Palakkad

Palakkad (Malayalam: [pɐːlɐkːɐːɖɨ̆] (listen)) is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. It was carved out from the southeastern region of the former Malabar District on 1 January 1957. It is located at the centre of Kerala. It is the largest district in the state since 2006. The city of Palakkad is the district headquarters. Palakkad is bordered on the northwest by the Malappuram district, on the southwest by the Thrissur district, on the northeast by Nilgiris district, and on the east by Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. The district is nicknamed "The granary of Kerala". Palakkad is the gateway to Kerala due to the presence of the Palakkad Gap, in the Western Ghats. The 2,383 m high Anginda peak, which is situated in the border of Palakkad district, Nilgiris district, and Malappuram district, in Silent Valley National Park, is the highest point of elevation in Palakkad district. Palakkad city is about 347 kilometres (216 mi) northeast of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. The total area of the district is 4,480 km2 (1,730 sq mi) which is 11.5% of the state's area which makes it the largest district of Kerala. Out of the total area of 4,480 km2 (1,730 sq mi), about 1,360 km2 (530 sq mi) of land is covered by forests. Most parts of the district fall in the midland region (elevation 75–250 m or 246–820 ft), except the Nelliampathy-Parambikulam area in the Chittur taluk in the south and Attappadi-Malampuzha area in the north, which are hilly and fall in the highland region (elevation > 250 m or 820 ft). Attappadi valley of Palakkad district, along with the Chaliyar valley of the neighbouring Nilambur region (Eastern Eranad region) in Malappuram district, is known for natural Gold fields, which is also seen in other parts of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The climate is pleasant for most parts of the year, the exception is the summer months. There is sufficient rainfall and it receives more rainfall than the extreme southern districts of Kerala. The district has many small and medium rivers, which are tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River. A number of dams have been built across these rivers, the largest being the Malampuzha dam. The largest in volume capacity is the Parambikulam Dam Bhavani River, which is a tributary of Kaveri River, also flows through the district. Kadalundi River has its origin in Silent Valley National Park. The Chalakudy River also flows through district. Palakkad district have total number of seven municipalities.The largest city in the district is the Palakkad municipality. The municipalities in the district are Palakkad city, Ottapalam, Shornur, Chittur-Tattamangalam, Pattambi, Cherpulassery and Mannarkkad. Out of the total Palakkad District population for 2011 Census of India, 24.09 percent lives in urban regions of district. In total 676,810 people lives in urban areas of which males are 328,012 and females are 348,798. Sex Ratio in urban region of Palakkad District is 1063 as per 2011 Census of India data. Similarly child sex ratio in Palakkad District was 959 in 2011 census. Child population (0-6) in urban region was 70,405 of which males and females were 35,933 and 34,472. This child population figure of Palakkad district is 10.95% of total urban population.

Jannathul Uloom Arabic College (JUAC) also called Jannathul Uloom is a religious educational institute of sunni muslims located at Valiyangadi near Palakkad town. It was established In 1967 by Shaikhuna E.K. Hasan Musliyar, and was Kerala's second Islamic Arabic College established by Sunni Muslims after Jami'a Nooriyya Arabic College Pattikkad and first in the Palakkad district

Chembai Memorial Government Music College, Palakkad, Kerala was established in 1957 as Government Music Academy offering Bachelor degree courses in Music, Veena, Violin and Mridangam and Master Degree course in Music.

Basel Evangelical Mission Higher Secondary School (BEM HSS, PALAKKAD) is an aided school in Palakkad city, Kerala, India. The school was established as an English School in May 1858, incorporated in 1859 by Rev. J. Strobel, a Missionary of Basel Evangelical Mission.

Palakkad KSRTC bus terminal Palakkad KSRTC bus terminal is a Kerala state-owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus station located in the center of the Palakkad city with Inter-State and Inter-City services.

Pandit Mothilal Government Model Higher Secondary School (PMGM HSS) is a school in the city of Palakkad, Kerala, India. It is situated near the Government Victoria College, Palakkad. It is under the management of the Kerala Department of Education. PMGM HSS is a primary, secondary and higher secondary co-educational school.

Chokkanathapuram is a village with 30 houses in Palakkad district in the state of Kerala in India. They operate in IST (UTC+5:30) time. The elevation is 95 m above sea level.

The Government Victoria College in Palakkad, is the oldest institution of higher learning in the Malabar region of Kerala. It holds a rich educational heritage in the history of malabar region. It is affiliated to the Calicut University and provides undergraduate and postgraduate education in science, arts and commerce subjects.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Sultanpet (Latin: Dioecesis Sultanpetensis) is a Roman Catholic diocese consisting of Palakkad district, Kerala, India erected from the division of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Coimbatore and Roman Catholic Diocese of Calicut, and a suffragan of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Verapoly. Rev. Peter Abir Antonisamy clergy of Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore was appointed as its first bishop. The parish church of San Sebastian, located in Sultanpet in the city of Palakkad, is the cathedral of this diocese. At the time of its erection it was the 31st Catholic diocese in Kerala and 167th in India. The diocese is almost coterminous with the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palghat.

Fort Maidan, also known as Kota Maidanam, is a multi-use stadium in Palakkad, India. It is currently used mostly for cricket matches. The Fort Maidan holds a maximum capacity of 10,000 peoples at a time. Up till 2002 the ground was considered for local cricket only. In 2003, Ranji Trophy was introduced in Fort Maidan. Now Fort Maidan is a regular venue for first class cricket. Many famous state level cricket matches were held in this stadium.

St. Raphael's Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral Church or St. Raphael Cathedral is an Eastern Catholic church in Palakkad district, Kerala, India. It is the cathedral church of Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palghat (Eparchia Palghatensis), created in 1974 through the bull "Apostolico requirente" of Pope Paul VI. The patron of the church is St. Raphael. Fr. Joshy Pullikkottil is the current vicar of the church, which is under the pastoral responsibility of Bishop of Palghat, currently Mar Jacob Manathodath.

Stadium Bus Stand is located on the heart of the Palakkad City, near the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium in Kerala, India.Stadium Bus Stand is the largest Private Bus Stand in the city of Palakkad. Palakkad City has four Bus Stations includes Palakkad KSRTC bus station and three private Bus stands named Stadium bus stand, municipal bus stand, and town bus stand. Small and executive restaurants, hotels, and shopping centres are close by the stand.