| Punthalathazham പുന്തലത്താഴം |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District(s) | Kollam |
| Nearest city | Chinnakkada |
| Parliamentary constituency | Kollam |
| Civic agency | Kollam Corporation |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
Punthalathazham (പുന്തലത്താഴം)[Geography: 8°53'43"N 76°38'21"E][1] is a landlocked village situated in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located only six kilometres east of the Kollam (Quilon)city towards Kannanalloor (on Kollam-Kannanalloor-Ayoor road). This place has little geographical importance and serves as the tail boundary of Kollam corporation. Peoples in Punthalathazham belongs to Middle and Working classes.
The village boasts of having the excellent telecommunication facilities and water-supply system. Almost every house got open wells for their water requirement.
There is a story for giving this name to the place. In olden days when people travel from distant places this junction is used as a resting point at night, and they used to get their supper from a rich & aristocratic family called 'Punthala'(പുന്തല). In Malayalam language 'Athazham'(അത്താഴം) means supper! Thus, the name punthala + athazham = punthalathazham.
Punthalathazham is in Kollam Taluk and comes under Vadakkevila Village having population under 5000.[2] One 50-feet height elevated concrete Water Tank is a major landmark in Punthalathazham Junction. One could stand on a higher spot and enjoy the sight of the whole village.
Punthalathazham is surrounded by several small satellite villages: Palathara in the south, No.2(രണ്ടാംനമ്പര്) Junction in the west, Peroor in the north and Decent Junction in the east.
The terrain is flat.
Punthalathazham has a moderate climate, with heavy rains during June–August due to the southwest monsoon. Winter starts from December and continues until February. In summer, the temperature rises to a maximum of 35°C and 25°C in the winters. Annual average rainfall is 310 cm.
One Beverage Corporation(BEVCO) is also located in Punthalathazham.
The main centers of public activity in Punthalathazham consist of a market, a bus station and a library. The Y. M. V. A. Library(വായനശാല) was established in 1936. It is one of the oldest libraries in Kollam district registered under Thiruvithamkoor library council. The name of the bus stop itself is Punthalathazham Junction.
Recently, kudumbasree units have been added to the community.
The people of Punthalathazham are generally employed in the service and private sectors. Others are daily earners. A large number of women work in cashew factories. Many youths serves as tutors in parallel tutorials, before getting a job.
The primary crops are coconut and banana supports the economy..
Punthalathazham housed many small-scale producers like Agro Trade International(cashew nut trading), Amrutha Trading Company(supply pencil slats), Santha Cashew Factory, Image Office Automation(marketing Canon products), Saindhava books publishers etc. Punthalathazham also has brick factories and saw mills.
Punthalathazham has an average literacy rate of 94.7%.
M.V.G.V.H.S.S is one of the oldest schools in Kollam district. Over thousand, students are studying in this school. Students gaining entry can complete their pre-university(plus-two) exams and attend the graduation courses of universities. School comes under Kundara educational sub-district.
M.V.G.V.H.S.S was situated near Peroor Karunallur Bhagavathi Temple in the name Kalluvilla Pvt School. In 1944, it was under Y.M.V.A Library. Kunjan Pillai was the manager and H.M. Hereafter, school undertaken by Damodaran Pillai. His role was as an acting assistant. Narayana Pillai was willing to provide a place for the school near Peroor Meenakshi temple. Since then, it has been known as Meenakshi Vilasam school. In 1947, school comes under Kerala Government. After 19 years, it was raised to high school. In 1974 June, school was divided into M.V.G.L.P.S and M.V.G.V.H.S. Now this school boasts vocational(since 1993) and non-vocational higher secondary(since 2000).
S.M.D School( Sree Meenakshi Devasam)-Peroor,St Jude high School-Mukhathala,S.N public school-Vadakkevila and Navdeep Public School-Vettilathazham, are other well-known educational institutions with high-quality standards and more productivity.
Main colleges around Punthalathazham are: T.K.M College of Engineering, S.N College, Fathima Matha College, Younus College of Engineering, Perumon Engineering College, S.N Polytechnic-Kottiyam, N.S.S College-Kottiyam, N.S Memorial Nursing School-Palathara etc.
Scores of parallel tutorials are also there.
N.S Hospital[3] and Travancore Medical College (medicity)[4] are the two hospitals in the vicinity.
Eravipuram Police Station
Punthalathazham has a 110 KV Ayathil substation to cater for the demands of the industry and homes. Almost every home is electrified. KSEB has a mobile repair unit in Punthalathazham. This greatly reduced supply destruction due to failure of overhead supply lines, also ensured speedy resolution of customer complaints.
BSNL and Asianet are the broadband internet providers in Punthalathazham and provides 2 Mbit/s connections at Rs 250/- per month. Airtel, Vodatfone, Idea, BSNL and Tata Indicom provide mobile phone services.
