Palakkad: A Mix of Malayalis and Tamilians

Palakkad was the main gateway to Kerala, which was bounded on the east with a mountain range. At Palakkad, the there is a 25 mile wide gap in the mountain range. The road and rail lines along this gap lead to Coimbatore in Tamilnadu.

Palakkad has thus become home not only to Malayalis native to Kerala but also Tamilians from the neighbouring state. There are several Tamil Brahmin gramams in Palakkad, such as Kalpathi (see pic right), where you could still find the typical Tamil Brahmin style row houses. In the picture, there is a temple at the far end, and rows of numerous houses, with shared side walls, along both sides of the road.

You might find a peaceful bull in front of a house, like the one in pic left. Cows are holy to Brahmins and Hindus in general, and they (and their consorts) roam freely along the roads.

Temples proliferate in this temple town, which also hosts mosques and churches and even an abandoned Jain temple. Tamil Muslims, known as Rowthers, are peculiar to Palakkad. All the different communities - Hindus, Muslims, and Christians, Malayalis and Tamilians, reside in harmony in this traditional town.

Major Landmarks

Kalpathi is only one among the major landmarks in Palakkad. Palakkad Fort, shown in pic right, is the most notable among the landmarks. Constructed by French engineers under orders from the eighteenth century Mysore ruler Hyder Ali, the strctures sprawls over more than eight acres of land. The fort has a wide moat all around it, and from its ramparts you could see far into the town on all sides.

Yet another landmark is the valiya angadi (big bazaar) that forms the commercial centre of Palakkad. The crowded bazaar retains its traditional flavor, with stalls for everything from vegetables to antiques.

Though not strictly part of the old Palakkad, the important railway junction station at nearby Olavakode carries the official name of Palakkad. From this railway junction you could travel west and south to Thiruvananthapuram and Kanniyakumari, or west and north to Kozhikode and Mangalore and east into Tamilnadu upto Madras or Rameswaram. Palakkad itself has a small metre-gauge railway line and station.

Travelling a few kilometres further from Olavakode, you could reach Malampuzha dam with a beautiful garden under the dam structure.

The world famous Silent Valley rain forests lie within motoring distance from Palakkad. So are Attapadi hills with its tribal people. A notable sight as you move into the countryside are the tall palm trees.

Rice Bowl of Kerala

Palakkad district is renowned for paddy cultivation, and has come to be known as the rice bowl of Kerala. Sugar cane, groundnuts and other crops are also cultivated in the district.