Palakkad known as the granary of Kerala is a land of valleys, hillocks, rivers, forests, mountain streams, dams and irrigation projects. Situated at the foot of the Western Ghats, Palakkad is the gateway to Kerala from the north. The name Palakkad derives  from the Malayalam words Pala (a tree 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.
Palakkad is prime among Kerala’s most picturesque districts, thanks to its distinctive Palmyra trees and extensive green paddy fields. Palakkad has probably the biggest mountain pass in the world (30-40 Kms) separating the two folds of the Western Ghats on the border of Kerala with Tamil Nadu. Palakkad is  known as the Gateway of Kerala, giving the rest of India access to the State. For precisely the same reasons, Palakkad had to bear the brunt of invasions from the bordering kingdoms in the past. Palakkad is a melting pot of different cultures and ethnic denominations, enriching its life, arts & culture.
Not much is known about Palakkad’s ancient history. It dates back to the Palaeolithic period, and several megalithic relics have been found in the region. At the turn of the first millennium AD, for several hundred years the Perumals ruled the land. Later their governors called Utayavars took possession of this land and divided it among themselves. William Logan, the Scottish author of the celebrated Malabar Manual, suggests that one of the hubs of the Pallavas of Kanchi who invaded Malabar in the second and third centuries was Palakkad.
One of the earliest records about Palakkad has a chronicle of a war victory in A.D 988 when the king of Palakkad, Nedumpurayur Nadudayavar, stopped an invasion by the forces of the King of Kongunadu at Chittoor. Even today, a festival is celebrated in memory of this victory at Chittur. The Nedumpurayur royal family was later known as Tarur Swaroopam and finally as Palakkad Raja Swaroopam.
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.
Palakkad Fort, situated in the town close to Fort Maidan, is the best-preserved fort today in Kerala. Hyder Ali of Mysore constructed it in 1766. Today, this Palakkad Fort, popularly known as Tippu’s Fort, is one of the protected monuments in Palakkad town. It is square in shape, with walls of immense thickness and with strong bastions at all four corners and in the middle. The old drawbridge has since been replaced by a permanent one.
Malampuzha Gardens is one of the biggest tourist attractions of Palakkad in Kerala. This Vrindavan of Kerala brings in tourists from the state & other states every year. The garden has lush green lawns, innumerable flowerbeds, glittering pools and fountains. The natural grandeur of the garden is enhanced by fresh water aquarium, Snake Park and children’s park with a toy train.
Dhoni Reserve Forests is located at a distance of 15 km from Palakkad. There is a bedazzling petite waterfall on top of the Dhoni hills, which could be reached by a three hour long trek from the bottom of the hills. Dhoni is a lush green tropical paradise elaborately draped in a splendid green garb, guaranteed to hold you captivated in its rich natural beauty. Trekking is the best way to explore the splendor of this hilly terrain. Dhoni is famous for its farmhouse with exotic rare breeds of cattle.
Another major attraction of Palakkad is the Udankhatola - South India’s only Passenger Ropeway. Fly over the garden at 60 ft. height to have the best panoramic view of the beautiful gardens nestled below the Blue Mountains. Unique by nature, extremely safe and economical too, you are assured that this twenty minutes sky ride in Palakkad will be an unforgettable experience.

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