Most of the inhabitants in Punthalathazham are Hindus. People are living in harmony, and any religious violence is unheard of.
Sree meenakshi temple[5] (chettinada-പുത്തന് നട) is a famous old temple situated near Punthalathazham at Peroor. Durga Devi is the main deity of this temple. POOYAM Maholsavam is the main festival in this temple, which attracts tens of thousands of people.
Mangalathu temple(മംഗലത്ത് നട) Mangalathu temple[6] is another old temple situated at Punthalathazham. The temple is famous for the MAKAYIRAM Maholsavam. POOYAM Maholsavam starts two days after the end of MAKAYIRAM Maholsavam. People belonging to all castes and communities participate in the festival.
Kattavila masjid(Kilikolloor palli) is a prominent mosque in the area. Kilikolloor palli and Meenakshi temple are situated close to each other. The mosque and temple are separated by Meenakshi Vilasam school. The co-existence of these two centers of worship of different religions is quite unique and is a standing example of the religious tolerance and harmony. The Friday prayers at the mosque are attended by a fairly high number of people.
Communist Party and Congress Party dominate regional politics. Punthalathazham is part of Eravipuram constituency. Peoples been selected by them are,
Trivandrum International airport is the nearest airport. The nearest railway stations are Kilikkollur Station(Kollam-Tenkasi route) and Kollam Junction(Trivandrum-Ernakulam route). Private and K.S.R.T.C bus services to nearby towns are available regularly.
Punthalathazham is a part of Kollam Corporation and has many residents associations like,
Crow Colony(കാക്ക കോളനി) is the nickname of Punthalathazham. It is best known as the site of crows. In between 6.00 P.M and 6.00 A.M, you can see as much as hundred times more crows than that of the entire human population here. Punthalathazham is an important hub for crows. Crows are the iconic symbol of Punthalathazham.
Pachakulam(പച്ചക്കുളം)(green pond) is a pond in Punthalathazham, having beautiful light green color in all seasons. Technically, it is due to the presence of a rare African payal. It is been using as arattukulam (മംഗലത്ത് നട ആറാട്ട് കുളം) of Mangalathu Temple. Fishes like Varaal and Kaari are found in this pond.
Indilayappan kavu(ഇണ്ടിളയപ്പന് കാവ്) (located about 300 meters from Punthalathazham junction on Kollam-Kannanalloor road) is kept in its virgin style with thick vegetation. Thousands of bats are dwelling on these trees.
The Vadakkevila Koonambaikulam(വലിയകൂനംബായ്കുളം) temple is very near, a walkable distance. Deity there is a Goddess,named 'Koonambaikulathu Amma'.
Mukhathala Murari Temple (മുരാരി അമ്പലം-SreeKrishna Temple) is located about 1 K.M from Punthalathazham junction. Murari Temple(main deity is Lord Vishnu) is the very famous place of worship in Quilon. Vishnu is known as Murari as a daemon named Muran was killed by him. The last uthsavam(festival) of a malayalam year in the entire Kerala takes place here. Mukhathala Murari temple is one of the single idols-worship temples in Kerala. Many foreigners are attracted by its architecture. Kalabham (കളഭം) is the main ceremony conducted every year in this temple. Thiruvithamkoor devaswom board is the supervisor of this temple.
Offices of the Vadakkevila Village Office, KILIKOLLOOR Post Office(Pin Code 691004) and Catholic Syrian Bank Ltd, are around Punthalathazham. Other offices include Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation Ltd(value addition unit), CPI(M) Kollam east area committee office, etc.
Major townships around Punthalathazham are Kottiyam,Chinnakada,Kannanalloor and Kundara. A proposed Kollam Technopark at Kundara has given a new glimpse of hope to the people.
Perumkulam Ela is the main paddy field spread across(North-South) Punthalathazham. However, earth-filling(വയല് നികത്തല്-paddy field reclamation) is a major problem and government authorities takes no actions to promote rice production in these fields. Lack of a good drainage system leads to constant water flooding in these fields. There are large areas of paddy cultivation rendered useless without activity. The people are on their way to victimization of consumerism.
Pace of development of Punthalathazham is slow.
LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran had a direct blood relationship(cousin) with a 76-year-old cashew industry worker in Punthalathazham named Janakiamma. In 1991, she exposed in police custody.
2002-2003 budget of the Kollam corporation makes an allocation for the open air auditorium at Punthalathazham Junction.
In 2011, chopping of a big banyan tree at Ayathil junction faced many protests and had no real reason to do it.
1# Census India,Kerala(1971). Series9. Part 2
2# Tourist Guide to Kerala, Motilal (UK) Books of India
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