Kerala is well known to world as ?God?s own Country?. It is the most beautiful and picturesque place in India. It has lush green grasslands, sandy beaches, backwaters and mountains. In other words, the nature?s best is bestowed on this land. People from all over India and the world come here to experience grandeur of nature. Kerala is also famous as the Land of Ayurveda and other traditional forms of healing. The rejuvenating massages and the healing Panchakarma Vaidya are all famous here. It is also known for its culture and traditions that are practiced from ancient times. The rich culture, festivals and events, historic events and architectural monuments, nature?s beauty combined with an exotic cuisine attracts one and all to this mystic land.
Palakkad is an important district in Kerala. It derives its name from Pala (Alsteria Scholaris) tree which was found in abundance here long ago and Kaadu which means ?forest?. Together, it means ?area or forest full of Pala trees?. Palakkad is located about 80 kms from Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala. The place can be reached on the Kerala-Coimbatore highway. This town is located in a gap popularly called ?palghat gap? between the Western Ghats and the Nilgiri and Anamalai Hills. The climate is influenced by the geographical location and as a result, the north-easterly winds ensure a pleasant weather here throughout the year. Palakkad is also famous as the ?granary of Kerala?. It is one of the most picturesque places in Kerala. It has the biggest mountain pass in the world (32 kms) separating the two folds of the mountains- the Western Ghats on the border with Tamil-Nadu. Hence, it is also known as ?Gateway of Kerala There is numerous tourist spots in and around Palkkad. Some of the important ones are the Palakkad fort and Malampuzha Garden. There are many temples worth a visit in Palakkad. Some of them are Kalpathy Siva temple, Vadakkunthara Shiva temple and Ayappa temple. A Jain temple is located at Jainmedu, about 3 km from Palakkad. It is the only Jain temple in Kerala.
