Punthalathazham

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 and aristocratic family called 'Punthala'. In Malayalam language 'Athazham' means supper. Thus, the name punthala + athazham = punthalathazham.

Road Map of 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 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.

• Veterinary Hospital
• Vadakkevila KrishiBhavan[Agricultural Office]
• Ayathil Electrical Section

Y.M.V.A Library

The main centers of public activity in Punthalathazham consist of a library, a bus station and a market. The Y. M. V. A. Library 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.

• SNDP Branch
• Milma Society- Estd in 1993

Recently, Kudumbasree units are 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.

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 sawmills.

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, the 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,T.K.M.College of Arts & Science, 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.

Most of the inhabitants in Punthalathazham are Hindus. People are living in harmony, and any religious violence is unheard of.

Sree Meenakshi Temple[3] (chettinada-പുത്തന്‍ നട) is a famous old temple situated near Punthalathazham at Peroor. Durga Devi is the main deity of this temple. However, Krishna has an equally important presence in the temple.Pooyam Maholsavam is the main festival in this temple. Temple-car procession on these days attracts tens of thousands of people.

Mangalathu temple (മംഗലത്ത് നട) Mangalathu temple[4] 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.

Eravipuram constituency in Kollam district

CPI(M) is the major political party here. Congress and BJP is used to create their marks often with the support of majority caste organizations. Punthalathazham is in Vadakkevila zone of Kollam corporation and is under 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. Choorankal bridge, connecting Punthalathazham & Kollam bypass, is situated in between Palathara & Punthalathazham wards. Choorankal river carries water of Perumkulam, Peroor and Padanilam paddy fields.

Choorankal-Punthalathazham bridge

Perumkulam Ela is the main paddy field spread across (North-South) Punthalathazham. However, earth-filling (paddy field reclamation) is a major problem and no action have been taken to promote rice production in these fields. Lack of a good drainage system leads to water logging 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.

• 
  M.V.Govt:L.P School
• 
  View of Perumkulam Ela close to Mangalathu temple Pond
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  M.V.Govt:L.P School, Peroor
• 
  Kilikolloor Kizhakkekara Muslim Jama-Ath (Kattavila palli)
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  M V Govt Vocational Higher Secondary School, Peroor
• 
  Peroor Sree Meenakshi temple
• 
  Mukhathala Murari
• 
  Mukathala Murari (SreeKrishna)Temple
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  View of Kollam-Punalur Passenger Train passing by the T.K.M Engineering College.
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  Vadakkevila Koonambaikulam Temple