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Palakkad is rightfully known as the Gateway of Kerala, giving the rest of India access to the State. For quite sometime the district was also called by its anglicised name Palghat. It's known to be rich in flora and fauna.

Palakkad is prime among Kerala's most picturesque districts, thanks to its distinctive palmyra trees and extensive green paddy fields. It commands  Palghat Gap, on its eastern border, a pass or natural depression through the Western Ghats ranges that run parallel to the west coast of India, and connects Kerala to the plains of the state of Tamil Nadu to the east. The Silent Valley National Park that  abruptly rises to the Nilgiris is an everlasting marvel to the tourists.

Palakkad is the repository of a rich folk culture and folk art forms like Kanniyar Kali and Porattu Natakam. It is also home to well-known percussion artists. Some of the greatest maestros of Carnatic music also hailed from the district. The abundant forest wealth,dams,wild life sanctuaries,rivers,rare birds and animals,historical monuments,traditional ayurvedic treatment centres  have given Palakkad an exquisite and outstanding touch.

This district has no coastal line. It opens the State to the rest of the country through the Palakkad gap. This 32 to 40 kms. wide natural gap in the 960 kms. long Western Ghats is perhaps the most influential factor for the unique characteristics of the district such as climate, commercial as well as cultural exchanges between the State and the rest of the country. Palakkad witnessed invasions of historical importance that have left indelible impressions on the history of Kerala. Bharathappuzha, the longest river in Kerala, originates from the highlands and flows through the entire district.

The district is one of the main granaries of Kerala and its economy is primarily agricultural. Agriculture engages more than 65 per cent of the workers and 88.9 per cent of the district's population is rural in nature. The proximity and easy approach to Tamil Nadu have caused the admixture of Malayalam and Tamil culture, here.

The district is perhaps the foremost in fostering Carnatic music. Great musicians like Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Palakkad Mani Iyer, M D Ramanathan and K V Naryanaswami who have enriched Carnatic music by their contributions, hailed from this district. Forests, numerous streams, several dams and the gardens in them have made this district a tourist paradise.

The district accounts for about 11.5 per cent of the total land area of Kerala, with the share of population is 8.22 per cent. The district has got two types of climates. Ottappalam, Alathur and Mannarkkad Taluks are having a climate similar to that of other districts of Kerala, whereas Palakkad and Chittur are having Along with Kuttanadu, Palakkad is major paddy growing area of the state. .