Tourist Destinations In Kerala

PALAKKAD

Palakkad, also known as Palghat (anglicized), is a small town and a municipality in the state of Kerala in southern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District. Palakkad lies near the Palghat Gap, a pass or natural depression through the Western Ghats ranges that run parallel to the west coast of India, and connects Kerala to the plains of the state of Tamil Nadu to the east. The people in Palakkad generally speak Malayalam , though Tamil is also widely understood as it is close to the Tamil Nadu border.
Tourist spots

MALAMPUZHA

12 km from Palakkad. This famous picnic spot which comprises a dam and a beautifully landscaped garden with a swimming pool, children's park etc is situated on the lower hills of the western ghats. There is an aerial rope way across the garden. There are frequent buses from Palakkad.

ACCOMMODATION

Garden House (KTDC), 300 meters away from Bus Stand and Govt. Guest House, near Hermit's end are the budget hotels.

DHONI

Dhoni, situated at a distance of 15 Km from Palakkad is a fairly long climb of a 3-hour trek from the base of the Dhoni Hills. This reserve forest area with its small, beautiful waterfall has many tourists all through the year. It is a splendid and captivating waterfall. Dhoni provides trekkers the opportunity to explore its hilly terrains. Its lush green surroundings are a pleasure to watch. Dhoni is also famous for its farmhouse, harboring hundreds of cattle of Swiss variety. The Vishwanatha Swamy shrine, the oldest Shiva temple is situated 3 kms from Palakkad. The annual chariot temple is a gala event. The annual 'Ratholsavam' or Chariot Festival at Sree Viswanantha Swamy temple lasts for seven days. Getting ThereAirNearest airport is the Coimbatore Airport, 55 Km from Palakkad RailPalakkad railway station is a major railhead in South India. RoadPalakkad is connected by an excellent network of roads to all the major cities in India. AccommodationsThere are a number of moderately priced hotels and luxury hotels available in Pallakad. Apart from hotels, tourists can opt for Tourist Banglows, the Government owned hotels or guest houses.

Loknayak J.P. Smrithi vanam and Deer Park

J.P.Smrithi Vanam. Loknayak J.P.Smrithi Vanam and Deer Park is in an extent of 100 acres of reserve forest at Walayar in the border of Kerala and Tamilnadu on the side of N.H.47. Deers and other animals move freely in this park. Facilities for elephant ride is provided. The distance from Palakkad town is 22 kms. Mayilladumpara-Cholanoor Peacock Sanctuary

Kanhirapuzha

Kanjirapuzha. Kanjirapuzha Dam is situated about 38 kms. from Palakkad. The water spread of the dam lies in a single stretch. An evergreen forest, by name ‘Vettilachola’ is immediately beyond the reservoir which is surrounded by hills and during rainy season, the mountain will be covered with mist. All this makes the area extremely beautiful and picturesque. There are three islands in the reservoir with plenty of fish (including commercial varieties) grown by the Fisheries Department.

Mangalam Dam

Mangalam. Located 48 kms south of Palakkad town, Mangalam is mainly occupied by settlers from other parts of the State. Mangalam dam is located near the NH 47 about 14 kms. South of Vadakkencherry village. The dam is constructed across Cherukunnapuzha a tributary of Mangalam River. It is located in picturesque surroundings. The reservoir fringes on the forest area where there are deer, wild elephants and a variety of birds. There are beautiful parks and lawns adorned with statues

Pothundy Dam

Pothundy Pothundy is 38 kms south of Palakkad town. An irrigation project was commissioned here in 1968 with an estimated cost of Rs.234.25 lakhs, consisting of an earthen dam with a spillway section across the tributaries of Ayalure River. Its 10 kms right bank canal ad 8 kms left bank canal irrigate an area of 5465 hectares in Chittur and Alathur Taluks. The project also provides water supply to Nemmara and Ayalure Villages Meenkara Dam Meenkara. Meenkara Chulliar is a fascinating spot by virtue of the dam, garden, fish ponds and natural beauty. It is 32 kms.south east of Palakkad Town. This Dam is built in the river Gayathri which flows into Bharathapuzha

Parambikulam

Parambikulam. Parambikulam wild life sanctuary extends over an area of 280 sq.kms. It is 110 kms away from Palakkad via. Pollachi. The oldest and highest teak tree “Kannimari Teak” is situated here. Three Dams were constructed on the hill top. They are Paruvarippallom,Thunakadavu, and Parambikulam. for the irrigation of Pollachi Taluk of Tamilnadu and Chittur Taluk of Palakkad District. It is the place which is famous for teak plantations. Boat cruises is provided in the Parambikulam Reservoir. The Rest Houses of the State Forest Department at Thunakadavu, Thellikkal and Elanthode and a tree house in Thoonakkadavu offer lodging facilities. The Giant Kannimari Teak and the wild animals in the forest area are a sight to dream of.

