Through the Districts of Kerala - Palakkad

Palakkad, also known as Palghat (the other name Palghat Palm Tree is a contribution of the British Raj) is prime among Kerala's most picturesque districts to its distinctive “Palmyra Trees” and extensive green paddy fields. Palakkad has probably the biggest mountain pass in the world (30-40 Kms) separating the two folds of the Western Ghats on the border of Kerala with Tamil Nadu. Palakkad is rightfully therefore known as the "Gateway of Kerala", giving the rest of India access to the State. Palakkad had to bear the brunt of invasions from the bordering kingdoms in the past. It therefore no wonders that this place is a melting pot of different cultures and ethnic denominations, enriching its life, arts & culture.

Palakkad is a railway junction on India's Southern Railway. The town lies on the Ponnani River in a break in the Western Ghats range known as the Palghat Gap. It is a marketplace for grain, tobacco, textiles, and timber; its industries include tobacco processing, rice milling, weaving, and light manufacturing.

There are any numbers of views on how Palakkad (or "Palghat" the anglicised version) got its name. One view is that the word 'Pala' (barren land) together with 'Kadu' (jungle) gave the land its name. Yet others is that it is connected with the ancient Jain temple in the town: 'Pali' being the sacred language of the Jains, giving the land its name as 'Palighat', which over the years changed to Palakkad. However, most believe that Palakkad is derived from 'Pala', an Indigenous Tree which once densely occupied the land, and hence Palakkad or "the forest of Pala trees"