Palakkad Gap
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Overview
The Palakkad (Palghat) Gap is a low pass about 30–40 km wide in the Western Ghats, between the Nilgiri hills to the north and the Anaimalai hills to the south.
It links Palakkad in Kerala with Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and carries the main road and railway between the two states.
The gap lets the south-west monsoon winds pass inland and brings rain to the Coimbatore area; it also funnels winds that power wind farms.
Geography and key facts
- Widest gap in the Western Ghats
- Between the Nilgiris and the Anaimalai hills
- Links Kerala (Palakkad) with Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore)
- Carries road and rail; channels monsoon winds
Why it matters for UPSC
A classic map question. The Bharathapuzha river flows west through the gap.
Note for UPSC
The widest gap in the Western Ghats, linking Kerala and Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore).
Passes are often asked as state–pass pairs or in a north-to-south order; learn which places each pass links.
Asked in PYQs
No question in our Prelims bank names Palakkad Gap yet.
Key facts
- Type
- Mountain pass
- States / UTs
- Tamil Nadu, Kerala
- Coordinates
- 10.719°N, 76.882°E
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.
In the lessons
- Physiographic Divisions of India in Depth (map lesson)