Palakkad, the land, which is one of the most fertile and thickly forested districts of Kerala is supposed to have derived its name from the 'Pala' tree and 'Kadu' meaning forest. The whole area is said to have been covered by 'Pala' (trees), in the past.

The district of Palakkad, which lies at the foot of the colossal Western Ghats, is a district thriving in mountains, forest and fertile valleys; rivers and mountain streams are rich in flora and fauna. Much of the area is made up of plains, scattered with a few hillocks. The plains are

so fertile and productive that the district is considered the Granary of Kerala.

Along with Idukki, Palghat is the other district in Kerala, which has the rare distinctive characteristic of not having a seacoast. Kerala's longest river Bharathapuzha flows through the district. During the summer, its wide sandy bed is dry except for some miles from its origin. Being too shallow and rocky for water transport, the Bharathapuzha has little commercial significance but holds a special place in the culture of the State.

Palakkad isn't just a natural grandeur at it's colorful best. What renders it more romance is its historical background. The great warrior Tipu Sultan left us an impressive Fort here. At the foot of the gigantic Western ghats, take a deep breath and loose yourself in green Palakkad.