Punalur

Punalur (Malayalam: പുനലൂര്‍ Punalūr‍) is a city situated near the Tamil Nadu-Kerala Border in the Kollam district, in the southern State of Kerala, India. It is situated in the banks of the Kallada River, receiving its name from two Tamil words; punal, meaning "water" and ooru, meaning "town", therefore "town of water". It is about 45 km north-east of Kollam and 75 km north of Thiruvananthapuram. Punalur is the headquarters of Pathanapuram Taluk, the gateway to Western Ghats. It is also known as the " Lap of the western ghats ".

It is the second largest city in Kollam and the 5th largest city in south Kerala, and it is also a famous industrial city in India.The Punalur Paper Mills, established in 1850's, was the first industry in Kerala and a pioneer in the industrial revolution of Kerala. Punalur become an important trading / transport centre between Kollam and Shenkottai(Tamilnadu)during the administration of Travancore Kingdom. Steady progress of Punalur Panchayat administration upgraded to Municipality status in 1972. Although enjoying the status of Municipality since 1972, Punalur is waiting to develop basic infrastructure to the ever growing population, tourists and pilgrims.

Read more about Punalur:  History, Geography, Etymology, Transportation, Punalur Railway Line, Suspension Bridge, Economy, Industries in Punalur, Punalur Paper Mills Limited, Kerala Agro Fruit Products, The Rehabilitation Plantations Ltd, Demographics, Notable People, Banks, Educational Institutions