| Palakkad Gap | |
|---|---|
 Panorama view of Palakkad from Tamilnadu side | |
| Elevation | 140 metres (460 ft) |
| Location | Tamil Nadu -Kerala,India |
| Range | Western Ghats |
| Coordinates | 10°43′07″N76°52′55″E / 10.718550°N 76.881966°E /10.718550; 76.881966 |
   | |
Palakkad Gap orPalghat Gap is a lowmountain pass in theWestern Ghats betweenCoimbatore in the Indian state ofTamil Nadu andPalakkad in the state ofKerala. It has an average elevation of 140 metres (460 ft) with a width of 24–30 kilometres (15–19 mi). The pass is located between theNilgiri Hills to the north andAnaimalai Hills to the south.[1]
The Palakkad Gap likely played a major role in enabling human migration into Kerala from parts of Tamil Nadu[citation needed]. From 300 BC to the 13th century, it also helped theCheras rule the entire Kerala and theKongu Nadu as one geographical unit fromKarur in Western Tamil Nadu.Tamil Brahmins migrated to Palakkad from Central Tamil Nadu via the Palakkad gap from the 15th century to 18th century.[2]
There are various theories about the origin of Palakkad Gap. One among them is that it was caused by a landslide due to rivers flowing in opposite directions. TheBharathappuzha river from Pollachi, Tamil Nadu (RiverPonnani) flows through the Palakkad Gap, collecting water from various rivulets and tributaries feeding from steepescarpment slopes along the flanks of the Ghats.[3]
A study published in 2008 suggest that it is the continuation of aPrecambrianshear-zone that extended from east Africa throughRanotsara Gap ofMadagascar to Palakkad Gap in India.[4]
Another study suggests that the gap may have been created by an asteroid strike around 800 million to 550 million years ago which led to the formation ofKaveri Crater. Hilly terrain in the area might have been wiped out by the massive impact which led to the formation of Palakkad Gap.[5][6][7]
The gap affects the weather patterns in Southern India as it allows the moisture-ladenSouthwest 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 andArabian Sea. It also allows the hot winds coming fromTamil Nadu which warm the eastern part of Kerala significantly compared to the rest of the state and thetropical cyclone winds fromBay of Bengal bearing rain during the summer.[citation needed]
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 linkingPalakkad District of Kerala withCoimbatore 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 theNational Highway 544 and theJolarpettai - Shoranur railway line,Palakkad - Pollachi railway line joining Kerala to Tamil Nadu pass through the gap. The gap also helps for VHFline of sight communications between the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The Palakkad Gap funnels the winds blowing from the west on toPalakkad District inKerala,Coimbatore andTirupur districts inTamil Nadu making the region one of the major wind power generation areas.[8] The average annual wind speed is 18–22 km/h.[9] Large windmill farms can be seen in and aroundKanjikode,Chittur,Muthalamada,Kollengode,Pollachi,Kinathukadavu,Udumalaipettai,Dharapuram andMadathukulam.
