- Best time
- December to February
- Nearest airport
- Coimbatore (about 55 km)
- Nearest railway station
- Palakkad Junction
- Distance from Coimbatore
- About 68 km
- Known for
- Paddy fields, Malampuzha Dam, Silent Valley
What to see
The district's main attractions are spread out, so plan a day for each area:
- Malampuzha Dam: built in 1955 on a tributary of the Bharathapuzha, with gardens, a rock garden, a ropeway, a snake park and boating on the reservoir.
- Palakkad Fort: a sturdy granite fort in the town centre, rebuilt by Hyder Ali in the 18th century.
- Silent Valley National Park: about 237 sq km of rainforest known for the lion-tailed macaque and the absence of cicadas that gives it its name; entry is by permit and day visit only.
- Nelliampathy Hills: tea, coffee, cardamom and orange estates, viewpoints and trekking trails such as Seethargundu.
- Parambikulam Tiger Reserve: teak and bamboo forest in the Anamalai hills, home to the huge Kannimara teak tree, elephants and tigers.
About the name
The name is usually traced to the pala tree (Alstonia scholaris), once common in the forests here and known for its strongly scented flowers. Palakkad borders Thrissur, Malappuram and Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district, and its culture shows influences from both states.
Best time to visit
December to February is the most pleasant time, with cooler mornings of around 19°C. March to May is hot and humid, with highs near 37°C. The monsoon, which runs from June well into the autumn, makes the hills green and the dams full, but rain can close forest roads and treks.
How to reach
Coimbatore airport is the closest, about 55 km away, with Kochi and Kozhikode airports around 100 to 115 km. Palakkad Junction railway station has trains from Chennai, Bengaluru and the rest of Kerala. Buses run frequently from Coimbatore and Thrissur. We can plan a Palakkad trip with Silent Valley or Parambikulam permits arranged in advance.
Also nearby
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