Palakkad Gap

Palakkad Gap
Panorama view of Palakkad from Tamilnadu side
Location	Tamil Nadu - Kerala, India
Range	Western Ghats

Palakkad Gap or Palghat Gap is a low mountain pass in the Western Ghats between Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Palakkad in Kerala. It has an average elevation of 140 metres (460 ft) with a width of 30 kilometres (19 mi). The pass is located between the Nilgiri Hills to the north and Anaimalai Hills to the south.^[1]

Origin and history

Topography- Palakkad (Palghat) Gap & Bharathapuzha River.

There are various theories about the origin of Palakkad gap. One among them is that it is caused by the landslide due to rivers flowing in opposite directions. The Bharatha Puzha river originates in the Palakkad Gap from rivulets and tributaries feeding from steep escarpment slopes along the flanks of the Ghats.^[2]

Palakkad gap has played a major role in enabling human migration into Kerala from parts of Tamil Nadu. From 300 B.C. to 13th century, it also helped the Cheras rule the entire Kerala and the Kongu Nadu as one geographical unit from Karur in Western Tamil Nadu. Tamil Brahmins migrated to Palakkad from Central Tamil Nadu via the Palakkad gap from the 15th century to 18th century.

Effect on weather

The gap affects the weather patterns in Southern India as it allows the moisture-laden Southwest monsoon winds into western Tamil Nadu, moderating summer temperatures and generating greater rainfall in the region relative to the rest of lowland Tamil Nadu. It also allows the hot winds coming from Tamil Nadu which warm the eastern part of Kerala compared to the rest of the state and the tropical cyclone winds from Bay of Bengal bearing rain during the summer.

Transport and trade

The gap is the lowest pass through the Western Ghats in the region. It is an important mountain pass in the Western Ghats that runs along the entire eastern edge of Kerala isolating it from the neighboring Tamil Nadu. It acts as an important transport corridor between the two States by linking Palakkad District of Kerala with Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu and has served as a vital trade route between the east and west coasts of peninsular India since ancient times.

Both the National Highway 544 and the Coimbatore - Shoranur railway line joining Kerala to Tamil Nadu pass through the gap. The gap also helps for VHF line of sight communications between the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Wind Energy

The Palakkad Gap funnels the winds blowing from the west on to Coimbatore and Tirupur districts in Tamil Nadu making the region one of the major wind power generation areas.^[3] The average annual wind speed is 18–22 km/hr.^[4] Large windmill farms can be seen in and around Udumalaipettai and Kadathur.

Gallery

Palghat gap as seen from Coimbatore-Shoranur railway line
Palghat Gap as seen from Palghat-Chitoor Road
Western Ghats as seen from Coimbatore-Shoranur rail line
View of Ghats
Palghat-Coimbatore NH 47 runs through the gap
Southern end of the gap
One end of the gap
A passenger train in Palghat gap

References

↑ "Britannica Encyclopedia". Retrieved 8 March 2015.
↑ Nair, Dr. S. Sathis Chandran, (20 May 2004). A Note on the Ecological Impact of the Proposed Pathrakkadavu Hydro-Electric Project (PHEP) in the Kunthi River, Palakkad District of Kerala: India - Silent Valley Rainforest Under Threat Once More
↑ "Tiruppur District Official Webpage". Retrieved 6 November 2013.
↑ "TamilNadu Energy Development Agency". Retrieved 6 November 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Palakkad Gap.

