The district of Palakkad known as the granary of Kerala is a land of valleys, hillocks, rivers, forests, mountain streams, dams and irrigation projects. Situated at the foot of the Western Ghats, this is the gateway to Kerala from the north. Palakkad derives its name from the Malayalam words pala and kadu (forest) which goes to prove that this place was once a beautiful stretch of forests covered with the sweet scented flowers of the pala tree. The best time to visit Palakkad is from September to February. Several ancient temples and grand festivals can be seen all over the district. The district has a long and rich cultural heritage. The whole Palakkad region consists of magnificent mountains in a lush green cover and enchanting rivers. The `Malampuzha` and the `Siruvani` dams are among the several popular dams found here.
