Happy TravellerWelcome to Punalur, a quaint Municipality in Kollam district of Kerala State in India. Located in the eastern part of Kollam district, Punalur is situated on the banks of the Kallada River and foothills of the western ghats. The town is the headquarter of the Punalur Taluk and Punalur Revenue Division. Punalur is situated about 45 kilometres (28 mi) north-east of Kollam and 68 kilometres (42 mi) north of Thiruvananthapuram.
Geographically, Punalur has an average elevation of 56 metres (184 ft) and is surrounded by scenic spots along the Kallada River. The Palaruvi Falls is a must-visit attraction, located 35 kilometres (22 mi) from Punalur. The first planned eco-tourism project in Kerala is also situated just 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Punalur on NH 744 towards Sengottai, which is a popular destination among tourists.
Punalur Assembly constituency is part of the Kollam (Lok Sabha constituency) and Punalur Assembly constituency. The assembly constituency is continuously won by Communist Party of India since 1991, and P. S. Supal of Communist Party of India is the MLA of Punalur assembly constituency. N. K. Premachandran is MP of Kollam (Lok Sabha constituency). Punalur Municipality is currently ruled by Left Democratic Front.
According to the 2011 India census, Punalur had a population of 46,702. 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%, with male literacy at 85% and female literacy at 82%. In Punalur, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The town is also known for the oldest paper mill in the country which was started at Punalur in 1886. The mill used reeds to make paper and was opened by T.J. Cameroon, an industrialist from Britain. One of the mills customers when they were open was the India Security Press. In 1987, the mill which was managed by L.N. Dalmia and had around 1020 employees was shut down due to huge liabilities.
If you’re interested in education, Punalur offers many schools and colleges such as Grace International Academy (An Affiliated College under University of Kerala), Punalur and Sree Narayana College, Punalur.
Come and explore Punalur, and discover the hidden gems of this beautiful town!
