The city of Palakkad has a population of 1,30,000 and is the seventh most populous town of Kerala. Malayalam is the widely spoken language here. This city is considered the gateway of Kerala because of its location in the Palakkad Gap, a low mountain pass in the Western Ghats. The city is also blessed with many small and medium rivers, largely the tributaries of the River Bharathappuzha. The population of Palakkad district, as per the 2011 census is 2.8 million, out of which 37 percent are in the working age. 30 percent of the workers are engaged in the agriculture sector and 2 percent in the household industry. Majority of the working age population i.e, 67 percent is employed in the industrial and services sector. Major export items from here are coconut oil, coffee, spices, readymade garments, ayurvedic products and agricultural implements. Located in the heart of Palakkad town is the famous Palakkad fort, also known as Tipus Fort. It was built by Haider Ali of Mysore in 1766 and was taken over and modified by the British in 1790.
