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Pristine Palakkad: Places to Visit

'Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder', now that is a statement apt for a place like Palakkad. Lying in the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, this district has a unique beauty of its own that attracts tourists here. This is no metro city bustling with life, but when one travels through here you can feel the love and warmth that the place and it's occupants emit. If you are looking for a silent retreat then this is the place to be. Tourists can laze around at Palakkad fort or set out on an adventurous journey at Parambikkulam Wldlife Sanctuary or the Silent Valley National Park. One will find many a temples here, do stop and pay homage at the Kalpathy temple and the Jain temple here. So lets go ahead and know more about this silent yet beautiful district.

How to Reach

How to Reach

Palakkad Junction is connected to major cities like Madras, Kolkata and more. The Salem-Kanyakumari National Highway 47 and Palakkad-Kozhikode National Higway 213 passes through here. One can avail interstate buses from Coimbatore as well. One can reach the nearest airport at Coimbatore. which is 60 km from the town.

Photo Courtesy: Dhruvaraj S

Palakkad Fort

Palakkad Fort

Palakkad Fort, better known as Tipu's Fort, is a popular heritage building in Palakkad district. The fort used to be a major center for the military activities of the Mysorean rulers. 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.

Photo Courtesy: Me haridas

Parambikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary
 

Parambikkulam 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. 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. The sanctuary has excellent trekking trails and travelers can explore the area on foot after obtaining permission from the authorities.

Photo Courtesy: Suriyakumars

Jain Temple

Jain Temple

Jain Temple is a historic monument that vividly displays the cultural diversity of Palakkad. Also, known by the name Chandranatha temple, it is one of the few Jain temples of the country. The temple is a marvelous piece of architecture with images of Jain Thirthankaras and Yakshinis along with the idols of Chandranthan, Vijayalakshmi Nathan, Rishabha and Padmavathi are found inside the temple.

Photo Courtesy: Shijualex

Kanjirapuzha

Kanjirapuzha

Kanjirapuzha is a scenic town and 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. 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.

Photo Courtesy: Shijualex

Kalpathy Temple

Kalpathy Temple

Kalpathy Temple, known otherwise as Kalpathy Vishwanatha Swamy Shrine, is ranked as one of the oldest Shiva temples of Kerala. 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.

Photo Courtesy: Shahinmusthafa

Pothundi Dam

Pothundi Dam

Pothundi Dam is an irrigation dam near a small village in Palakkad district of Kerala. The dam is unusual as it is constructed without a conventional concrete core but instead by an unusual mixture of jaggery and quick lime. It is the second earth dam in India.

Photo Courtesy: Veera.sj

Silent Valley National Park

Silent Valley National Park

A thick rain forest, with many rare species, the Silent Valley has been declared a National Park and is 80 km from Palakkad. It is popularly known as the "Evergreen Forest" and noted for its eerie silence because of the lack of cicadas, which are common elsewhere. It is an important biosphere reserve in the Western Ghats and the home of tribal people. The valley is a habitat for the rare Lion-Tailed Macaque. The park is also a protected area for tigers.

Photo Courtesy: Kalyanvarma

Ottapalam

Ottapalam

Ottapalam, a major town situated in Palakkad district and lies on the banks of River Bharathapuzha. One of the major attractions around the region is Killikkurussimangalam, which 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. Travelers visiting Ottapalam can make a trip to Kerala Kalamandalam, a school that trains students in performing arts and music. Several indigenous dance forms of Kerala such as Kathakali, Bharatanatyam, Koodiyattam and Mohiniyattam are taught here.

Photo Courtesy: Adams Homestay Cochin

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