Palakkad District
Palakkad is an inland agricultural district with paddy fields, Palmyrahs and Western Ghats landscapes. The District Administration describes it as one of Kerala’s main granaries; the Palakkad Gap forms a corridor between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Source: Government source: Palakkad District Administration: About District Describes Palakkad as one of Kerala’s main granaries and the land of Palmyrahs. Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Tourism Describes the Palakkad Gap as a corridor between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
District overview
Area
4,476 sq km
Source: Government source: Kerala Economics & Statistics: Palakkad Selected source for the 4,476 sq km area figure. Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Basic Details Lists an alternate area of 4,482 sq km. Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Tourism Tourism material lists an alternate area of 4,480 sq km.
Population (Census 2011)
2,809,934
Source: Government source: Kerala Economics & Statistics: Palakkad Reports population of 2,809,934 from Census 2011.
Literacy (Census 2011)
89.31%
Source: Government source: Kerala Economics & Statistics: Palakkad Reports 89.31% literacy.
Sex ratio (Census 2011; District Administration)
1,067 females per 1,000 males
Source: Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Basic Details Lists a sex ratio of 1,067 females per 1,000 males.
Headquarters
Palakkad Town
Source: Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Basic Details Lists Palakkad Town as the district headquarters.
Economy
Rice cultivation, agriculture, textiles, plywood industry and hill station tourism. The District Administration describes Palakkad as one of Kerala’s main granaries and its economy as primarily agricultural.
Source: Government source: Palakkad District Administration: About District Describes the district as one of Kerala’s main granaries and its economy as primarily agricultural.
Climate
Tropical climate, cooler in hill areas, distinct dry season
District background
History
The present Palakkad district was formed on 1 January 1957. The District Administration records historical links with Tamil regions and the Palakkad Gap’s role as a corridor between them. Palakkad Fort is associated with Hyder Ali of Mysore and the period of Tipu Sultan; the Administration records it as built or rebuilt in 1766, taken over and modified by the British in 1790, and preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Source: Government source: Palakkad District Administration: About District Supports district formation and regional historical context. Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Tourism Describes the Palakkad Gap as a corridor and notes its historical trade role. Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Palakkad Fort Supports the fort’s association with Hyder Ali, 1766 and 1790 history, and ASI preservation.
Geography
Palakkad is an inland district with agricultural plains, forest and hill regions, and the Western Ghats. The District Administration gives the Palakkad Gap’s width as 32–40 km; the Gap has long provided an important natural corridor between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Source: Government source: Palakkad District Administration: About District Gives the Palakkad Gap width as 32–40 km and describes its regional setting. Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Tourism Describes the Gap as a corridor between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Culture
Palakkad’s culture reflects historical links with Tamil regions and the Palakkad Gap’s role as a corridor between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The district’s agricultural heritage forms the cultural backbone, with rice-growing villages organized through Padasekhara Samitis that coordinate farming activities and community cooperation, while traditional farming practices, folk arts, and temple festivals celebrate the agricultural cycles that have sustained communities for generations. The region maintains strong connections to classical Tamil culture alongside Malayalam traditions, evident in local dialects, cultural practices, and religious observances that reflect centuries of cross-cultural exchange through the strategic gap. Modern cultural identity encompasses the district’s role as home to prestigious educational institutions including the Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad (first IIT in Kerala), Government Victoria College (opened 1888), and NSS College of Engineering (opened 1960), while preserving traditional elements through temple festivals, classical arts, and agricultural celebrations that honor the district’s heritage as one of Kerala’s main granaries and a place with historical links to Tamil regions.
Source: Government source: Palakkad District Administration: About District Describes Palakkad as one of Kerala’s main granaries. Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Tourism Describes Tamil and Kerala cultural influences in the district.
Popular Attractions
Source: Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Tourist Places Official district index used to check existing Palakkad attraction listings. Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Palakkad Fort Source for the existing Palakkad Fort record. Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Nelliyampathy Source for the existing Nelliyampathy record. Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Silent Valley Source for the existing Silent Valley record. Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Malampuzha Gardens Source for the existing Malampuzha records and visitor features.
Attractions by type in Palakkad
District Services
Sources
- Government source: Kerala Economics & Statistics: Palakkad Reports area 4,476 sq km, population 2,809,934 (Census 2011) and literacy 89.31%. Ecostat reports 4,476 sq km, while Palakkad District Administration pages report 4,480–4,482 sq km. ListKerala uses the current Ecostat district-profile figure for consistency; this does not resolve the underlying official-source discrepancy.
- Government source: Palakkad District Administration: About District Supports the description of Palakkad as one of Kerala’s main granaries and the land of Palmyrahs, the Gap width, and the formation date.
- Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Basic Details Lists Palakkad Town as headquarters and a sex ratio of 1,067 females per 1,000 males; it reports area 4,482 sq km.
- Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Tourism Describes the Gap as a corridor between Kerala and Tamil Nadu and reports area 4,480 sq km.
- Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Tourist Places Official Palakkad tourist-place index.
- Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Palakkad Fort Source for the existing Palakkad Fort attraction record.
- Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Nelliyampathy Source for the existing Nelliyampathy attraction record.
- Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Silent Valley Source for the existing Silent Valley attraction record.
- Government source: Palakkad District Administration: Malampuzha Gardens Source for Malampuzha Dam, garden, reservoir and listed visitor features.
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