Palakkad district, also spelt Palghat, is one of the 14 districts of the Indian state of Kerala. Located in the central-eastern part of the state, it is bordered by the state of Tamil Nadu to the east and north-east, and forms a major gateway between Kerala and the rest of peninsular India through the Palakkad Gap in the Western Ghats. The district headquarters is at the town of Palakkad.
Key facts
| State | Kerala |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Palakkad |
| Region | Central Kerala / Malabar |
| Formed | 1 January 1957 |
| Major language | Malayalam (with significant Tamil-speaking population) |
| Lok Sabha constituencies | Palakkad, Alathur (parts) |
Geography
Palakkad is the largest district in Kerala by area. Its eastern boundary is broken by the Palakkad Gap, a roughly 40 km wide low pass in the Western Ghats that has historically served as a corridor for trade, migration, road and rail traffic between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The district contains a mix of plains, midlands, and forested high ranges, including parts of the Silent Valley National Park in the Kundali hills, and the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in the south-east.
Major rivers include the Bharathappuzha (Nila), the second longest river in Kerala, along with its tributaries such as the Gayathripuzha, Kannadipuzha and Kalpathipuzha. The Malampuzha, Walayar, Mangalam, Pothundi and Chulliar reservoirs are key irrigation works in the district.
Administration
The district is divided into administrative taluks including Palakkad, Chittur, Ottapalam, Mannarkkad, Alathur and Pattambi. It contains the Palakkad Municipal Corporation along with several municipalities such as Ottapalam, Shoranur, Chittur-Thathamangalam and Mannarkkad. Local self-government is organised through grama panchayats, block panchayats and the Palakkad District Panchayat.
History
The region was historically part of the Valluvanad and Palakkad chieftaincies, and later came under the influence of the Zamorins of Calicut and, briefly, Mysore under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan in the late 18th century. After the Anglo-Mysore wars it was incorporated into the Malabar District of the Madras Presidency under British rule. With the reorganisation of states on a linguistic basis in 1956 and the formation of Kerala, the present Palakkad district was constituted on 1 January 1957 by combining the erstwhile Palghat and parts of Ponnani and Perinthalmanna taluks. In 1969, parts of the district were carved out to form Malappuram district.
Economy
Palakkad is often described as the "granary of Kerala" because of extensive paddy cultivation, especially in the Chittur and Alathur plains. Other agricultural produce includes coconut, sugarcane, mango, banana and vegetables. The district has industrial estates at Kanjikode and a Special Economic Zone, hosting units in engineering, rubber, food processing and automobile components. The Kerala State Electricity Board operates several hydroelectric and irrigation projects in the district, including the Malampuzha dam.
Transport
The district is a major rail junction in southern India. Shoranur Junction is one of the largest railway stations in Kerala and a key node on the Southern Railway network. National Highway 544 (formerly NH 47) passes through Walayar and Palakkad, linking Coimbatore with Kochi. The Palakkad–Pollachi and Palakkad–Coimbatore routes utilise the Palakkad Gap.
Culture
Palakkad has a distinctive cultural identity shaped by its position on the Kerala–Tamil Nadu frontier. The district is home to a notable Tamil Brahmin (Palakkad Iyer) community concentrated in traditional agraharams such as Kalpathy, where the annual Kalpathy Ratholsavam chariot festival is held at the Sri Viswanatha Swamy Temple. Other cultural landmarks include the Palakkad Fort (built and rebuilt in the 18th century, associated with Hyder Ali), the Jainmedu Jain temple, and the Thiruvalathur and Kachamkurichi temples. The district has produced significant figures in Carnatic music, literature and cinema, including the writers O. V. Vijayan and M. T. Vasudevan Nair (associated with the Bharathappuzha valley), and several Carnatic vocalists of the Palakkad school.
Education
Educational institutions in the district include the Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad, established in 2015, the Government Engineering College Sreekrishnapuram, the Government Medical College Palakkad, NSS Engineering College Palakkad, and Government Victoria College, one of the older arts and science colleges in Kerala.
Tourism
- Silent Valley National Park
- Parambikulam Tiger Reserve
- Malampuzha Dam and Gardens
- Palakkad Fort (Tipu's Fort)
- Nelliyampathy hill station
- Dhoni waterfalls and forests
- Kalpathy heritage village
Related topics
References
- Wikidata entity: Q1535742
- Government of Kerala, Palakkad District administration portal
- Census of India, district handbooks for Palakkad