Chulliar Dam

This project consists of two storage reservoirs; Meenkara dam across the Meenkara river and Chulliar dam across Chulliar river. Both these rivers are tributaries of Bharathapuzha. There is a net work of canal systems with a total ayacut of 10,930 hectares of land in Chittur taluk. The first stage of the projects, viz.,dam across Meemnkara river with canals,was sanctioned in 1956 and opened for irrigation in 1960. The total cost of the project is Rs.220 lakhs.

Attappady

Attappadi. Attappady is a tribal abode. Irular, Mudugar and Kurumbar are the main tribal groups. They live in forest in closely built huts called ‘Ooru’ (hamlets) Government have constructed some concrete programmes to uplift the tribals. The Intensive Tribal Development Project, Attappady implementing the tribal development schemes.

Nelliyampathy

Nelliampathy. Nelliampathy Hills are extremely fascinating and offer an easy escape from the soorching summer of Palakkad. About 75 kms from Palakkad is this cool hill resort. The height of the hills ranges from 467 metres to 1572 metres. It has immense trekking potential. Seethargundu, at Nelliampathy offers a fantastic view of the valley below, a wide angled panoramic picture of about one third of Palakkad, beautiful and resembling the Green Valley of Kodaikanal. The total area is about 82 sq.kms. The highest peak in the range is Nellikotta, also called Padagiri. It is 1585.08 metres above sea level. The other major peaks are Vellachimudi, Valiyavana, Mayanmudi and Vela Vanchan, each about 1200 metres high. The annual average rainfall in the area is 4.244 mm. The temperature varies between 15’ C in December and 30C in April, the mean temperature being 22’C. The Pothundi reservoir glints in the distance like sapphire in a sea of emerald. The 1000 metre high waterfall is one of the major attractions. Seethargundu got its name from the legend that Sita Devi, during the vanavasa period with Sri Rama, took a bath here. During Deepavali, a large number of devotees gather here.

Palakkad Fort

Palakkad Fort. Palakkad Fort, situated in the Palakkad Town, is the most beautiful and best preserved forts in Karala. The sober silence of the granite wall reminds the old tales of valour and courage. It was constructed in 1766 by Hyder Ali of Mysore and his son Tippu Sulthan. In 1790 the fort was taken over and re-modified by the British East India Company. The fort is protected by the Archeological Survey of India. Martyr’s Column, Open Air Auditorium called “Rappadi” and Tourism Information Centre of District Tourism Promotion Council are there in the spacious Fort Maidan. The Children’s Part and ‘VATIKA’ are just on the side of the Fort. The fort was situated in the middle of Palakkad Gap with an area of 15 acres.

Killikurrussi Mangalam

Kunchan Smarakom. Kalakkathu Kunchan Nambiar represents an age and its culture in the field of Malayalam literature. He was the native of Killikkurissimangalam in Palakkad. Now, the Kunchan Smarakom is a national monument and is being governed by a Committee appointed by the Government. A three year course on Ottan Thullal, Seethankan Thullal and Parayan Thullal was started with the help of artists attached to this monuments. Every year May 5th is celebrated as Thunchan Day. A library and an Auditorium are attached to this monuments. There are so many other tourist centres are also here. Important of them are Sree Rama Temple and the Spring at Thenari, the Kattilmadom Temple, Ruins of a mud fort near Chalissery etc..

Kottayi

Kottayi. It is 15 kms away from Palakkad. Kottayi is the native place of the Late Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, the doyen of Karnatic Music Jain Temple of Jainmedu Situated on the western suburbs of Palakkad town, not far from the railway station, this historic 32 feet long, 20 ft. wide granite temple displays images of the Jain Thirthankaras and Yakshinis. The region around the temple, known as Jainimedu, is one of the few places in Kerala where the vestiges of Jainism have survived. It is at a Jain house here that poet Kumaranasan wrote his monumental poem Veenapoovu (The fallen flower).

