Palakkad, which lies at the foot of the Western Ghats, the dreamy land of misty monuments with its ever green tropical forests, dams, wild life sanctuaries, rivers, rare birds and animals, historical monuments, places of worship and traditional Ayurvedic treatment centres, has tremendous scope and immense potential to become one of the best tourist destinations in the country. The district is gifted with the beauty of virgin and verdant Nelliampathy hills, the precious and unique Silent Valley National Park, the famous Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Attappady hills and more than half a dozen dams like Malampuzha, Mangalam, Pothundi, Kanjirapuzha, Siruvani and Parambikulam..

Nelliampathy. Nelliampathy Hills are extremely fascinating and offer an easy escape from the soorching summer of Palakkad. About 75 kms from Palakkad is this cool hill resort. The height of the hills ranges from 467 metres to 1572 metres. It has immense trekking potential. Seethargundu, at Nelliampathy offers a fantastic view of the valley below, a wide angled panoramic picture of about one third of Palakkad, beautiful and resembling the Green Valley of Kodaikanal. The total area is about 82 sq.kms. The highest peak in the range is Nellikotta, also called Padagiri. It is 1585.08 metres above sea level. The other major peaks are Vellachimudi, Valiyavana, Mayanmudi and Vela Vanchan, each about 1200 metres high. The annual average rainfall in the area is 4.244 mm. The temperature varies between 15’ C in December and 30C in April, the mean temperature being 22’C. The Pothundi reservoir glints in the distance like sapphire in a sea of emerald. The 1000 metre high waterfall is one of the major attractions. Seethargundu got its name from the legend that Sita Devi, during the vanavasa period with Sri Rama, took a bath here. During Deepavali, a large number of devotees gather here.

Malampuzha. Malampuzha Garden is the Vrindavan of Kerala. Malampuzha exudes the charm of the harmony of nature a perfect synchronization of the grandeur of the mountains blending with the serenely of rivers. It is 12 kms from Palakkad. There are lush green lawns, Innumerable flower beds glittering pools, fountains and avenues. There is a fresh water aquarium. A snake park and a children’s park with a toy train, which await the pleasure and delight of children. The reservoir is ideal for boating and fishing. The Garden House has a unit of water ports. A small garden in the Japanese style gives a touch of exotic charm to the landscape. So does the hanging bridge across the river. Another items of interest in the part is the imposing concrete sculpture of YAKSHI, done by the renowned Kanai Kunhiraman. The Passenger ROPEWAY, the first of its kind in South India, offers adventurous and delightful air journey of 20minutes across the gardens, giving a soul string view of the gardens, the distant hills that kiss the heavens and the blue strip of the reservoir. There is a ROAD TRAIN for amusement ride on wheels. In the vast expanse of the Malampuzha Garden and its visity.. There is a TELESCOPIC TOWER in the garden providing a terrestrial view upto 40 miles. The first ROCKGARDEN emerged from the Master creator Padmashree Nek Chand of Chandigarh, in South India is at Malampuzha. Modeled after Appu Ghar of Delhi and Essel World of Bombay the first Amusement Park of Kerala named FANTASY PARK is at Malampuzha. The Park has modern thrilling Rides over 8 acres plot landscaped beautifully with Garden and Fountains.

Pothundy Pothundy is 38 kms south of Palakkad town. An irrigation project was commissioned here in 1968 with an estimated cost of Rs.234.25 lakhs, consisting of an earthen dam with a spillway section across the tributaries of Ayalure River. Its 10 kms right bank canal ad 8 kms left bank canal irrigate an area of 5465 hectares in Chittur and Alathur Taluks. The project also provides water supply to Nemmara and Ayalure Villages.

Ottappalam This was the centre of political as well as tenant movements in South Malabar of the erstwhile Malabar province of Madras Presidency. The festival at Chathan Kandar Kavu is very famous one in Ottappalam. The legend goes that the temple was built by the local Kanjoor Namboodiri family at a place where a scheduled caste person called Chathan found a stone bleeding while he was sharpening his knife on it. The deity of this temple is Durga. The annual festival is Talapolli which is celebrated on Avitam day n Meenam. Nercha festival in the Ottappalam mosque attracts the local Muslims in large numbers. It is said that a saintly person by name Uthaman Auliya had lived and dies at this place. An annual festival is held at this mosque on his death anniversary.

Silent Valley. The Silent Valley National Park, with an area of 90 sq.kms, is situated in the north eastern corner of the district. It rises abruptly to the Nilgiri Plateau in the north and overlooks the plains of Mannarkkad in the south. The river Kundhi descends from the Nilgiri hills above, a altitude of 2000 meters traverses the entire length of the valleys and rushes down to the plains through a deep gorge. River Kunthi never turns brown, it is crystal clear, perennial and wild. The Silent Valley National Park, is probably one of the most magnificent gift of nature to mankind, a unique preserve of tropical rain forests in all its pristine glory with an almost unbroken ecological history. Thanks largely to its difficult terrain and remoteness the extent of degradation is minimum comparison with other sanctuaries. There is a huge wild tree of Kattualying variety. It is hollow within and can hide at least 12 people in it.

Mangalam. Located 48 kms south of Palakkad town, Mangalam is mainly occupied by settlers from other parts of the State. Mangalam dam is located near the NH 47 about 14 kms. South of Vadakkencherry village. The dam is constructed across Cherukunnapuzha a tributary of Mangalam River. It is located in picturesque surroundings. The reservoir fringes on the forest area where there are deer, wild elephants and a variety of birds. There are beautiful parks and lawns adorned with statues.

