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Palakkad
Palakkad district opens the State to the rest of the country through a wide gap. Palakkad has witnessed in various incursions of historical importance.
Bharatha-puzha, the longest river in Kerala originates from the highlands and clows through the entire district. This district is the chief granary of Kerala and its economy is mainly agricultural. The district has fostered Carnatic music. Great musicians like Chembai Vaidya-natha Bhagavathar and Palakkad Mani Iyer, personalities like KPS Menon and KP Kesava Menon are the products of this district. Forests and streams, dams and gardens have made this district a fairyland of tourist.
According to William Logan, the author of the Malabar Manual, the Pallava dynasty of Kanchi might have invaded Malabar in the second or third century. One of their headquarters was a place called ‘Palakada’ which could be the present day Palakkad. It is bordered on the north and north-west by Malappuram district and on the south by Thrissur district. The climate of the district is tropical.
History
Historically too, Palakkad district has its own special characteristics. The fort of Hyder Ali tells us the story of Mysore invasions and the advent of the British to this part of the country. The Victoria College, started in 1886, marks the beginning of higher education in Malabar. The Jain temple near Chunnamputhara speaks of the magnanimity of the king of Palakkad who provided shelter to the people who escaped the religious persecutions of the King of Mysore, five hundred years ago.
The ancient history of Palakkad is shrouded. According to William Logan, the author of the Malabar Manual, the Pallava dynasty of Kanchi might have invaded Malabar in the second or third centuary. One of their head quarters was a place called Palakada which could be the present –day Palakkad. Malabar had been invaded by many of the ancient South Indian rulers. For many centuries, it was ruled by the Perumals. They had under them some powerful Utayavars who held authority in their own respective territories. After the rule of the Perumals, the country was divided among these chieftans. The valluvakkonathiri (ruler of Valluvanad), the rulers of Vengunad (Kollengodu Rajas) andf Sekhari Varma ( Raja of Palakkad) were the prominent rulers of this region, after the Perumals.
When the Zamorin of Kozhikode invaded Palakkad in 1757, the raja of Palakkad sought the help of Hyder Ali of Mysore. Hyder Ali’s help forced the Zamorin to retreat. Later Hyder Ali subjugated all territories in Palakkad which were under the possession of Zamorin. Thus the whole area possessed by the Raja of Palakkad passed into the hands of the Mysore rulers – Hyder Ali and his son Tippu Sultan. The war between Tippu and the East India Company ended with the treaty of 1872 and all the possessions of Tippu in Malabar were ceded to the British. Gradually these formed part of the Malabar district of the Madras Presidency.
Tourist Centres in the District
Palakkad, which lies at the foot of the Western Ghats, is a dreamy land of misty mountains. The district is gifted with the beauty of virgin and verdant Nelliampathy hills, the precious and unique Silent Valley National park, the famous Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary, Attappady hills and more than half a dozen dams like Malampuzha, Mangalam, Pothundi, Kanjirapuzha, Siruvani and Parambikulam.
Nelliampathy, the queen of Palakkad hills is the poor man’s Ootty. The tea, coffee, cardamom and orange plantations here are exhilarating attractions. According to historians, a great and rich civilization was in existence in this part of Palakkad during Tamil Sanghom period.
The highest peak in the range is Nellikotta, also called Padagiri. It is 1585.08 meters above the sea level. The beautiful cool hills of Nelliampathy are in the midst of the majestic Western Ghats.
Palakkad Fort
It is the fort which is situated in the middle of Palakkad town that first welcomes the tourists to this place. This fort tells the tale of many a subjugation and surrender. As per the directions of Hyder Ali, the Sultan of Mysore, the work on this fort was started in the year 1766 under the supervision of a team of French engineers. Hyder had settlements in Coimbatore, Malabar and Kochi. His intention was to turn the Palakkad fort into a focal paint of these settlements and rule them. In the war with the English in 1767 the fort was damaged and Hyder Ali reconstructed it on a solid foundation. Hyder Ali was succeeded by his son Tippu Sultan as the Nawab of Mysore in 1782 and the fort came under his control. In 1787 the English and the Kozhikodu Zamorin captured this fort of vital strategic importance. Knowing this, Tippu sent a strong contingent and drove out the Zamorin and recaptured the fort.
In the war between the English and Tippu in 1790, the English again captured the fort. According to a treaty after 3rd Mysore war, in 1782 the British got Malabar region and the complete control of the fort therein. In 1797 the English mended the damaged parts of the fort. The war between Tippu and East India Company ended with the treaty of 1872 and all the possessions of Tippu in Malabar were ceded to the British. Gradually these formed part of the Malabar district of the Madras presidency.
Palakkad was only a taluk of old Malabar district of Madras presidency till the linguistic reorganization of the States in 1956. At present, some government offices and a sub jail are functioning at this fort.
Kottamaithanam, west of the fort, is very famous. It is said that it was here Tippu’s cavalry camped. This maithanam is used for conducting exhibitions and mammoth meetings. Nearby the fort, there is a children’s park and an open air stadium called
‘Rappadi’.
Malampuzha
Malampuzha is the ‘Vrindavan’ of Kerala. It is 13 kms from Palakkad town. Since the completion of the dam in 1955, the place has been beautified into a tourist resort. The dam is located in idyllic surroundings with a hilly background. The beautiful garden on mughal model below the dam is the star attraction for the tourists. The small garden on Japanese style is also very attractive. The gigantic ‘Yakshi’ statue situated in the garden would cause surprise and wonder to anyone visiting Malampuzha. The fish-shaped aquarium is an added attraction. The snake park, the rock garden, the amusement park and the fancy park and the thrilling rides therein and the garden and fountain are the other attractions.