Thiruvalathoor

Thiruvalathoor (10 km from Palakkad) : The ancient temple here has some fine wood work and stone sculptures.

Chittur Gurumadam

Thunchan Gurumadom. Across the lush green fields, two kms. from Chittur Town on the banks of river Sokanasini an old building where Thunchathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, regarded as the father of Malayalam Language, lived in the 16th Century. People call it Gurumadom and it is here that he translated the two great Sanskrit epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha, for the common people. At the Gurumadom one Srichakra and a few idols worshipped by him the stylus the wooden slippers (Padukom) and a few old manuscripts are exhibited. It is on Vijayadasami day that the memorial gets the maximum number of visitors with hundreds of children brought here for a ritualistic initiation into learning.

Silent valley

There exists in India, a tropical evergreen rain forest with an unbroken evolutionary history of 50 million years. Steep escarpments and ridges on all sides ensured that this plateau remained unsullied by man, thereby preserving its rich bio-diversity. The multi-layered canopy harbours a variety of plant and animal species, many of them hitherto unheard of by Science. A new frog genus supposed to be of the Jurassic era was discovered in the year 2003. It is no wonder then that scientists have described Silent Valley as ‘the richest expression of life on Earth’. Silent Valley is a virgin, fragile forest, nestled in the mountain folds of the Nilgiris in Southern India. In God’s own country, Kerala, Silent Valley is surely God’s own abode. It has etymological connotations to the absence of noisy insect cicadas that are generally abundant in tropical rain forests, although now, cicadas form an integral part of the forest. The local names of the valley and the river that flows through it, resurrect the grand tale of the Mahabharata. In the local lingo, Silent Valley is called Sai-randhi-vanam or Sai-randhiri (synonymous with Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas) and the river is called Kunthipuzha (synonymous with Kunti, mother of the Pandavas). Nature’s Bounty Cut-off from civilization and commercialisation, Silent Valley is an ideal destination for nature lovers, researchers and gutsy trekkers. Undulating mountains and lush greenery greet the eye at Silent Valley. View from the watch tower at Sairandhiri is panoramic and the entire valley below appears to be a wavy green enormous carpet. A silver line that runs through is the Kunthipuzha.

The interpretation centre at Sairandhiri imparts information on various rare species of orchids, plants and animals. Kunthipuzha is a 2 km down hill trek over a suspension bridge. With fresh elephant dung strewn around on the path leading to Kunthipuzha, it is the nearest one can get to wild elephants. Lone male tuskers are a dangerous proposition as can be judged from the frenzied paths they pave through thick foliage. However, there is no danger from them unless of course, you bump into them. The most famous resident of the park is a medium sized species of monkey, called the lion tailed macaque. Other animals include tigers, leopards, snakes, Malabar squirrel, Nilgiri langur and the malabar laughing thrush. The only nest-building snake, the king cobra is a prized possession of the park. Vibrantly coloured butterflies, fluttering their enormous wings create an artistic mosaic, which is a sight to behold. Early mornings and evenings are the best time to spot animals. Silent valley was once a battlefield, when the proposed construction of a dam on the river Kunthipuzha by the Kerala government for its hydroelectric project, constituted headlines in almost every national daily in the late 1970’s. The dam was to submerge the verdant valley together with its prized fauna. The debate between environment and development attracted international attention and continued for over a decade. Scientists, researchers, ecologists and nature lovers the world over united to preserve Silent Valley and a ‘Save Silent Valley ‘ campaign was launched. Their efforts paid off, when in 1984, Silent Valley was declared a national park. Today, the park is well conserved and has been declared a biodiversity hotspot. Two of its prized animals, the lion tailed macaque and the Nilgiri langur are listed in the IUCN’s (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) red list of threatened animals. Do’s and Don’tsAs the park and adjoining areas are declared polythene free zones, polythene going in must find its way out. Animals, which are unfamiliar with polythene and plastic may choke on them and die. The forest abounds in leeches. These 1-inch long, dark-brown thread like creatures latch on to any open area of your skin and bloat on your blood. If possible, wear high ankle leech proof jungle boots. The experienced forest guards however, roll up their trousers till their knees to easily spot leeches clinging on to their skin. Procure all required permit slips from the forest department office at Mukkali, before entry into the park. Mukkali, 23 Km from Silent Valley, is the starting point. A forest guard accompanies each group as a guide and also ensures that no damage is done to the fragile flora and fauna. It is also safer to stick to your group. Silence pays, as chances of sighting animals are heightened. Do not be disappointed if you don’t see animals, as they are shy of humans. Be patient, observe keenly and you will find the forest teeming with various life forms. Information for Trekkers Only serious trekkers find their way to Silent Valley, as trekking in this undulating terrain with thick vegetation is no cakewalk. Trek to Poochipara (Cat’s rock, 7-Km steep climb from Sairandhiri) takes 3 hours. Trekker’s are allowed to stay in the five camps of the forest department set deep inside. Trek routes can be chosen based on the duration of stay (1-4 days). A 4-day trek route starts from Mukkali and goes through Sairandhiri-Poochipara-Walakkad-Sispara and Anginda. Trekkers must procure all requisite permits from the forest department office at Mukkali or from the Wildlife Warden at Mannarkkad. For treks starting from Mukkali, all permits and payments are made at the forest department office, Mukkali. A guide-cum-cook accompanies trekkers through the trek route for the entire duration.

