Palakkad Gap

Topography- Palakkad (Palghat) Gap & Bharathappuzha River (River Ponnani)

Relative Elevation of Palakkad Gap, depicted in DEM

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 Bharathappuzha river from Pollachi, Tamil Nadu (River Ponnani) flows through the Palakkad Gap, collects water from various rivulets and tributaries feeding from steep escarpment slopes along the flanks of the Ghats.[2] Another theory suggests that the gap may be created by an asteroid strike around 800 million to 550 million years ago.[3]

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.[4]

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 affects rainfall activity in parts of western Tamil Nadu, around Coimbatore, Palladam, Kangeyam, Dharapuram, Udumalai by allowing moisture laden winds from the West Coastal region of Kerala and Arabian Sea. It also allows the hot winds coming from Tamil Nadu which warm the eastern part of Kerala significantly compared to the rest of the state and the tropical cyclone winds from Bay of Bengal bearing rain during the summer.

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 , Palakkad - Pollachi 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.

The Palakkad Gap funnels the winds blowing from the west on to Palakkad District in Kerala , Coimbatore and Tirupur districts in Tamil Nadu making the region one of the major wind power generation areas.[5] The average annual wind speed is 18–22 km/h.[6] Large windmill farms can be seen in and around Kanjikode, Chittur, Muthalamada, Kollengode, Pollachi, Kinathukadavu, Udumalaipettai, Dharapuram and Madathukulam.

• Aryankavu mountain pass.
• Aralvaimozhi
• Palghat

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  Palghat Gap as seen from Coimbatore-Shoranur railway line
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  Palghat Gap as seen from Palghat-Chitoor Road
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  Western Ghats as seen from Coimbatore-Shoranur rail line
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  View of Ghats
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  Palghat-Coimbatore NH 544 - NH 66 (re-numbered NH 47) runs through the gap
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  Southern end of the gap
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  One end of the gap
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  A passenger train in Palghat gap

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Palakkad Gap.

• View of Palghat Gap from the Nelliampathy Mountain ranges