Palakkad: Forests, Waterfalls and Culture

Palakkad offers plenty of reasons to explore in different ways: preserved evergreen forest, trails to waterfalls, views of mountain peaks and a vibrant tradition of temples and chariot festivals. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether nature experiences, outdoor activities or culture should be the focus. These preferences can also help you tailor your search for a holiday rental in Palakkad to the places you would like to visit.

Forest and Nature Trails

Silent Valley National Park covers 89.52 square kilometres of preserved evergreen forest in the Sahya Ranges. There is a clear restriction on the journey to the source of the Kunthipuzha: vehicles can only travel as far as Mukkali; the rest of the way must be covered on foot.

At Dhoni, too, the journey itself is the main attraction. A 3 km trek leads through pristine forest to a waterfall. This gives you a specific reference point for planning your day. Nelliyampathy offers many opportunities for trekking and lies about 1,500 metres above sea level. Those who enjoy walking will find various places to explore during their stay, though they do not form a single route.

Waterfalls, Reservoirs and Views

Meenvallam is a five-tier waterfall that plunges 45 metres into the Thuppanadu River. The forests around Meenvallam Falls are an extension of Silent Valley National Park.

The Kava Viewpoint in Malampuzha offers views of mountain peaks and a reservoir. If you would rather take in the landscape from a viewpoint, you can weigh up a visit here against a trek or a waterfall. Malampuzha Dam also has a rock garden and a ropeway, and boat rides are available on the river.

The entrance garden at Pothundi Dam has a walkway and an open-air gym. The dam was built in the village of Pothundi across the Meenichiladipuzha and Padipuzha rivers. Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is home to many rare wild animals; boat rides and round trips are available at Parambikulam Reservoir. This is distinct from Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, which has three artificial reservoirs: Parambikulam, Thunakadavu and Peruvaripallam.

Tradition, Architecture and Regional Cuisine

Palakkad’s culture also offers distinctive reasons to visit. Palakkad Fort was built in 1766 by Hyder Ali of Mysore; the fort houses an archaeological museum. In Kalpathi, the annual Kalpathi Ratholsavam is a chariot festival at Sree Viswanatha Swamy Temple. Historic Kalpathi Street is characterised by rows of similar houses and buildings in traditional architectural styles. This allows you to weigh nature experiences against an interest in history, architecture or religious festival traditions, without treating these different destinations as a single route.

Another special discovery is Mayiladumpara, also known as Choolannur Pea Fowl Sanctuary: the sanctuary is dedicated exclusively to peacocks. Hundreds of peacocks can be seen roaming freely there. Popular dishes in Palakkad district include Palakkad Paddy Curd Rice, Kozhi Pidi and Ela Ada. These names add a culinary point of interest to your trip planning, alongside forest, water and culture.

Places to Explore Further

You can choose a holiday rental based on the experiences you would like to focus on during your trip. For further guidance, explore these pages about local destinations: Kollengode, Vadakkencherry, Thenkurissi, Attappadi, Kozhinjampara, Padagiri, Vellinezhi and Koduvayur.

For the broader travel overview: Kerala.