Palakkad Gap Pass, Mountain pass between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India

Palakkad Gap is a mountain pass cutting through the Western Ghats range, linking the landscape between the Nilgiri Hills and Anaimalai Hills. Modern transportation routes now follow this natural corridor to move people and goods between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

An ancient highway called Rajakesari Peruvazhi crossed the gap, linking the Chera country around Karuvur with the Kongu region and extending trade from Muziris on the west coast to Arikamedu on the east coast. Between the 1st and 4th centuries CE the gap let the Cheras rule territory on both sides of the Ghats, and marriage alliances between Kongu chieftains and Cheras moved populations through it. Tamil Brahmins migrated to Palakkad through the pass between the 15th and 18th centuries.

The gap carried the Rajakesari Peruvazhi, an ancient highway linking the Chera country with the Kongu region and part of a trade route from Muziris on the west coast to Arikamedu on the east coast. Marriage alliances between Kongu chieftains and the Cheras brought a migration of people through the pass, and Tamil Brahmins reached Palakkad from central Tamil Nadu between the 15th and 18th centuries.

The pass is easily accessible by National Highway 544 and several railway lines connecting the two states. Weather conditions can shift quickly, so visitors should prepare for changing skies and possible moisture.

The gap redirects monsoon winds westward into the Coimbatore agricultural region, creating distinct weather patterns that shape farming on both sides. This natural wind corridor makes the area a meeting point where climate patterns change noticeably.