Best Things To Do In Palakkad, India

1. Kovai Kutralam

This is a picturesque site that has a beautiful waterfall, which originates from the Siruvani hill ranges. This spot is located on the Western Ghats and you will also find the Siruvani Dam above this gentle waterfall. The site is controlled by the local forest department, so you need to seek permission from the forest department before going for a visit to the Kovai Kutralam Falls. You can avail bus services to the spot from the city but only till 5 pm in the evenings. It is the only place near Palakkad and Coimbatore where you can see an enchanting waterfall.

Kovai Kutralam

Address: Siruvani, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641114

2. Kollengode Palace

Vasudeva Raja, the king of Kollengode, built this majestic palace in 1904 and gifted it to his daughter. The actual Kollengode Palace, also known as Kalari Kovilakam is located in Kollengode, Palghat. The Department of Archaeology acquired a portion of the property in Thrissur and transformed it into a museum. You can notice king Vasudeva Raja’s personal belongings on display inside this museum. This palace boasts of a gorgeous and unique mix of contemporary western design and traditional Kerala architecture. The palace in Thrissur at present houses the Mural Art Museum.

Kollengode Palace

Address: Kollengode Kunisseri Rd, Kollengode, Kerala 678506

Website: Kollengode Palace

3. Jainamedu Jain Temple

This famous Jain Temple is located in Palakkad’s western suburbs and enjoys proximity to the local railway station. The historic temple is made of granite and there are displays of the images of the Yakshinis and Jain Thirthankaras here. The temple is situated on the banks of River Kalpathy. The area around this popular temple is called Jainimedu or Jainamedu. It is one of those rare locations in Kerala that carries evidence of the survival of Jainism. There was a time when 400 Jain families resided in Palghat, but today, that number has drastically reduced to just a few families. The timings for visiting this temple are 7 am to 10.30 am in the mornings. The evening timings are from 5 pm to 7 pm. The Palakkad railway station is only 2 km (1.2 mi) from this temple and the Coimbatore International Airport is the nearest airport from Jain Temple.

Jainamedu Jain Temple

Address: Shri Chanraprabha Digambara Basti, Chunnambuthara, Vadakkanthara, Palakkad, Kerala 678012

Website: Jainamedu Jain Temple

4. Yakshi Statue

This statue is one of Kerala’s most famous sculptures and is considered an artistic wonder by art lovers. Yakshi Statue is situated in the Malampuzha Gardens and draws millions of tourists every year. It has been constructed with the mountain ranges at its backdrop and beautiful lush green gardens. It represents a mythological figure and was sculpted by one of Kerala’s most renowned sculptors, Kanai Kunhiraman, in 1969. It is a colossal statue and its uniqueness lies in the fact that it was carved out of a single rock. The statue is creative and its skillfulness is remarkable, leaving spectators speechless. It is one of the sites you just cannot afford to miss when you are at Palghat. Combine it with a visit to the gardens and the dam site to make the best of it. The beauty of this marvelous stone statue is further enhanced when you view it in the evening.

Yakshi Statue

Address: Malampuzha II, Kerala 678651

5. Silent Valley National Park

This enchanting National Park covers a whopping area of about 236 square km (58316.9 acres) and has the distinction of being Kerala’s second largest national park. Silent Valley National Park is situated in the Nilgiri Hills in the Palakkad district of Kerala in South India. The park is significant as it also houses India’s last tracts of the rainforests of the Western Ghats Mountain and the tropical evergreen forest. The park is in continuity with the Karimpuzha National Park in its north and the Mukurthi National Park in the north-east.

Silent Valley National Park

Address: Mannarkkad, Palakkad, Kerala

Website: Silent Valley National Park

6. A trip to Kalpathi

Kalpathi is an early settlement of the Tamil Brahmin community in the district of Palakkad in Kerala. This place is renowned for a car festival called Kalpathi Ratholsavam Temple Car Festival. The event is held annually at a temple called Sri Visalakshi Sarmetha Sri Viswanatha Swamy, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Kalpathi is situated about 4 km (2.4 mi) from the Palakkad town. The New Kalpathi Temple lies on the village’s eastern side. This traditional village constitutes houses constructed mostly with thatched roofs. Many say that the village represents the last batch of migrants from the community of Tamil Brahmins.

Kalpathi

Address: Kalpathi, Palakkad, Kerala

7. Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

Parambikulam Tiger Reserve covers an area of about 391 square km (96,618 acres) and includes the former Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary has been declared as a protected area and lies in Chittur. Initially set up back in 1973, the sanctuary lies between the Nelliampathy Hills and the Anaimalai Hills and merged with the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in February 2010. There are 4 different indigenous and distinct tribes who have their homes inside this sanctuary. These tribes are Mala Malasar, Muduvar, Malasar and Kadar, who are settled in six different colonies.

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: Palakkad-Koduvayur-Thathamangalam-Meenakshipuram Highway, Kenathuparambu, Kunathurmedu, Palakkad, Kerala 678001

Website: Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

8. Palakkad Fort

Tipu Sultan’s Fort is also called Palakkad Fort. It is situated in the center of the Palakkad town. This fort is undoubtedly one of the well-maintained forts in South India. This fort of Tipu Sultan was set up in 1766 AD and The Archaeological Survey of India has declared the fort as a protected monument. The fort’s laterite walls have a sober majesty and will remind you of the stories of great courage and valor. This fort was constructed by Tipu Sultan’s father Hyder Ali, who was the emperor of the Mysore province and the modern Karnataka State. Many say that the intention was to develop communication between the two sides of the Western Ghats i.e. the West Coast and Coimbatore. There is no entrance fee and the visiting hours are from 8 am in the morning to 6 pm in the evening.

Palakkad Fort

Address: Palakkad-Koduvayur-Thathamangalam-Meenakshipuram Highway, Kenathuparambu, Kunathurmedu, Palakkad, Kerala 678001

Website: Palakkad Fort

Palakkad, an enchanting getaway

Though Palakkad may be a small town, it is blessed with dense forests, scenic beauty, a crisscross of rivers and the beauty of the mighty Western Ghats. So what are you waiting for? Plan your trip and enjoy a great holiday with your dear ones in Palakkad.