Getting There

Silent Valley is situated in the northeastern part of Palakkad district, Kerala. The nearest town is Mannarkkad (66Km). Bus transport is available to Mukkali(23 Km). You can hire a private jeep from Mukkali to Sairandhiri or trek right up. Jeep takes 1 hour while a trek uphill takes between 4-5 hours. Visitors are few as the place is totally non-commercialised. Forest officials are helpful and dedicated. Entry fee per visitor is Rs 20/-. Private jeeps from Mukkali to Silent valley and back cost Rs 450/-. You can also take your own vehicle with permission from forest officials (Vehicle entrance fee-Rs 100/-). On the way uphill you see the Karivara farm inhabited by the Mudukar tribes of the Attapadi forest reserve. The forest guest house at Mukkali has dormitories and 3 rooms. The inspection Bungalow at Sairandhiri has 4 rooms with solar powered electricity. Room rent for a couple at both places is Rs 400/- and rooms are quite basic. There is no other private lodging facility available anywhere nearby. Hence it is best to book your accommodation in advance.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Nearest town: Mannarkkad-66 Km Nearest Airport: Coimbatore (68 Km) Nearest Railhead: Coimbatore (68 Km), Palakkad(106 Km) Best time to visit: September to March

Meenvallam Siruvani

Siruvani. The Siruvani Project is in Sholayur Panchayath. The dam constructed across the River Siruvani, is for supplying drinking water to Coimbatore Corporation of Tamilnadu. The dam is surrounded by reserve forests. The distance from Edakkurissi to Siruvani Dam is 22 kms. The scenic beauty of Siruvani is simply enchanting. Muthikulam hill is situated on the eastern side of the dam. There is a natural water fall in the hill

Famous festivalsKalpathi RatholsavamAnnual chariot festival at Viswanatha Temple (November) Vela at Manappulli Kavu: Annual festival at the Bhagavathy Temple (March) Nenmara Vallengi Vela Annual festival at the Bhagavathy Temple at Nellikkulangara near Nenmara, on the Pooram day of the Malayalam month of Meenam (February/March). Highlight: Fireworks displays.

Konganpada of Chittur:Annual festival of ritual drama at the Chittur Kavu Bhagavathy Temple (February/March)

Pattambi Nercha: The festival is conducted in memory of Aloor Valia Pookkunjikoya Thangal, noted Muslim saint of South Malabar (January - February) Pooram at Sree Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple:Highlights: Elephant procession, Panchavadyam, Velattu, Thira / Theyyam, Pootham, Kaalavela, Kuthiravela, Aandi Vedan, Karivela, Tholpavakoothu, Kumbhamkali (February)

Pooram at Pariyanampetta Bhagavathy Temple:Highlights: Tholpavakoothu, Kalamezhuthupattu, Pootham, Thira, Karivela, Kaalavela, Kuthiravela, Kathakali, Chakyarkoothu, Elephant procession (February)

Kaalapoottu:This exciting ox race is an agrarian sport held in the Malayalam month of Makaram (January) Art Forms

Kanniyarkali: An art form exclusive to the Nair community of the district of Palakkad. Kanniyarkali is performed in temples as well as Nair centres (March/April).

Pavakkoothu: This shadow play is performed at the Bhagavathy temples of Palakkad (March/April)