Palakkad (Malayalam: [pɐːlɐkːɐːɖɨ̆] ), also known as Palghat, historically known as Palakkattussery, is a city and municipality in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District. Palakkad is the most densely populated municipality and the fourth-most densely populated city in the state. It was established before Indian independence under British rule and known by the name Palghat. Palakkad is famous for the ancient Palakkad Fort, which is in the heart of the city and was captured and rebuilt by Hyder Ali in 1766 which later fell into the hands of Zamorin in 1784 . The city is about 347 kilometres (216 mi) northeast of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram.
The 18th-century Palakkad Fort has sturdy battlements, a moat, and a Hanuman temple on its grounds. North on the Kalpathy River, the 15th-century Viswanatha Swamy Temple is the main venue of the Ratholsavam chariot festival. The river Bharathappuzha flows through Palakkad. Palakkad is on the northern bank of Bharathappuzha River.Palakkad was included in the South Malabar region of Malabar District during the British Raj. The municipality of Palakkad was formed on 1 November 1866 according to the Madras Act 10 of 1865 (Amendment of the Improvements in Towns act 1850) of the British Indian Empire, along with the municipalities of Kozhikode, Kannur, Thalassery, and Fort Kochi, making them Kerala's oldest modern municipalities.
Indian Institute of Technology, Palakkad is the first and only Indian Institute of Technology in Kerala. It is also home to Government Victoria College, one of the state's oldest institutes of higher education, opened in 1888, and NSS College of Engineering, the fourth engineering college in Kerala, opened in 1960.
Mercy College is a women's college located in the city which was established in 1964. It is the first Women's college in the Palakkad District.
Palakkad Railway Division of Southern Railway Zone, one of India's oldest Railway Divisions, is headquartered here. A residential colony of the railway employees of Palakkad Railway Division known as Hemambika Nagar Railway Colony, one of the residential colonies under Southern Railway, is also near the office. The only school in the state run by Southern Railways is within the colony. Multi-Disciplinary Divisional Training Institute (MDDTI) for Group C and D employees of the division is also inside the colony.
