Punnavely
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Punnavely is a village situated on the border between Pathanamthitta district and Kottayam district in Kerala State, India.
'Punna' is the Ball Nut tree (Calophyllum inophyllum), and 'Vely' means 'fence'. Punnavely would have been famous for its local fences made of logs and branches from punna trees in the past. The village is famous for its 'Valiyathodu' (the village rivulet) and paddy fields and Rubber trees.
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[edit] Political/geographical location
Most areas of 'the wider Punnavely' fall under Anicadu Grama Panchayat, but because of its location at the boundary between two districts, some of the wards are in Nedumkunnam, Kangazha, and Vazhoor panchayats. Manimala River is the boundary of Punnavely on the east.
Kottayam, Changanassery, and Tiruvalla are the three major towns near the village, approximately 25 kilometers away from the village in three different directions. Other small towns nearer to the village are Mallappally, Nedumkunnam and Karukachal (in a radius of 7 KMs). Nedumkunnam and Mallappaly are famous for the weekly markets where most of the elders from the village go every week for buying and selling things.
[edit] Educational Institutions
Prominent educational institutions in Punnavely are CMS LP school and CMS High School. MRSLBV School[higher secondary school] at Thelappuzhakadav is very famous, as a quite old school started by Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travencore Princely state. Kumbiluvely Government LP School at functions at Kurishunkal. A Kindernothilfe [[1]] (KNH) Boarding Home for the needy children was functioning here for decades but the institution has shifted from Punnavely and at present C.S.I English Medium School is functioning in the same building.
[edit] Religion/religious institutions
The village has a couple of mosques (at Pidannaplavu and Kurunnamvely towards Thelappuzhakkadavu), St James CSI Church (near High School Junction) (there are four other small CSI congregations too in the village affiliated to St James CSI church, including the Pulikkamala CSI church), St Thomas Marthoma Church (Kallammakkel), Cherupushpam Catholic Church (Kurisunkal), Orthodox church (Thengampally), almost all Pentecostal (IPC, Sharon etc) congregations, and a few temples. There is a nunnery also (Little Flower Convent), associated to the Catholic Church.
[edit] Hospitals and Medical Institutions
'St.Martins Hospital' situated at chakkalakkunnu is the hospital most residents depend upon. A government dispensary at Thelappuzhakkadavu as well as a couple of ayurvedic, homeopathic and dental clinics function in the village. The nearest medical college is at Kottayam.
[edit] Banking institutions
One can see a few cooperative banks (near CMS High School, Edathinattupady, Mulayamvely,pidannaplavu and Noorommavu and Chettimukku) as well as a Catholic Syrian Bank branch (Kulathunkal Kavala).There are post offices at CMS High School junction and Muttathumavu. A Telephone exchange which serves all of Anicadu for nearly three decades is located near CMS High School junction. There is a krishi bhavan also in the village.
[edit] Culture and population
The village is inhabited by different religious and caste communities, but Syrian Christians and Muslims are seemingly majority. Most of the Syrian Christians of Punnavely are traditional congress supporters. Marxist party has its roots among the Dalits and lower classes. Muslim League is very strong here. BJP also has its presence in the village, and there is an RSS unit too.
[edit] Arts, Sports and entertainment
Football and Volley ball are still alive in the village although the young generation is more inclined to Cricket. Swimming in the Valiyathodu and Manimalayar as well as in village ponds is an important sport.
Television and Radio are very common in the village. Popular magazines also have wide readership. Since there is no Cinema theaters in Punnavely, those who are fond of films go to theaters in nearby towns. Cable TV also is a common form of entertainment.
[edit] Some important concerns
The village still lacks modern public transport facilities. There are only a very few buses to connect Punnavely with nearby towns. The sand mining from the river bed of Manimalayar has been going on despite the ban on it. One can see trucks and JCBs on the road leaving the village with full loads of sand. It is quite sad to see the water level is depleting in the wells in the village due to this anti-environmental activity.
[edit] Places in the village
Kurishunkal, Kulathunkal Kavala, Noorommavu, Mittathumavu, Pattapurayidam, Puliykkamala, Attukuzhi, High School Junction, Attakkulam, Pidannaplavu, Kanjirathunkal, Kurunnamvely, Chettimukku, Thelppuzha Kadavu, Chengattu Padi, Thengumpally, Mulayam Vely, Edatthinattu Padi, Edavettal, Kaadamkulam, Block Padi etc.
[edit] Nearby Places and villages
Anicadu, Pullukuthy, Kavanal Kadavu, Veerammala, Kumbikkapuzha,Neelampara,Noorommavu, Kulathoormoozhi, Vaipur, Chungappara, Pathanadu, Kangazha, Mundathanam, Vellavoor, Karukachal, Mallappally, Nedumkunnam, Kottangal, Padimon, Panayampala, Nedungadappally