View of Palghat Gap from the Nelliampathy Mountain ranges

Western Ghats
Rivers	Bhadra Bhavani Bhima Chalakudy Chittar Godavari Gurupura Kabini Kali Kallayi Kaveri Koyna Krishna Kundali Malaprabha Manimuthar Netravati Pachaiyar Parambikulam Saraswati Savitri Sharavati Tambaraparani Tapti Tunga Venna
Regions	Desh, Maharashtra Goa Gap Konkan Malabar Malenadu North Malabar Kongu Nadu Palakkad Gap Tulu Nadu
Peaks	Agastya Mala Anamudi Anginda Anjaneri Banasura Biligirirangana Betta Brahmagiri Chembra Dhodap Doddabetta Gangamoola Harishchandragad Kalsubai Kemmangundi Kudremukh Kumarikkal Mala Kodachadri Kumara Parvata Mullayanagiri Marunthuvazh Malai Nedumpara Peak Ponmudi Pushpagiri Paithalmala Salher Saptashrungi Sispara Sonsogor Tadiandamol Taramati Vavul Mala Vellarimala Ranipuram Vagamon
Hills	Ambanad Hills Anaimalai Hills Biligiriranga Hills Cardamom Hills Nilgiri mountains Satmala Range Selbari Range Palni Hills Trimbakeshwar Range
Waterfalls	Abbey Chunchanakatte Dudhsagar Falls Gokak Irupu Jog Kalhatti Mallalli Falls Sathodi Lushington Sivasamudram Athirapally Falls Vazhachal Falls Hogenakkal
States	Tamil Nadu Gujarat Karnataka Kerala Maharashtra Goa
Parks & Reserves	Annekal Reserved Forest Anshi National Park Aralam Reserved Forest Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve Agasthyavanam Biological Park Bandipur National Park Bannerghatta National Park Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary Chandoli National Park Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Dandeli National Park Eravikulam National Park Grass Hills National Park Anamalai Tiger Reserve Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve Karian Shola National Park Karnala Bird Sanctuary Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary Kudremukh National Park Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary Mudumalai National Park Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Mukurthi National Park Nagarhole Rajiv Gandhi National Park New Amarambalam Reserved Forest Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Palani Hills National Park Parambikulam Tiger Reserve Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary Periyar National Park Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary SAI Sanctuary Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary Silent Valley National Park Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Places	Khandala Lonavla Lavasa Mahabaleshwar Matheran Chiplun Tamhini Panchgani Kudremukh Kodagu Karjat Kasara
Ghats	Amboli Ghat Bhor Ghat Tamhini Ghat Amba Ghat Bhor Road Ghat Chorla Ghat Goa Gap Kasara Road Ghat Kumbharli Ghat Malshej Ghat Naneghat Charmadi ghat Shiradi ghat Bisle ghat Sampaje ghat Palakkad Gap Varandha Ghat
Related	Mountains of Kerala Mountains of Maharashtra

Mountain passes of India

Rail

Mountain Railways	Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Kalka-Simla Railway Matheran Hill Railway Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Rail Mountain Pass	Bhor Ghat Braganza Ghats Shindawane Ghat Thul Ghat Palakkad Gap

Road

Himalaya	Auden's Col Banihal Pass Bara-lacha la Bilafond La Bum La Pass Borasu Pass Chang La Chanshal Pass Cho La Debsa Pass Dehra Compass Diphu Pass Dongkha La Fotu La Goecha La Gyong La Indrahar Pass Jelep La Karakoram Pass Khardung La Kongka Pass Kunzum Pass Lanak La Lipulekh Pass Lungalacha La Mana Pass Marsimik La Nama Pass Namika La Nathu La Pangsau Pass Pensi La Pin Parvati Pass Rohtang Pass Rupin Pass Saach Pass Sasser Pass Sela Pass Shingo La Shipki La Sia La Sin La Spangur Gap Tanglang La Traill's Pass Zoji La
Western Ghats	Agumbe Ghat Amboli Ghat Amba Ghat Balebare Ghat Bisle Ghat Bopdev Ghat Bhor Ghat Chandanapuri Ghat Charmadi Ghat Chorla Ghat Dive Ghat Ganesh Ghat Goa Gap Kasara Ghat Kashedi Ghat Katraj Ghat Khambatki Ghat Kumbharli Ghat Mahur Ghat Malshej Ghat Naneghat Pasarni Ghat Palakkad Gap Phonda Ghat Sampaje Ghat Shendurjana Ghat Shiradi Ghat Tamhini Ghat Varandha Ghat
Others	Asirgarh Haldighati Pass

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