Palakkad, being my mom’s place, I have visited Palakkad many times. I have spent most of my vacation during my younger days in Palakkad.
Palakkad lies around the middle of Kerala and borders with Coimbaotre district of Tamilnadu. Palakkad is the land of Palmyras and Paddy fields. It is the chief granary of Kerala, often called the Gateway of Kerala. Palakkad lies at the foot of the gigantic Western ghats on the border of Kerala. This district with mountains, forests and fertile valleys, rivers and mountains streams are rich in flora and fauna. Palakkad is known for its historical background and the remnants of Tippu Sulthan’s Fort are still maintained.
The famous tourist spot in Palakkad is Malampuzha which is situated just 8km away from Palakkad Town. It houses a dam, a huge and well-planned garder, a mini zoo (now neglected), a snake park (very interesting), an aquarium, a rock garden (done by the same person who did the rock garden of Chandigarh), a wonderful ropeway running above the garden and dam and lot of restaurants and hill views around. There is also a big and Kerala’s first amusement park Fantasy Land on the way to Malampuzha.
Silent Valley National Park is another of Palakkad’s attraction. It is a conserved forest which houses a variety of species of both flore and fauna. Discovery and National Geographic comes often to film this natural beauty.
Some of the other picnic spots of Palakkad are Tippu’s Fort (in the heart of Palakkad town), Loknayak J.P.Smrithi Vanam and Deer Park (in Walayar which is 25 kms from Palakkad town and near the border between Kerala and Tamilnadu), Mayilladumpara - Cholanoor Peacock Sanctury, Kanhirapuzha dam, Mangalam Dam, Pothundy Dam, Seetharkundu water falls near Nelliyampathy (a quiet and serene hill station), Meenkara dam, Parambikulam wild life sanctuary and boating, Chulliar dam, Killikurrussi Mangalam, Meenvallam, Siruvani and Attappady ghats.