Parambikulam
Parambikulam in Western Ghats is about 125 kms from Palakkad. The dam and the wildlife sanctuary here are renowned. All sorts of animals and birds are seen here. There is a reservoir also. The place is famous for teak plantations. The oldest teak tree, ‘Kannimaree’, stands here. There is a national park here, which is named after Salim Ali, the famous bird observer.
Chulannur Peacock Protection Centre
Maailadumpara, in Chulannur situated 22 kms away from Palakkad town and 5 kms from Peringothukrish, is also famed. It is here the peacock protection center is located. Kunjan Nambiar Smrudhi forest is also here.
Kottayi
Kottayi which is situated 15 kms from the district headquarters is also famous. Chembai Village which gave birth to Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavather, the maestro of Karnatic music is in Kottayi. The last resting place of Chembai is the pilgrim center of music lovers. The birth place of guru Kunju Kurup, the great Kathakali master is also in Kottayi. The famous Kandethan temple which attracts people from within and without the district is also situated here
Seetharkundu
Seetharkundu at Nelliampathy offers a fantastic view of the valley below. The 1000 meters high water falls is one of the major attractions. Legend has it that during the ‘vanavasa, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana had lived here. Seetharkundu got its name from the legend that Sita devi during the vanavasa period with Rama, took a bath here.
Killikurissi Mangalam
The first popular Malayalam poet and the father of Thullal Movements, Kunjan Nambiar was born in Kalakkathu house at Killikkurissi Mangalam of Lakkidi Perur panchayat in Palakkad district. Every day a number of literary men come here to pay obeisance to the ever burning lamp and the ezhuthani (pen) he used for writing. A center imparting training in learning the poet’s arts form like Ottam Thullal, Parayan Thullal and Seethankan Thullal is functioning here. Every year May fifth is observed as Kunchan Day and award is given to the best thullal artist of the State.
It is the Kunjan Memorial Committee working under the State Cultural Department that gives initiative to the activities here.
Silent Valley
The ever green Silent Valley is in Palakkad district. The river Kunthi descends from the Nilgiri hills above the valley, at an altitude of 2000m, traverses the entire length of the valley and rushes down to the plains through a deep gorge. The Silent Valley National park, with an area of 90sq. kms is situated in the north eastern corner of the district. In the National Park it is estimated that there are more than thousand kinds of trees. The rarest species of animals and birds are seen in the valley. The valley has a fair representation of all peninsular mammals.
Meenkara Dam
Meenkara is a fascinating sport due to the dam, garden, fish ponds and natural beauty. It is 32 kms, south east of Palakkad town. The dam here was constructed in the year 1960 across Meenkara river, a sub tributary of Gayathripuzha, which is the tributary of
Bharathapuzha.
Chulliyar Dam
This dam and the surroundings at Muthalamada Panchayat offer a strikingly beautiful panorama of natural scenery. The work on this dam across Chulliyar, a tributary of Gayathripuzha was completed in the year 1960. A view from this dam at the sky kissing Nelliyampathy mountain ranges is superb
Pothundi Dam
Pothundy is 38 kms south of Palakkad town, in Nelliyampathy route. The dam is across Padipuzha and Meenchadipuzha, the two sub tributaries of Ayilurpuzha, which is the tributary of
Bharathapuzha.
Mangalam Dam
The work on this dam was completed in the year 1956. it is located 48 kms south of Palakkad town. The dam is constructed across Cherukunnupuzha, a tributary of Mangalam river. There are deer, wild elephants and rare species of birds on the fringes of the reservoir.
Siruvani Dam
The dam is the common reservoir of Kerala and Tamilnadu. It is 80 kms away from Palakkad town, and 22 kms interior from Edakkurissi which is in Palakkad manarcad route. The dam is constructed across Siruvanipuzha which is the tributary of Bhavanipuzha. It supplies drinking water to Coimbatore municipality. There is a water fall from 2000 feet height on the eastern side of the dam. The scenic beauty of Siruvani is really wonderful.
Thunchan Madom
In ‘Sokanashini’, an old building at Chittoor Thekkegram village, Thunchath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, the father of Malayalam language spent his last years. People call it gurumadom. Thunchan madom on the banks of ‘Sokanashini’ (destroyer of sorrow) Chittoorpuzha is even today blessed with the presence of literary men. The ezhuthani (pen) he used for writing is kept here as a precious memento.
JP Smirthivanam & Deer Park
JP Smirthivanam and Deer Park are located at Walayar reserve forest which has an area of 100 acres. One can see here deer and other animals roaming about in their natural habitat. This is situated 22 kms away from Palakkad town in Palakkad-coimbatore road. Here facilities for elephant riding are also available.
Kudallur and Thasarak
The villages of Palakkad district have become the background of the novels of reputed writers like M.T. Vasudevan Nair and O.V. Vijayan. Kudallur, the birth place of M.T. Vasudevan Nair is the locale of his novels, ‘Nalukettu’ and ‘Kalam’ (time). In vijayans famous novel, ‘Khasakkinte Ithihasom’ (the epic of Khasakk) the locale is the palakkad village, ‘Thasarak’. A number of people interested in literature visit these two places.
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