A Weekend In Palakkad – Outlook Traveller

Because of the Palakkad Hole, a 32km broad move by the Western Ghats, Palakkad is often called the Gateway to Kerala. The Palakkad City is also called the land of the Palmyra Bushes, that are an intricate a part of Kerala’s picture. Palakkad can’t be simply outlined; no label matches and no description is exact. It’s a city that might reasonably be a village, making means for chariots throughout festivals and processions like little villages may, brightening up every morning as the daylight falls on its golden paddy fields. However additionally it is a village that wishes to be a city, with air-conditioned eating places, fake amusement parks and native cable channels that cowl all the things from faculty sports activities to soiled streets.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

Tipu’s Fort

Tipu’s Fort, generally referred to as the Palakkad Fort, is integral to town. Since its development in 1766 by Haidar Ali, it has served as a form of motif of Palakkad. It rises just a bit above the remainder of town, providing an image of sombre dignity. Its robust, stable laterite partitions and peaceable moat converse of its reasonably violent historical past. Though it was constructed with the intention of bettering communications between reverse sides of the Western Ghats, it was attacked and ultimately captured by the British. Now, the Archaeological Survey of India preserves it inside landscaped gardens, with paved walkways, an open-air auditorium and a small museum.

Visiting hours: 8am to 6pm. Entrance is free.

The Temple Circuit

Vadakkanthara Temple

The primary deity on the Vadakkanthara Temple is Bhagavathi, an incarnation of Kannagi, the heroine of the Tamil epic Silappatikaram, who’s an incarnation of Parvati. This temple has some fascinating and weird customs, probably the most notable of which is that daily at 6.00am and 6.00pm, 101 crackers are burst inside the temple complicated, as a motif for driving away evil spirits. Most rituals carried out listed here are linked with driving away unfavorable influences:

Manapullikavu Temple

The Manapullikavu Temple is believed to be an historical temple constructed on the banks of the Bharatapuzha River. The primary deity right here is the Bhadrakaali model of the goddess, additionally regarded as a feminine incarnation of Paramashiva. Legend has it that the goddess got here right here to guard the temple from an asura referred to as Neelan, and upon defeating him, she showered all her devotees with prosperity and love. Even now, it’s believed that the goddess protects her devotees from evil and grants all of them their needs and needs.

Jain Temple, Jainmedu

This temple, on the Kalpathi River, is believed to have been constructed about 500 years in the past. Many idols are housed right here in numerous divisions of the temple together with these of Chandranathan, Vijayalakshmi, Jwalamohini, Rishabh-anathan, Parswanathan and Padmavathi. There’s a marked aura of austerity in regards to the place, no much less emphasised by the unadorned nature of the principle alter, solely brightened by lamps, and the granite partitions devoid of ornament.

This temple just isn’t handled like a vacationer vacation spot, and the caretakers of this temple, who reside inside the compound, will have to be alerted in order that they will let travellers in

Vishwanathaswamy Temple

It is a comparatively small, but impressively constructed, Shiva Temple. Modelled after the Kashi Vishwanathaswamy Temple of Banaras, this temple constructing dates again to 1425. It has an imposing kodimaram, or flagpole on which the temple banner flies in the course of the Kalpathi Ther, a chariot pageant normally held in November, whereby all temples within the space take part. Visitors involves a halt throughout this time. Streets are lined with stalls promoting knick-knacks, and folks praying and procuring with equal enthusiasm.

Kumarapuram Temple

The Kumarapuram Temple was as soon as a serious centre of Vedic studying. The primary deity right here is Prasanna Venkatachala-pathy, who’s flanked by his consorts, Alamelu and Mangalambal.

The Agraharams of Palakkad

Legends say {that a} prince of the royal dynasty of Kochi fell in love with a tribal lady and was ostracised for his relationship. He determined to go away his household and settled down within the space to arrange the royal dynasty of Palakkad. The Namboodiri Brahmins within the area, who needed no half in officiating the ceremonies of an ex-communicated prince, left the world. The Palakkad kings sought the assistance of Brahmins residing on the opposite facet of the Palakkad Hole, who graciously agreed. Consequently, Tamil Brahmins settled down in Palakkad. The areas the place they settled grew into gramams or agraharams.

Alongside the banks of the Kalpathi River lie the agraharams of Kumarapuram, Ramanathapuram, Ambikapuram and Chokkanathapura. Ramanathapuram (the abode of Ramanathan or Shiva) has three shrines, devoted to Vishnu, Shiva and Ganesh. Round 35 households nonetheless reside right here following previous traditions. The Vedas and shastras are orally handed down from one technology to the opposite.

Getting There

Nearest railhead: Palakkad, about 5 km.

Nearest airport: Coimbatore Worldwide Airport, about 70 km | Calicut Worldwide Airport, about 105 km | Cochin Worldwide Airport, about 110 km