Siruvani. The Siruvani Project is in Sholayur Panchayath. The dam constructed across the River Siruvani, is for supplying drinking water to Coimbatore Corporation of Tamilnadu. The dam is surrounded by reserve forests. The distance from Edakkurissi to Siruvani Dam is 22 kms. The scenic beauty of Siruvani is simply enchanting. Muthikulam hill is situated on the eastern side of the dam. There is a natural water fall in the hill.

Meenkara. Meenkara Chulliar is a fascinating spot by virtue of the dam, garden, fish ponds and natural beauty. It is 32 kms.south east of Palakkad Town. This Dam is built in the river Gayathri which flows into Bharathapuzha.

Dhoni. Dhoni is a reserve forest area , 15 kms from Palakkad town. The forest has among other captivating signs, a small but spendid waterfall. The site can be reached after a fairly long climb of 3 hours from the base of Dhoni Hills.

Parambikulam. Parambikulam wild life sanctuary extends over an area of 280 sq.kms. It is 110 kms away from Palakkad via. Pollachi. The oldest and highest teak tree “Kannimari Teak” is situated here. Three Dams were constructed on the hill top. They are Paruvarippallom,Thunakadavu, and Parambikulam. for the irrigation of Pollachi Taluk of Tamilnadu and Chittur Taluk of Palakkad District. It is the place which is famous for teak plantations. Boat cruises is provided in the Parambikulam Reservoir. The Rest Houses of the State Forest Department at Thunakadavu, Thellikkal and Elanthode and a tree house in Thoonakkadavu offer lodging facilities. The Giant Kannimari Teak and the wild animals in the forest area are a sight to dream of.

Kanjirapuzha. Kanjirapuzha Dam is situated about 38 kms. from Palakkad. The water spread of the dam lies in a single stretch. An evergreen forest, by name ‘Vettilachola’ is immediately beyond the reservoir which is surrounded by hills and during rainy season, the mountain will be covered with mist. All this makes the area extremely beautiful and picturesque. There are three islands in the reservoir with plenty of fish (including commercial varieties) grown by the Fisheries Department.

J.P.Smrithi Vanam. Loknayak J.P.Smrithi Vanam and Deer Park is in an extent of 100 acres of reserve forest at Walayar in the border of Kerala and Tamilnadu on the side of N.H.47. Deers and other animals move freely in this park. Facilities for elephant ride is provided. The distance from Palakkad town is 22 kms.

 

Mayiladumpara – Peacock Sanctuary. Myladumpara Choolannur Peacock Sanctuary is 30 kms. away from Palakkad. It is well known as a grove abounding in Peacocks.

Palakkad Fort. Palakkad Fort, situated in the Palakkad Town, is the most beautiful and best preserved forts in Karala. The sober silence of the granite wall reminds the old tales of valour and courage. It was constructed in 1766 by Hyder Ali of Mysore and his son Tippu Sulthan. In 1790 the fort was taken over and re-modified by the British East India Company. The fort is protected by the Archeological Survey of India. Martyr’s Column, Open Air Auditorium called “Rappadi” and Tourism Information Centre of District Tourism Promotion Council are there in the spacious Fort Maidan. The Children’s Part and ‘VATIKA’ are just on the side of the Fort. The fort was situated in the middle of Palakkad Gap with an area of 15 acres.

Kottayi. It is 15 kms away from Palakkad. Kottayi is the native place of the Late Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, the doyen of Karnatic Music.

Mennvallom. There are 10 steps of Water falls at Meenvallom, the originating point of Thuppanadu River. The height of the falls varies from5 to 45 metres. The distance from Palakkad is 37 kms.

Attappadi. Attappady is a tribal abode. Irular, Mudugar and Kurumbar are the main tribal groups. They live in forest in closely built huts called ‘Ooru’ (hamlets) Government have constructed some concrete programmes to uplift the tribals. The Intensive Tribal Development Project, Attappady implementing the tribal development schemes.

 

Thunchan Gurumadom. Across the lush green fields, two kms. from Chittur Town on the banks of river Sokanasini an old building where Thunchathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, regarded as the father of Malayalam Language, lived in the 16th Century. People call it Gurumadom and it is here that he translated the two great Sanskrit epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha, for the common people. At the Gurumadom one Srichakra and a few idols worshipped by him the stylus the wooden slippers (Padukom) and a few old manuscripts are exhibited. It is on Vijayadasami day that the memorial gets the maximum number of visitors with hundreds of children brought here for a ritualistic initiation into learning.

Kunchan Smarakom. Kalakkathu Kunchan Nambiar represents an age and its culture in the field of Malayalam literature. He was the native of Killikkurissimangalam in Palakkad. Now, the Kunchan Smarakom is a national monument and is being governed by a Committee appointed by the Government. A three year course on Ottan Thullal, Seethankan Thullal and Parayan Thullal was started with the help of artists attached to this monuments. Every year May 5th is celebrated as Thunchan Day. A library and an Auditorium are attached to this monuments.

There are so many other tourist centres are also here. Important of them are Sree Rama Temple and the Spring at Thenari, the Kattilmadom Temple, Ruins of a mud fort near Chalissery etc..