The superb granite fort built by Hyder Ali of Mysore in 1766 was captured and rebuilt by the British in 1790. The Palakkad Special Sub Jail is accommodated within the fort. A small shrine with main deity Hanuman called Anjaneya Swamy Temple is also within the fort. A garden called Vatika-Shilavatika is maintained inside the fort. The fort is surrounded by water. Inside there is a pillared hall which is a museum with statues and stone carvings on wall. There is an extent of open ground inside the fort which is now an open air auditorium called 'Rappadi'
Presently the fort is preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Malampuzha, on the foothills of the Western Ghats is named after the River Malampuzha a tributary of Kerala's longest river, the Bharathapuzha. The reservoir of the dam is surrounded by beautiful gardens and amusement parks. Boating facilities on the lake, a beautiful rock garden, the fish-shaped aquarium, the snake park, the ropeway, and the huge Yakshi (an enchantress) sculptured by Kanai Kunhiraman, a renowned sculptor of Kerala are other amusements around.
(10 km from Palakkad) This famous place with a dam and beautifully landscaped gardens, is situated on the lower hills of the Western Ghats. There are frequent buses to this place from Palakkad.
The Park is spread around 17 acres and have about 35 varieties water and dry rides. The park is in the scintillating backdrop of the mountain ranges of Malampuzha with the magnificent Western Ghats overlooking.
(1400 - 2100 hrs on week days and 1100 - 2100 hrs on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays). Ph: 815122 815124 Entrance fee: Adults Rs. 20 Children Rs. 10. Separate charges for rides and computer games.
An irrigation dam near Pothundi built in the 19th century, and considered oldest amongst dams in India is the main attraction of the area. Pothundi Dam is particular for it is built with an unusual mixture of jaggery and quick lime core as base instead of the usual concrete.
(45 km from Palakkad) Situated on the way to Nelliampathy..
An ancient temple with fine woodwork and stone sculptures and they are so fine that the legend about them is that the outer wall of the temple were built by Gods who worked whole night but couldn’t complete it by dawn and left it so as they didn’t want to be seen by humans. The work could not be completed later and anyway it is considered humans cannot complete the work.
There are 4,000 stone lamps on the wall and when they are all lit up at night it is a sight to behold. The biggest mizhavu - an instrument that used for art forms Chakyarkoothu and Koodiyattom, is found here in this temple.. (10 km from Palakkad)
The hills are superb with a cute little waterfall. It takes three hours from bottom of Dhoni hills to reach reserve forest area. Dhoni in fact is a reserve Forest area that is small yet beautiful. Dhoni can be explored by trekking its hilly terrains. The lush green surroundings are a sight for the sore eyes. Dhoni have a farmhouse with hundreds of Swiss cattle. Dhoni is at its best soon after the monsoon rains.
(15 km via Poodur from Palakkad) This tiny village is the native place of the late Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, the doyen of Carnatic music. Chembai music festival in memory of the great musician is conducted every year (Feb-Mar). Thiruvilwamala the famous Sree Rama Temple is near Kottayi.
(19 km south of Palakkad): Kollengode, literally meaning the abode of blacksmiths is where the pristine beauty of rural Palakkad is seen in full bloom. The Kollengode Palace is an interesting architectural construction. The Vishnu Temple similarly is both divine and structurally inspiring.
The poet P. Kunhiraman Nair Memorial is also worth visiting.
Seethakundu and Govindamalai hills near Kaachankurichi are ideal for adventurous trekkers.
(30 km from Palakkad): Killikkurissimangalam at Lakkidi is where Kunchan Nambiar, the 18th century satirist and exponent of O’ttam Tullal (classical art form) was born. The poet's house has been preserved as a monument by the State Government.
Meenkara dam built across river Gayathri that flows into Bharathapuzha, was completed in 1964. It is a place of quite calm and serene surrounding making it ideal for a little picnic.
(32 km from Palakkad)
(75 km from Palakkad)
Mainly monuments and historic ruins like the Siva Temple and the ruins of a mud fort near Thrithala on the Chalissery road, the Kattilmadam Temple, a small granite Buddhist monument on the Pattambi-Guruvayoor road considered to date back to the 9th/10th century AD, the Paakkanaar memorial, honoring the Pariah saint standing near Thrithala Koottanad road and also the native place of renowned writer and social reformer VT Bhattathiripad.
Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary with its superb landscape, flowing streams, magnificent water surface of the reservoir, exquisite waterfalls, fascinating hills and valleys and rich biodiversity is an enchanting place in Kerala
The Sanctuary is about 285 sq.km and home to rare wild animals. Boating and cruising facilities are provided at Parambikulam Reservoir. The Rest Houses of the State Forest Department at Thoonakkadavu, Thellikkal and Anappady offer accommodation. A tree house in the reserve forest area in Thoonakkadavu has to be booked in advance. The oldest teak tree, kannimari is found here.
(110 km from Palakkad)
Reserve forests surrounds the dam. Muthikulam hill is on the east of the dam. There is a natural waterfall in the hill. The waterfalls and the Dam are simply beautiful. A 150-year-old Pattiyar Bungalow is on the banks of the Siruvani Reservoir.
The reservoir at Siruvani built for Tamil Nadu by Kerala Government to meet drinking water needs of Coimbatore is typical of the Kerala and Tamil architectural styles. Siruvani is home to tribes like Mudugars and Irulars.
(46 km north of Mannarkad and 48 km from Palakkad)
The festival by Tamil Brahmins in and around Kalpathy Village with the major highlight of the festival being the pulling of chariots.
Kalpathy is 18 Agraharams near Palakkad, an early Tamil Brahmin settlement. Kalpathy Ratholsavam is a 10-day festival beginning with flag hoisting and ends with Rathasangamom. The festival is observed during October – November (the last week of Aippasi Month).
The 10-day festival has last three days as the most particular ones since that’s when chariots from different temples are pulled around.
The festival is famed for classical music concerts and other classical cultural programs.
The dance performed at night and usually ending at dawn is conducted often for four consecutive nights.
The dance begins at night with men gathering in temples and doing rhythmic circular dance called vattakali or circle dance. The circle dance is followed by the purattu, meaning trivial events or stories, does not follow a format, as each purattu lasting for an hour almost, portrays life and social customs of various castes and tribes of medieval Kerala and Tamil Nadu Various purattus have different costumes, style of dancing and songs set to different tempos.
Performed in specially made stage called pandal in front of the temple or its premises consisting of a lighted lamp in the centre and a roof supported by nine pillars with the singers at the central position of the stage and the dancers dancing along the boundaries of the pandal circularly.
The songs mostly in Malayalam however have a heavy influence of Tamil. An art form exclusive to the Nair community of the district of Palakkad, Kanniyarkali is performed in temples as well as Nair centers (March/April)
A festival of colors, art forms, fireworks and elephants, Nenmara Vallangi Vela, organized by two deshams or regions namely Nenmara and Vallangi, held every year in the Nellikulangara Bhagavathy temple, the presiding deity being Goddess Bhagavathy.
The festival provides occasion to enjoy some folk arts like Kummatti, Karivela and Andivela.
The festival begins on the first day of Malayalam month Meenam and proceeds on till the twentieth day. On the twentieth day of the festival processions with caparisoned elephants are taken out from the two villages to the Nellikulangara temple.
The festival is on 20th of 'Meenam' or the first week of April
A form of shadow doll play performed using leather puppets but basically as a ritual to Goddess in Devi temples in particular stages called ’ koothumadams’ is very popular in north-central Kerala. The story basically depicted is Ramayana. Since Bhadrakaali could not see Ravana getting killed as the Goddess was fighting Daarika at the same time the Goddess wanted to see Ramayana and Pavakoothu was staged depicting Ramayana.
Usually performed at the Bhagavathy temples of Palakkad (March/April)
Basically a past time before harvesting. Ox or kaala used to tilt paddy fields are similarly tied in twosome and are raced in slurry fields of water. Interesting and thrilling to watch especially the way the crowd participates in the race vocally.
This exciting ox race is an agrarian sport held in the Malayalam month of Makaram (January).
The Chittur Konganpada is classic example where religion mythology and history come together to form a festival. The festival is celebrated at the Bhagavathy temple in Chittur, about 11 km from Palakkad town.
Traditionally celebrations are in memory of the victory the Chittur Nairs achieved over the militia of nearby Konganadu during 918 C.E. There was consistent fight between the Kerala kingdoms on the western side and the princely state of Konganadu on the eastern side of the Western Ghats.
An event of colors, sounds and enthusiasm the annual feast at Pattambi Mosque is a spectacle to behold. Held in the memory of the Muslim saint, Aloor Valiya Pookunjikoya Thangal the festival takes the entire town to its own joy and spirits.
The procession, is the highlight of the festival which is marked by several caparisoned elephants accompanied by colorful tableaus, traditional orchestra, Traditional art forms, and concludes late in the evening on the banks of the River Bharathapuzha.
East Nada, Guruvayoor
Thrissur : 680 101, Kerala
