Punalur
Punalur
| Punalur city | |
| — municipality — | |
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| Coordinates | 9°01′03″N 76°55′35″E / 9.01762°N 76.92652°ECoordinates: 9°01′03″N 76°55′35″E / 9.01762°N 76.92652°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District(s) | Kollam |
| MLA | K.RAJU |
| Population • Density |
1,01,251 (2011[update]) • 1,337 /km2 (3,463 /sq mi) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
34 square kilometres (13 sq mi) • 56 metres (184 ft) |
| Website | http://www.punalurmunicipality.in/,www.smgrouppunalur.com |
Punalur (Malayalam: പുനലൂര് Punalūr) is a city and a municipality in Kollam district in the southern state of Kerala, India. It is the second largest city in Kollam and is one of the industrial cties in Kerala. It is situated 45 km north-east of Kollam and 75 km north of Thiruvananthapuram. Punalur is the head quarters of Pathanapuram taluk. This place is the gateway to Western Ghats and it is connected to the towns of Tamil Nadu like Tenkasi.
This place was famous since in 19th century due to the paper mill which operated near to the town. Later a plywood factory was also set up at Punalur. By 2000, both of the industries which had contributed significantly to the growth of Punalur became nonoperational. Right now paper mill has been renovated and would become operational by Jan 2011. The plywood factory is being taken over by KINFRA (Kerala industrial infrastructure development corporation) to set up the biggest KINFRA initiative.
punalur city have underground ksrtc bus station,pwd rest houuse,muncipal stadium,forest court,flying squad,timber sales division,sub sc/st commissionarate,civil station,private bus station
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History
Punalur is a town which has a good relation with Tamil Nadu from ancient time itself.Most parts of Pathnapuram taluk are having habitation before the Indus valley civilizaton.Around first AD itself ,there was a possible kind of civiliztion in and around Punalur but most parts were thick forests.Punalur was described in Mithranandpuram and Vellayani shasanas.Upto 1734 Punalur was under the direct rule of Ilaydathu swaroopam.
A Portugese ruler ,Captain Road Drigs.During 1552 tried to eatsblish his supermacy over the black pepper trade but the local traders were not intrested and they took it to Tamil Nadu in about 500 bullock carts.But the captain send his troops and killed many in and around Punalur .
Punalur paper mill first of it's kind in kerala served both as a huge job donor and as an economic centre.Later Travancore plywood industry added the punalur's importance in the industrial field.Sri Ramapuram market is one of the largest vegetable Market in Kerala.Punalur Balan and Llithambika Antharganam are the contribution of Punalur to the Malayalam.
Geography
Punalur has an average elevation of 56 metres (184 ft). The Kallada River passes through Punalur. Various scenic spots on Kallada River attracts many tourists. The Palaruvi Falls is 35 kilometres (22 mi) from Punalur. The first Eco-Tourism Project in Kerala is only 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Punalur on NH 208 towards Shencottah. Regarding climate, even though located near western ghats, Punalur is the hottest place in Kerala, and during summer temperature has recorded even 44 degrees celsius.
Etymology
It is believed that Punalur derived its name from ‘Punel’ - the Malayalam word for ‘funnel’. The other school of thought attributes the etymology to the word 'punal' (river in old Tamil and Malayalam as in "kuruthipunal=river of blood" according to Dr. Herman Gundert), and 'ooru' (place), referring to the river passing through the town.
Transportation
Transportation in this hilly town is mainly dependant on private buses as well as the state run KSRTC buses.It is well connected to the capital city of Kerala Thiruvananthapuram by KSRTC Fast Passenger buses which ply every 15 minutes.Buses are also plenty to the district headquarters of Kollam and Pathanamthitta and to towns in Tamilnadu like Tenkasi and Shencotta.
The Main Eastern Highway (Punalur-Pathanamthitta-Muvattupuzha Road / SH - 08),(Punalur-Ayoor- Road / SH - 48) which connects Punalur to Thiruvanthapuram-(state capital),punalur-kulathupuzha(SH 79) (Punalur-Kayamkulam Road / SH - 5) and Kollam - Thirumangalam Road (NH-208) connects the town to other major towns.
Punalur Railway Station is located on the Kollam-Madurai railway line.A new railway line is proposed throughSabarimala-Pathanamthitta-Punalur-Thiruvananthapuram. The nearest airport is at Thiruvananthapuram. Punalur railway station, which currently connects to Kollam. There are four services in this route right now and It is heard that many more services would be inducted in this route since the Punalur-Schengotta ghat section has been closed for Broad Gauge conversion.Once the conversion is over,this will serve as the shortest route from Kollam to Chennai and from Kochi port to Tuticorin port
Punalur railway line
Punalur is one of the stations in India which has both meter gauge & broad gauge. It lies 45 km from Kollam on the scenic Kollam-Shencotta railway line across the western ghats, providing a valuable link across the southern states. It is also linked with Kollam by road. The long-pending Shencottah-Punalur gauge conversion under Unigauge work has been sanctioned recently and is planned for completion by 2013. Once finished, this will be the shortest route from Thiruvananthapuram to Chennai. Currently Kollam-Punalur gauge conversion is finished and trains have started running from Kollam to Punalur. The Punalur-Shencottah was closed to all traffic from 19 Sept 2010 for conversion into broad gauge. The journey through the western ghats is incredible.
