Trip to Palakkad - Kerala

This is about a short (two days and one night) trip to Palakkad a city in the state of Kerala. 

Travel Options Taken

• The best option for Bangalore to Palakkad and back, would be to go by Train, as the Bus takes minimum 10 hours from Bangalore and 10 hours in train is more comfortable than 10 hours of bus journey (my personal preference)

  

  @ 4:30 AM in the morning

• Took Kanyakumari Express (16526) which runs at 8:00 PM and reaches Palakkad Junction at 4:30 AM next day.

• For roaming around in Palakkad, had hired the cab for 2 days.

• Didn't have the confirmed train ticket for return journey, so preferred to go to Salem by train which took about 5 hours and from Salem took a Tamil Nadu local bus to Bangalore which took about 4 hours from there. Once one in Salem, one need not worry about getting the buses to Bangalore as there are frequent TN local buses from Salem to Bangalore.

Places Covered

• Silent Valley National Park (★★★✩✩)

@ SVNP entrance gate

Its about 55 kms from Palakkad railway station and about 42 kms from the Alanallur village where we stayed. Public and private transports are not allowed in SVNP one has to hire forest department jeep. The jeep takes minimum 45 minutes or more depending on the breaks you take in between to see the birds and animals around. For more please read my next blog ;) 

• Malampuzha Dam (★★★✩✩)

Its about 8 kms from Palakkad railway station and around 60 km from the home stay we stayed in Mannarkad. You need a full day to visit this place. I would say this is a good place for one day outing with family. 

View from the bridge

Entry fee to garden is 25 rps per person and 100 rps for camera. Its 15 mins walk from garden entrance to the dam bridge. The view from bridge is awesome. If you have time you can go for a long walk on the bridge from one end to another and back.

Garden has spread over a wide area and has attractions like entrance garden, chess board park, maze park, garden with mountain background, sunken garden to name a few. 

Rope way, snake park and rock park are outside the garden, you need to buy tickets at the respective entrance gates to visit them. Due to lack of time I could do only the rope way. From rope way you can see the 360 view of the garden, river and roads which takes you to the Kava view point.

• Kava View Point (★✩✩✩✩)

This place is around 6 kms from Malapuzha Dam, drive to this place is nice but there is nothing much to see and do. It just has the closer view to the Dam reservoir. 

Staying Option

Like any other cities, Palakkad also has plenty of hotels to opt for, but we opted for home-stay and booked Spice home-stay for one night and below is my review on the same:

• Home-stay is located in a small village called Alanallur near Mannarkad.
• It is surrounded with lots of trees, you will feel you are staying in middle of a jungle.
• Has ample of parking space for 3-4 cars to fit in. 

  

  Spices Home Stay

• Also has a small lawn outside to sit. 
• The entrance has a dining cum living room with TV and kitchen attached. 
• Every room has attached bathroom with two cots, mattresses, pillows and towels. I think you can request for general toiletries, as I always carry my stuffs so I didn't ask for it. 
• Home stay had a dedicated cook but during our stay he was on vacation so caretaker took the charge of cooking too. Very talkative fellow but knew to cook Kerala food well.
• Most of the home stays have the fixed rates which included food charges too but this one was a bit different it had room charge plus the food charges separately. 

  

  Idli with Coconut Chatani and Avial 

  
  
• The only thing which pinched me was the home-stay had food changes bit on expensive side. One time meal costed same as the luxurious buffet charges in few of the good restaurant in Bangalore and compare to those restaurants this didn't have as many variety of foods in it's menu. 
• The owner was in town so he showed us his rubber estate in the evening. It was a good walk through rubber trees. Passed through plantation like jack-fruit, pineapple, cashew-nuts etc. 
• My Ratings: ★★★✩✩

Few Tips:

• Go to SVNP during season, there will be rush but you will be able to experience much better flora and fauna of the place.
• Before starting 5km trek in Silent Valley National park, prepared yourself such a way that you don't come in contact with leeches. Don't forget to keep salt with you, and do wear shoes don't go on sleeper thinking its just 5km trek.
• Food and water is  not available in SVNP, so pack some food while going there. 
• Malampuzha Dam & Garden is a good place for a full day picnic with kids. If time permits book the taxi which takes you from one end of the bridge to another end and back.
• Finding good hygienic food near Malampuzha Garden is a big issue, so better get your own food if you are too fussy about food like me :P 

  

  Kerala Cuisine - nom nom

• While booking Home-stay ask for each and every minute charge details, so that you don't get surprise at the end. Keep details in writings, specially while booking home stays which says charges are minimal, you can cook your own food or customize the menu and what not. They do charge extra. 

The Overall rating for the trip ★★★✩✩