Palakkad is the gateway to Kerala due to the presence of the Palakkad Gap,in the Western Ghats. The district is nicknamed "THE GRANARY OF KERALA" and "RICE BOWL OF KERALA". The city of Palakkad is the district headquarters. Palakkad is bordered on the northwest by the Malappuram District,on the southwest by the Thrissur District and on the east by Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. The district is 24.4% urbanized according to the census of 2011. The district is divided into six taluks, of which Palakkad Taluk is smallest in area but it is most populated. The courts of Palakkad have a history which dates back to the 19th century. The courts of this center started functioning in the present building on 26-03-1959.