Suspension bridge
The Punalur suspension bridge crossing the river is the only suspended-deck type in south India. Built in 1877 by Albert Henry across the this huge bridge was suspended by three spans and was used for vehicular movement. Construction took more than six years. It is said that after completion of the bridge people hesitated to walk through the bridge. In order to prove the strength of the bridge the engineer and his family passed under the bridge in a country boat while six elephants were walking through the bridge. Now the bridge is only of archeological interest.
Economy
Main agricultural products of this township include rubber, black pepper, and other spices. The chief commodities of export here are the hill produces, pineapple, pepper products, plywood and timber. The Punalur Paper Mill Ltd., a paper Industry established in 1888 by a British Nationale was under the control and management of Mr. L.N. Dalmia till 1984. This prestigious organisation was closed due to labour disputes and improper handling of the situation by the mill management and the state government. Now it is taken by an organisation Athula Industries, Hyderabad.
Punalur market was in its height during the time of Punalur paper mill. The Punalur plywood industry another important wood factory in the whole state. Punalur market is also assisted by the agro industries.
Industries in Punalur
- Punalur paper mill-first paper mill in kerala currently in the reopening stage.
- Travancore Plywood Industries Ltd., Punalur now changed as KINFRA industrial park.
- Kerala Agro Fruit Products
- State Farming Corporation of Kerala Ltd., Punalur -A Govt. of Kerala undertaken.
- Rehabilitation Plantations LTD, Punalur
- Rpc Kraft paper mills manufacturing M.G.Plain kraft paper which is situated Manalil
Kerala Agro Fruit Products
Kerala Agro Fruit Products engages in the production and processing of fruit products under the Jyothi brand. The company produces pineapple juice, jam, and concentrate. Kerala Agro Fruit Products is based in Punalur, India. As of December 13, 2008, Kerala Agro Fruit Products operates as a subsidiary of Oil Palm India Limited.
The Rehabilitation Plantations Ltd
The Rehabilitation Plantations Ltd., Punalur (RPL) started as a government rubber plantation scheme in 1972 for the settlement of Sri Lankan repatriates which was necessitated by Sirimao-Shastri Agreement of 1964. Later on it was formed into Government Company and incorporrated on 5 May 1976. The authorised share capital of the company is Rs.350.00 lakhs and the paid up capital is Rs.339.27 lakhs. The share capital contribution of Government of India is 40% and remaining 60% was contributed by Government of Kerala.
The Company has settled 700 repatriate families from Sri Lanka. Two members from each family are provided with employment in the company. At present the company employs to 1300 workers, 185 staff members and 32 officers in the company.
Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census, Punalur had a population of 47,226. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Punalur has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 82%. In Punalur, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Banks
- State Bank of Travancore
- Federal Bank Ltd(elampal,punalur city branch)
- Canara Bank
- Catholic Syrian Bank Ltd
- Kollam District Co Operative Bank
- The Punalur co-operative Bank
- Union Bank of India
- Dhanalekshmi Bank
- North Malabar Gramin Bank
- Syndicate Bank(2 Branches)
- ICICI Bank
- SBI(karavaloor) * south indian bank(piravanthoor)* hdfc bank
Educational Institutions
Schools:-Punalur has many Government,aided and unaided schools. Schools play an active role in producing a bright future for Punalur. The Government Higher Secondary school in punalur was established in early 20th century.The taluk samajam schools too were established at the same time. Later these were split into Boys HSS,Girls HS and HSS at Chemmanthoor.
- Govt. HSS
- Boys HSS
- Girls HS
- St.Goretti HSS
- S N Trust HSS
- St. Thomas HSS
- Chemanthoor HSS
- Tholicode LPS
- N S V vocational higher secondary school
- S N Public school
- T V T M School
- Sabarigiri senior secondary school
- Toch public school
There is also a Government Polytechnic which offers technical education to students.
Colleges:-
- Sree Narayana College, Punalur, was established in 1965 by the perspicacious visionary and administrator Sri. R. Sanker. The college offers courses at the degree and post-graduate levels in Arts, Science and Humanities and is fast developing into a centre of excellence in University education. Its academic, research and extension programmes have been rendering outstanding service to society by moulding academically equipped, intellectually inquisitive, emotionally balanced and socially committed citizens.
- Cooperative Engineering College:-This college would be operational by 2011.
There are many other professional colleges around Punalur.
See also
- Pathanamthitta
- Anchal
- Kollam
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Punalur
- ^ Panoramio - Photo of Amazing Punalur - Kakod Whitewater02
- ^ "Palaruvi Falls". World of Waterfalls. http://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/asia-palaruvi-falls.html. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
- ^ Trip report on PUU-SCT on BG and MG lines RailMatters
- ^ bridgemeister.com Punalur suspension bridge
- ^ View the Suspension Bridge on Google Earth
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
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