Palu is a town and administrative center of Palu District in Elazığ Province, located in eastern Turkey. As of 2021, the town had a population of 9,602. The current mayor is Muhammet Septioğlu of the YRP party.
Palu has a long historical record of settlement and governance. In classical antiquity, it served as the capital of Balabitene, an Armenian region. During the medieval period, Palu became the capital of the Kurdish Emirate of Palu. In the early 20th century, the town was relocated from its original location to its present site.