Ottapalam, Palakkad Overview

Ottapalam is a quaint little town situated on the banks of the Bharatpuzha river. Blessed with the bounty of untouched natural beauty, this place serves as an abode for a large number of palm trees. Ottapalam finds many mentions in ancient history as it was the host site for many cultural events during the reign of the Zamorins of Calicut.

The gently swaying palms against the blue skies of Ottapalam sure do make for a lovely sight to behold. Always bubbling with activity, this region is quite famous among the locals for its history and its present as well. Chinakathoor Puram which is held at the Chinakathoor Pooram temple of this town is one of the most well celebrated religious festivals of Kerala. The scenic beauty of this place has made it quite popular among photography enthusiasts, and you can often find Tamil and Malayalam film stars shooting here.

History of Ottapalam

Ottapalam was a major part of the ancient Valluvanad Swaroop dynasty. Valluvanad was a feudal state extending from the Bharatpuzha river in the south to the town of Pandalur in the north. According to local legends, the last ruler of this place gave away vast stretches of the land to one of his governors before leaving on a holy pilgrimage.

How To Reach Ottapalam

The most convenient way of reaching Ottapalam is through roadways. It is connected to to the other towns through Palakkad-Shoranur State Highway. The government operated as well as private buses run regularly ply to Ottapalam from the nearby major cities like Palakkad, Thrissur, and Guruvayoor. The town is also served by Ottapalam Railway Station. However, it is not very well connected to the other major cities in the country.