Palakkad sits where the Western Ghats open out. The Palakkad Gap, a pass about 32 km wide between the Nilgiri and Anaimalai hills, is what makes it Kerala's main land gateway from Tamil Nadu, and the highway and railway lines still run through it. The surrounding district is known as the granary of Kerala, and the city itself sits at only about 84 metres above sea level, with paddy fields close to its edges.
The city is a good base rather than a big-ticket destination. In town you can walk the grounds of the 18th-century fort, spend an evening in Kalpathy, an agraharam village of Tamil Brahmin families beside the Kalpathy river, and visit the small Jain temple at Jainimedu. Further out are the Malampuzha dam and gardens, the old Pothundi dam, the hill country of Nelliampathy and two serious wildlife areas, Silent Valley and Parambikulam.
Timings matter more than monuments here. It is hot from February to May, very wet from June to September, and most pleasant from November to February. Plan the fort and Kalpathy for early morning or late afternoon, treat hill and forest trips as full days with an early start, and check forest-department access rules before you commit to Dhoni, Silent Valley or Parambikulam.
For older travellers, the town sights are mostly level and short. The hill drives to Nelliampathy and the forest areas involve long road time, and entry to the forest areas is controlled, so choose one rather than trying to fit all three into a single trip.
Before you plan
Palakkad at a glance
- Best months
- November to February is the most…November to February is the most comfortable. March to May is hot; June to September is heavy monsoon, good for waterfalls but wet for sightseeing.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 days for the town and Malampuzha2 days for the town and Malampuzha; 3 days if you add Nelliampathy or a forest area
- Airport
- Coimbatore International AirportCoimbatore International Airport (CJB) is the nearest, about 62 km away; Cochin (COK) and Calicut (CCJ) airports also serve the city
- Railway station
- Palakkad JunctionPalakkad Junction (Olavakkode, about 4 km from the municipal bus stand) on the Jolarpettai–Shoranur line; Palakkad Town station is in the city centre
- Getting around
- Autos and taxis in townAutos and taxis in town; a hired car is the practical way to reach Malampuzha, Nelliampathy and the forest areas
- Daily budget
- Moderate by Indian city standardsModerate by Indian city standards; the main variable is the cost of a hired car for out-of-town days
- Senior comfort
- Good in townGood in town; hill roads and forest areas need more time, stamina and advance checks on access
- Language
- Malayalam is the main languageMalayalam is the main language; Tamil is also spoken, and English is widely understood in hotels and at tourist sights
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Palakkad: January, February, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Palakkad itinerary
One good day
1 day in Palakkad
Start at Palakkad Fort in the morning while it is still cool and walk the grounds. Head to Kalpathy before noon to see the agraharam lanes and the Viswanatha Swamy Temple beside the river. After lunch and a rest, drive to Malampuzha for the gardens and the dam, timing your visit for the softer light of late afternoon.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Palakkad
Spend the morning at Palakkad Fort, then visit the Jain temple at Jainimedu on the outskirts. Rest through the hottest hours and return to Kalpathy in the late afternoon for a slow walk through the agraharam and the temple precinct.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Palakkad
Walk Palakkad Fort in the morning, rest after lunch, and spend the evening in Kalpathy at the Viswanatha Swamy Temple and the agraharam streets.
Day-by-day plan →
