PALGHAT, a town of British India, in the Malabar district of Madras, on the Madras railway. Pop. (1901), 44,177. As the key to Travancore and Malabar from the East, it was formerly of considerable strategic importance. The fort fell into British hands in 176S, and subsequently formed the basis of many of the operations against Tippoo, which terminated in the storming of Seringapatam. The easy ascent by the Palghat Pass, formerly covered with teak forests, supplies the great route from the west coast to the interior. The municipality manages the Victoria college.