മലയാളിക്കൂട്ടം | malayalikkoottam / Discuss

krish |കൃഷ്‌ says:

The district of Palakkad known as the granery of Kerala, is a land of valleys, hillocks, rivers, forests, mountain streams, dams and irrigation projects. Situated at the foot of the Western Ghats , this is the gateway to Kerala from the north. Palakkad derives its name from the Malayalam words Pala ( Alsteria scholaris) and Kadu (forest) which goes to prove that this place was once a beautiful stretch of forests covered with the sweet scented flowers of the Pala tree.

The land of Palmyra trees and paddy fields - thats how Palakkad is often referred to as. Palakkadu and Palghat are the other names of this place that entices you with its myriad forms of attractions. In olden days, Palakkad was known as Paalakkattusery. Palakkad is branded as the rice-bowl of Kerala.

In 1757, to check the invasion of the Zamorin of Calicut, the Raja of Palakkad sought the help of Hyder Ali of Mysore, who freed all parts of Palakkad invaded by the Zamorin. Eventually, Haider helped himself to Palakkad and later his son Tipu Sultan was the unquestioned ruler of this region. But after his defeat to the British, Tipu ceded all his Malabar territories to the British following the treaty with the English East India Company in 1872. Palakkad formed part of the Malabar District of the Madras Presidency thereafter.


Located between north latitude 10° 46' and 10° 59' and East longitude 76° 28'and 76° 39', Palakkad district shares borders with Malappuram district in the North and Northwest, Trichur in the South and Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu in the East.

Palakkad lies at the foot of gigantic Western ghats . Palakkad has probably the biggest mountain pass in the world (about 30 Kms) separating the two folds of the Western Ghats . This district with mountains, forest and fertile valleys, rivers and mountain streams are rich in flora and fauna. The major rivers are Bharathapuzha (Nila), Kalpathy, Chitturpuzha, Bhavani, Shiruvani, Thuthapuzha and Gayatri. The district has some key irrigation projects and dams at Malampuzha, Walayar, Mangalam, Chittur, Meenkara, Pothundi, Siruvani and Kanhirapuzha.


Thunjathu Ramanujam Ezhuthachan, widely accepted as the father of Malayalam literature spent his last days at Chittur in this district. Kunjan Nambiar the most famous of all Malayalm poets and the founder of thullal , a purely Kerala art form, was born in a small village in this district. Many other noted exponents of varied art forms like Chakkiar Koothu, Kathakali, Thullal etc.. which are intrinsically Kerala art forms, found encouragement and inspiration at Palakkad. Most noted of all perhaps is the exponent of Carnatic Music late Sri Chembai vaidyanatha Bhagawathar. Likewise Palakkad Mani Iyer was known the world over for his mastery over the mridangam, the drum so central to Carnatic music.

The places of attraction are Fort of Tipu Sultan at the centre of Palakkad town, Malampuzha Dam and Rock Garden, Fantasy Park (Ausement park), Nelliyampathi Hill Station (also known as 'Poor man's Ooty), Pothundy Dam (earthen dam) on way to Nelliyampathy, Silent Valley National Park, Parampikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, etc.

Palakkad is also a place of temple festivals. The temples that dot the landscape have carved their own niche' in the arts & culture of this region. Major temple festivals in the district are Kalpathy Ratholsavam, Nemmara-Vallangy Vela, Chittur Kongan Pada, Manappullikkavu Vela, Chinakkathur Pooram, Pattambi Nercha, Kavassery Pooram, Kannambra Vela, etc.
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Palakkad on Wiki:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palakkad

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Originally posted at 9:37PM, 15 July 2008 PDT ( permalink )
challiyan edited this topic 3 months ago.