Six to seven years ago, Palakkayam Thattu was a deserted hill, almost unnoticed. But the place underwent a stunning makeover in the past few years. Now this small mountain which is 3500 ft above sea level is the hallmark of Kannur. A new promise to the future scopes of tourism. At the foot of the hill, the people of Thaliparambu are excited about the fast developments around them. This is just the beginning of carving a new face of Kannur.
If we consider the mountain ranges of Kannur as brothers, Palakkayam Thattu is the younger brother of Pythal Mala. The panorama of Palakkayam Thattu is mesmerising when viewed from the top of Pythal hill. The valley of the Palakkayam Thattu is lined by rubber and cocoa trees planted by the migrants from central Kerala. And because the valley is inhabited mainly by people from Kottayam, the place is also called as Kottayam Thattu. You reach here crossing both Mandalam and Pulikkurumba coming through the Kudianmala route from Thaliparambu.
View of the town
A stationary store, coffee shops, jeeps lined by the side of the road, is the very first view of the town. When this place got a new tourist appeal, the drivers of these jeeps were the ones who benefited the most. To drive through the road carved on the hill is not easy at all. The jeeps traverses from one rock to the other just like a galloping horse. The five kilometres drive can quench the adventure thirst of travellers.
The check post which welcomes the travellers is the ticket counter, from there, through the bamboo bushes we reach the entrance of the thattu. The tourists can relish the sight of the place sitting on the metal benches fixed besides the barricades. Adventure park, tents and view points are the interest points.
The 'two eyes' (frames) of Palakkayam Thattu offers vivid sights. Through the square shaped cement frame, the boundary of Kannur and beyond are visible. On one side there is Pythal hill and on the other side is the Valapattanam river besides which is the lush green forest of Coorg. The panoramic view through the square eyes gets embossed in the heart and never fades. The steps carved on the stones from there will take you to the tent camping spot towards the south. The tents are erected on a cemented platform safely within the fences. The tent camping has attracted travellers to Palakkayam |Thattu in manifold.
The other 'eye' on the north enamours is by offering the view of wild green extending till the horizon. The love that emanates from the view turns the place into a garden even under the scorching sun.
From the second view point, the way up takes you to the adventure park. Zip line, rope cross, zorbing ball, gun shooting, and archery are the attractions of the park.
The story of Palakkayam Thattu
The newly invented tourist scopes of the place have completely changed the face of Palakkayam thattu. A hill which was earlier unnoticed, is now a hotspot for tourists reaching even from other states. However, the real history of the place remains unsaid as there are no written records of it.
The valley of Palakkayam Thattu is famous for a cave inside a forest, which is considered as a remnant of the Buddhist culture that existed in the place. The cave is named as Ayyanmadathurangam by the early inhabitants of the area. It is believed that a community known as Karimpalar were the ancestors of this land. They worshipped a deity called, Pulichamundi. The festivals celebrated by the community were so pompous and loud that they could be heard even from Thaliparambu. The present day Palakkayam Thattu, which is popular tourist destination, has a rich heritage backing it.
