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  • 01Palakkad Fort

    Palakkad Fort

    Palakkad Fort, better known as Tipu’s Fort, is a popular heritage building in Palakkad district. The fort, constructed in 1766 by the great Mysore king Hyder Ali, lies at the heart of Palakkad town and is easily accessible by road.

    The fort used to be a major centre for the military activities of the Mysorean rulers. A spacious ground, locally known as Kotta Maidanam or Fort Grounds, is located close to the fort. History has it that the ground was once the stable where the animals of Tipu Sultan’s army were kept and reared.

    Today the ground serves as an excellent location for meetings, sports matches and exhibitions. The major attractions in and around the fort include a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman, a martyr's column, the district sub-jail and an open-air auditorium maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

    Timings: 9 am to 5 pm (on all days)

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  • 02Dhoni Waterfalls

    Dhoni Waterfalls

    Dhoni Waterfalls, a less explored yet amazingly beautiful water body, a must-see place for those who want to experience the wonders of nature at close quarters. Dhoni is a small hilly hamlet located at a distance of about 15 km from Palakkad town and the dense reserve forest surrounding the waterfalls magnifies the beauty of the region. It is an ideal place for trekkers as it requires 3 hours of trekking to reach the top of Dhoni hills.

    The trekking trail through the wild forest is extremely enchanting, and though the interior regions are rich with wildlife, the route to the waterfalls is safe to tread through. The ideal time to visit the waterfalls is soon after the monsoon as the surroundings are blessed with newly sprouted greenery and the streams are freshly replenished.

    The ruins of Kavarakunnu bungalow, a colonial mansion built in 1857, can be spotted on the route that leads to the waterfalls. It is recommended that travelers carry food, water and snacks with them since chances of finding food points around this place are very thin.

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  • 03Kalpathy Temple

    Kalpathy Temple

    Kalpathy Temple, known otherwise as Kalpathy Viswanatha Swamy Temple, is ranked as one of the oldest Shiva temples of Kerala. With a history that dates back to 1425 AD and a style of architecture that truly is enchanting, this temple attracts devotees and tourists alike.

    Located a few kilometres away from Palakkad town, the temple lies at Kalpathy village which grabbed the title of the Varanasi of the South due to its significance in the cultural history of Southern India.

    Kalpathy Ratholsavam, one of the most renowned temple festivals of Kerala, is celebrated here every year during the month of November. The Ratholsavam or the Chariot Festival attracts millions of devotees to Palakkad and has contributed extensively to the promotion of tourism in the region.

    The sight of extensively decked chariots majestically drawn through the streets of the village is truly bewitching. The area surrounding the temple contains several agraharams or old Tamil Brahmin settlements which are part of the Heritage Protection Project initiated by Kerala Tourism Department.

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  • 04Jain Temple

    Jain Temple is a historic monument that vividly displays the cultural diversity of Palakkad. It is located at a scenic place named Jainmedu that lies a few kilometres away from Palakkad town. Also, known by the name Chandranatha temple, it is one of the few Jain temples of the country and reminds travellers of prominence Jainism enjoyed in the bygone era.

    This small yet undamaged vestige of Jain religion is made of granite and is believed to have been constructed over 500 years ago. The temple is a marvelous piece of architecture having a length of 32 ft and a width of 20 ft.

    Images of Jain Thirthankaras and Yakshinis along with the idols of Chandranthan, Vijayalakshmi Nathan, Rishabha and Padmavathi could be spotted inside the temple. The area around the temple occupies a unique position in the literary history of Kerala since Kumaran Asan, the most renowned poet of Kerala, scripted his epic poem Veena Poovu while he was at Jainmedu.

    The Jain Temple, which was once the worship place of 400 Jain families who lived in the surrounding area, serves today as a travel destination for history lovers.

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  • 05Kanjirapuzha

    Kanjirapuzha is a scenic town located at a distance of about 40 km from Palakkad town. The major attraction of the town is its dam which has the majestic Western Ghats as its background. The dam and the reservoir are built across River Siruvani, and the picturesque beauty of the region attracts travelers. The reservoir lies close to an evergreen forest which is known by the name Vettilachola.

    The dense greenery of the forest and the mist-clad mountains in the surroundings magnify the beauty of Kanjirapuzha. The dam is rich with a wide variety of fish species and is currently being used by Kerala Fisheries Department to breed fishes for commercial purposes.

    Kanjirapuzha and its dam area serve as ideal locations for family picnics, one day trips and study tours. The enchanting beauty of the place arrests the attention of nature lovers and the panoramic view of the region is sure to kindle the interest of photographers.

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  • 06Parambikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary

    Parambikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the chief attractions of Palakkad and is situated across the Sangam Ranges on the southern belt of the Western Ghats. This refreshingly attractive stretch of wilderness houses an exciting variety of animal and plant life and serves as an ideal spot for wildlife enthusiasts, nature lovers and trekkers. The area constituting the sanctuary has been classified into three zones namely the Core Zone, the Buffer Zone and the Tourism Zone.

    Visitors get to see rare varieties of fauna including Tiger, Leopard, Asian Elephant, Bison, Spectacled Cobras, Nilgiri Langur, Nilgiri Tahr, Sambar, Bonnet Macaques, Spotted Deer, Indian Wild Dogs and Turtles. Bird lovers will benefit hugely from the Salim Ali Bird Interpretation Center and Salim Ali Galley located in the region.

    The sanctuary has excellent trekking trails and travellers can explore the area on foot after obtaining permission from the authorities. Jungle Camps, Night Packages and Nature Education Packages, Boat Cruises and Tree Houses are available for those who want to delve deep into the hidden wonders of nature.

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  • 07Ottapalam

    Ottapalam

    Ottapalam, a major town situated in Palakkad district, lies on the banks of River Bharathapuzha. The town is marked with a distinct culture and has a long trail of heritage which makes it different from the rest of Palakkad.

    One of the major attractions around the region is Killikkurussimangalam, which lies at a distance of about 8 km from Ottapalam town. Situated near Lakkidi, Killikkurussimangalam is best known as the birthplace of Kunjan Nambiar, a renowned poet whose name is marked in the literary history of Kerala for inventing a unique dance form named Ottanthullal.

    Travellers visiting Ottapalam can make a trip to Kerala Kalamandalam (a school that trains students in performing arts and music) located a few kilometres away at Cheruthuruthi. Built in 1927, Kalamandalam is committed to promoting several indigenous dance forms of Kerala such as Kathakali, Bharatanatyam, Koodiyattam and Mohiniyattam.

    Ottapalam attracts visitors with its nexus of a temple that includes Chinakathoor Kavu Temple (known for Chinakathoor Pooram) and Pariyanampatta Temple (popularly referred to as Valluvanadan Mookambika).

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