A view to punalur

Punalur (പുനലൂര്‍ ) is a city and a municipality in Kollam district in the southern state of Kerala, India.It is the second largest town in Kollam. It is situated 45 km north-east of Kollam and 75 km north Thiruvananthapuram. Punalur is the head quarters of Pathanapuram taluk. Punalur Railway Station is located on the Kollam-Shencotta railway line.A new rail is proposed from Sabarimala-Pathanamthitta-Punalur-Thiruvananthapuram. The nearest airport is at Thiruvananthapuram. The Main Eastern Highway (Punalur-Pathanamthitta-Muvattupuzha Road / SH - 08),(Punalur-Ayoor- Road / SH - 48)which connects Punalur to Thiruvanthapuram-state capital and Kollam - Thirumangalam Road (NH-208) connects the town to other major towns.


HISTORY;
 


Punalur was a famous center during the period of Travancore kingdom. It became a famous township when it became the capital of Pathnapuram taluk due to an attack by thieves at the Pathanupuram centre.Later due to the comming of wild animals from the other side of kallada river to the town and also to connect the country to the tamil region Punalur suspension bridge was constructed by the Britishers.Punalur paper mill was constructed by a British citizen due to the availability of raw products & the water from kallada river.Later the township elevated to one of the largest townships in Kerala.The Punaloor became a municipality in 1972.Punalur market was constructed by the His Highness Sir Sri Moolam Thirunal, Maharajah of Travancore due to the rich agricultural backg

MAIN ATTRACTIONS;

•    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.Currently Kollam-Punalur gauge conversion is finished.It was inagurated by E.Ahmed,minister of state for railways,govt of India.

 

• 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.