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Palakkad
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PALAKKAD
(Palghat), surrounded by paddy fields, lies on NH-47 between Thrissur (79km) and Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (54km), and on the railway line from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Historically, thanks to the natural 20km-wide Palakkad Gap in the Western Ghats, this area has been one of the chief entry points into Kerala. The environs are beautiful, but the town itself doesn't warrant a stop, other than to break a journey. Arriving from Tamil Nadu, Palakkad, with its dry, Deccan-like landscape, unlike most of the state, gives a misleading first impression of Kerala. The well-preserved
fort
, built in 1766 by Haider Ali of Mysore, is the nearest thing to a "sight"; it gets plenty of visitors at weekends, despite having little to offer. However, many travellers in search of
Kathakali
and
Teyyattam
performances find themselves directed here. Particularly during April and May, hundreds of one-off events take place in the area. The local Government Carnatic Music College has an excellent reputation, and a small open-air amphitheatre next to the fort often hosts first-class music and dance performances. Ask at the tourist office for details. The landscaped gardens and amusement park at
Malampuzha
(10km north; Rs80, includes all rides), watered by the large adjacent dam, is a great attraction during the weekends when crowds come to ride the cable car (known as the "ropeway"). In the same grounds, the fantasy rock garden created by the artist Nek Chand of Chandigarh fame is illuminated on Saturday and Sunday nights (open until 9pm). Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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India,
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