The district of Palakkad - Palghat known as the granary of Kerala, is a land of fertile valleys, hillocks, rivers, forests, mountain streams, dams and paddy farms. Situated at the foot of the Western Ghats , this is the gateway to Kerala from the north. Palakkad, earlier known as Palakkattussery, derives its name from the malayalam words Pala ( Alsteria scholaris) and Kadu (forest) which suggest that this place was once a stretch of forest covered with the sweet scented flowers of the Pala tree.

There are numerous tourist attractions in Palakkad. The Jain temple at Jainmedu is located just 3 km from the city centre on the banks of the Kalpathy river and is believed to be around 500 years old. The big bazaar or Valiya Angadi is a row of shops selling items like traditional bells, peacock lamps, thooku or hanging vilakkus, nilavillakkus and utensils. Tranvancore sarees, Kerala souvenirs and jewelleries are other options for shoppers.

54 km south of Palakkad is Nellliyampathy, a scenic hill station perched at a height of 4600 feet above sea level. The small town is perfect to soak in the magical beauty of hills covered with coffee, tea and orange plantations. Moreover, the place is a trekker’s paradise with plenty of opportunities to explore the dense forests and sight some exotic animals. The Silent Valley National Park, located on the Kundali Hills of Western Ghats , 65 km north east of Palakkad, is another highly popular destination in the district.

Though work on the Malampuzha dam had begun in 1949, it was not until 1955 that the dam was complete and put into action. Today, the dam’s capacity is 115.06 meters and with a network of canals, it has successfully given rise to the largest irrigation system in Kerela. The landscape around the reservoir creates an enchanting environment for the onlookers. With the Western Ghats towering on top, the reservoir is enveloped in lush green countryside. It also offers boating facilities for enthusiastic tourists.

Cradled between the Annamalai mountain range of Tamil Nadu and the Nelliampathy range of Kerala, perched on the magnificent Western Ghats is the Parambikulum Wildlife Sanctuary. A crown for Palakkad, this virgin forest of Palambukam is the home of a rich variety of aquatic fauna, including reptiles and crocodiles. Peninsular flora and fauna is the specialty of this ecological reserve. One of the most protected forest areas of the Anamalai sub units of Western Ghats, this wildlife sanctuary, fortunately has been subject to minimal human interference and as a result has been efficiently conserved.

Situated on a sprawling area of 15 acres, on the western border of Palakkad town, this fort is often the desired destination of the tourists making their way to Malampuzha and Nelliampathy. The Palakkad Fort was built by Hyder Ali, a Muslim conqueror in 1766. later, his son Tipu Sultan succeeded him and took over the throne. However, Tipu was defeated by the British who finally won over the fort and brought in a few modifications in it in 1790. At present, it is under the jurisdiction of the Archeological Survey of India.