Key Facts (Quick Reference)

• Official Name: Palakkad (Malayalam: പാലക്കാട്)
• Older/Anglicised Name: Palghat (still seen in older maps, rail timetables & the term “Palghat Gap”)
• District HQ: Palakkad town, Kerala, India
• Region: Central/East Kerala at the mouth of the Western Ghats’ Palakkad/Palghat Gap
• Why two names? “Palghat” is the British-era anglicised spelling of the local name “Palakkad”
• Area (district): ~4,480–4,482 km²
• Population (district): ~2.8 million (latest official figures vary by source/year)

Palakkad vs. Palghat — What’s the difference?

Short answer: they’re the same place. “Palghat” is the British-era anglicised spelling that appeared in colonial records, older railway documents and maps. “Palakkad” is the official modern name used by the Government of Kerala and local bodies.

Where the name “Palakkad” comes from

• A widely cited origin links pāla (the Pala tree, Alstonia scholaris) + kādu/kāṭŭ (forest) → “forest of Pala trees”.
• Other scholarly theories connect the word to older local forms such as “Palakkadu/Palakkattussery” or to a descriptor of dry land in the region.

Why “Palghat” persisted

During British administration, many Indian place-names were simplified for English usage. “Palghat” became standard in gazetteers and rail timetables. After independence and the linguistic reorganisation of states, the Malayalam form “Palakkad” was retained officially—yet “Palghat” lives on in legacy references and in the geographic term Palghat Gap.

The Palakkad (Palghat) Gap: why this pass made the name famous

The Palakkad/Palghat Gap is a broad, low mountain pass (roughly 32–40 km wide) in the Western Ghats that opens Kerala to Tamil Nadu. For centuries it has shaped migration, trade, language mixing, weather patterns, transport routes and even modern wind-energy corridors. Palakkad town sits at this gateway, which is why older references to “Palghat” became so widespread.

Palakkad today — a quick snapshot

• Nickname: “Granary of Kerala” (large paddy fields and fertile plains)
• Languages: Malayalam (official) with strong Tamil cultural influence across the border
• Transport: Two main railheads (Palakkad Junction at Olavakode & Palakkad Town), NH 544/966 access, and frequent bus connections toward Coimbatore, Thrissur and Malabar
• Must-see: Palakkad Fort, Malampuzha Dam & Gardens, heritage villages and hill tracts toward Nelliampathy/Attappady

For searchers: how to use both names correctly

• When you see “Palghat” on an old ticket, timetable or map, read it as present-day Palakkad.
• In modern forms, addresses and government sites, use Palakkad.
• For the mountain pass, you’ll encounter both: Palakkad Gap and Palghat Gap (both refer to the same feature).

FAQ: Palakkad & Palghat

Is Palghat the same as Palakkad?

Yes. Palghat is the older anglicised spelling; Palakkad is the official name.

Why did the name change?

Post-independence, many anglicised toponyms shifted back to local forms. Palakkad reflects the Malayalam name used locally.

Why do trains/maps still say “Palghat” sometimes?

Legacy habits and documents. The railways and many historical references used “Palghat” for decades, so you’ll still see it in archives, old boards and the term “Palghat Gap”.

Whom do I contact for official district information?

Start with the District Collectorate (Civil Station, Palakkad) or the DTPC (District Tourism Promotion Council) for travel-related queries. See the contact box above.

Sources

• Palakkad District website (Collectorate & contacts)
• DTPC Palakkad (tourism & contacts)
• Palakkad Junction station information (public enquiry listings)
• Background & geography (Palakkad/Palghat Gap)

Figures such as area and population reflect the latest official pages available at the time of updating and may be refined when the next statistical abstracts are published.