# Punalur

Punalur is a municipality in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. It is the headquarters of the Punalur Taluk and Punalur Revenue Division. It is situated in the eastern part of the Kollam district of Kerala, on the banks of the Kallada River and foothills of the Western Ghats. It is about 45 kilometres (28 mi) north-east of Kollam and 68 kilometres (42 mi) north of Thiruvananthapuram.

## Geography

Punalur has an average elevation of 56 metres (184 ft). Many tourists have visited scenic spots along the Kallada River. The Palaruvi Falls is 35 kilometres (22 mi) from Punalur. The first planned eco-tourism project in Kerala is only 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Punalur on NH 744 towards Sengottai.

## Politics

Punalur Assembly constituency is part of the Kollam (Lok Sabha constituency) and Punalur Assembly constituency.
K. Pushpaletha is the sitting Chairperson of Punalur Municipality. P. S. Supal of Communist Party of India is the MLA of Punalur assembly constituency and N. K. Premachandran is MP of Kollam (Lok Sabha constituency).
The assembly constituency is continuously won by Communist Party of India since 1991. Punalur Municipality is currently ruled by Left Democratic Front.

## Climate

Climate data for Punalur (1991–2020, extremes 1956–2012) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 38.8 (101.8) | 40.1 (104.2) | 40.6 (105.1) | 40.6 (105.1) | 39.2 (102.6) | 36.6 (97.9) | 36.6 (97.9) | 34.8 (94.6) | 35.2 (95.4) | 36.2 (97.2) | 37.6 (99.7) | 36.2 (97.2) | 40.6 (105.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 34.1 (93.4) | 35.5 (95.9) | 36.3 (97.3) | 35.4 (95.7) | 34.1 (93.4) | 31.6 (88.9) | 30.9 (87.6) | 31.2 (88.2) | 32.0 (89.6) | 32.1 (89.8) | 32.4 (90.3) | 32.8 (91.0) | 33.2 (91.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20.6 (69.1) | 21.3 (70.3) | 22.5 (72.5) | 23.4 (74.1) | 23.5 (74.3) | 22.9 (73.2) | 22.6 (72.7) | 22.6 (72.7) | 22.6 (72.7) | 22.6 (72.7) | 22.2 (72.0) | 21.3 (70.3) | 22.3 (72.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 12.9 (55.2) | 14.9 (58.8) | 17.4 (63.3) | 18.1 (64.6) | 19.2 (66.6) | 18.9 (66.0) | 18.4 (65.1) | 18.6 (65.5) | 17.4 (63.3) | 16.9 (62.4) | 15.3 (59.5) | 15.0 (59.0) | 12.9 (55.2) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 14.5 (0.57) | 49.1 (1.93) | 89.0 (3.50) | 216.7 (8.53) | 256.7 (10.11) | 458.8 (18.06) | 391.6 (15.42) | 309.9 (12.20) | 254.1 (10.00) | 432.9 (17.04) | 245.1 (9.65) | 47.3 (1.86) | 2,765.6 (108.88) |
| Average rainy days | 1.1 | 2.5 | 5.4 | 11.6 | 11.9 | 19.9 | 20.2 | 16.0 | 12.6 | 16.4 | 10.5 | 2.6 | 130.6 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) | 53 | 52 | 56 | 65 | 67 | 75 | 76 | 74 | 72 | 75 | 73 | 64 | 67 |
| Source: India Meteorological Department ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

As of 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%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 82%. In Punalur, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

## Punalur taluk

Punalur taluk, of which Punalur is the centre, contains the following towns and villages:
* Alayaman
* Anchal
* Arakkal
* Ariyankavu
* Ayiranelloor
* Channapetta
* Edamon
* Edamulakkal
* Eroor
* Karavaloor
* Kulathupuzha
* Punalur
* Thenmala
* Thinkalkarikkom
* Valakkode

## Punalur paper mill

It is the first paper mill in the Kerala, and one of the oldest paper mills of the country. It 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 mill's customers when they were open was the India Security Press. Up to 1931, Punalur was renamed multiple times. In 1987, the mill which was managed by L.N. Dalmia and had around 1020 employees was shut down due to huge liabilities.

## Notable people

* Punalur Balan (1927–1987)
* Lalithambika Antharjanam (1909–1987)
* M. J. Radhakrishnan Cinematographer