Palakkad, as beautiful
as the green Valleys of Kodaikkanal.
MALAMPUZHA
Malampuzha
exudes the charm of harmony in nature, a perfect
synchronization of the grandeur of the mountains
blending with the music of the rivers. It
is 10 kms. from Palakkad. The garden complex
at Malampuzha draws the largest holiday and
week-end crowds to Palakkad.
The
children's park with a toy train, a miniature
zoo and an aquarium housed inside a fish shaped
building, await the pleasure and delight of
children.
There
is a swimming pool and facilities for boating
in the canal and in the reservoir. A small
garden in Japanese style, gives a touch of
exotic charm to the landscape. So too does
the hanging bridge across the canal. The only
ropeway in south India is another attraction
of Malampuzha garden. The ropeway is equipped
with 64 chairs each with the capacity of two
persons.
Other
items of interest in the park is the imposing
concrete sculpture of Yakshi, the divine enchantress,
by the renowned sculptor, Kanai Kunhiraman.
JAIN
TEMPLE OF JAINIMEDU
Situated
on the western border of Palakkad town and
not far from the Railway station, is a historic
Jain Temple. The place around the temple is
known as Jainimedu. This is one of the few
places in Kerala where the vestiges of Jainism
have survived without substantial damages.
The
granite walls are devoid of decoration. The
32 feet long 20 feet broad temple consists
of four divisions with images of Jain Thirthankaras
and Yakshinis in three of them. Kumaran Asan
wrote his monumental poem 'Veena Poovu' (the
fallen flower) at a Jain house here during
his brief stay with his master Sri. Narayana
Guru.
ATTAPADY
Attappady
is about 38 Kms. North east of Mannarkkad.
Above everything else, one will be awe-struck
by the grandiloquence of the divine architect
who created this loveliness of forests, rivers
and mountains.
It
is also a place of great interest to anthropologists
as many Irulas and Mudugas inhabit here. These
Adivasis worship the mountain peak 'Malleswaran'
as a gigantic Siv-Ling. This peak and the
River Bhavani exert tremendous influence on
the lives of the tribal. There is a P.W.D.
rest house and a VIP guest house at Agali.
Besides these government houses, there are
also a few private hotels.
'Sivarathri'
is celebrated at the Malleswaran temple by
the tribal.
SILENT
VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
Silent
Valley is about 50 kms. North-west of Mannarkkad.
Ecologists describes this area as the sole
surviving bit of evergreen forest in the Sahya
Ranges. This National Park covering about
nine thousand hectres has been named Silent
Valley due to its own peculiarity. These forests
are devoid of the chirping of cicadas. Vehicular
transport is usually allowed only upto Mukkali.
From Mukkali you have to cover at least 24
Kms. on foot to reach the source of Kunthipuzha
which flows through the valley before merging
into the Bharathapuzha or the 'Nila'.
There
is a huge wild tree of Kattuaiying variety.
It is hollow within and can hide at least
12 people in it.
CHITTUR
CARUMADAM
Thunchath
Ezhuthachan, the author of Adhyatma Ramayana
and the father figure of Malayalam poetry,
spent his last days here. Situated in Tekkegrama
near Anikkode on the Palakkad-Chittur Road
is his memorial. A srichakra and few idols
worshipped by him, the stylus, the wooden
slippers and few old manuscripts are exhibited
here.
The village is located on the banks of the
river Sokanasini the destroyer of sorrows.
THENARI
A
natural spring in front of the old Sree Rama
Temple has made Thenari famous. The name itself
is derived from the spring. Several legends
are woven around this spring. It is believed
that the water is as sacred as Ganga.
MYLADUMPARA
Well
known as a grove abounding in peacocks, the
name is perfectly justified. Myladumpara is
7 kms. from Kottayi. Its other but less popular
name in Choolanoor.
DHONI
Dhoni
a reserve forest area is about 15 kms. from
Palakkad. This forest has among other capivating
sights a small but splendid waterfall. The
site can be reached after a fairly long climb
of three hours from the base of the Dhoni
hills.
