Ponkunnam is a town in the eastern high-ranges of Kerala

Kerala

or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

, part of Kottayam district

Kottayam district

Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. According to the 1991 census, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India...

. Nearby towns are Kanjirappally

Kanjirappally

Kanjirappally is a taluk and a town in Kottayam district, in the state of Kerala, India. Rubber plantations are a major source of income for the local population. The place has a large population of Syrian Catholic Christians....

, Manimala

Manimala

Manimala is an area in the Kottayam district of Kerala in India. The population is about 10,000, of whom the majority are farmers whose main income comes from rubber plantations. The people are from several religions and castes. Manimala and nearby areas are thickly populated by Syrian Catholics...

 and Pala

Pala

-Places:*Pala, California, town in the United States*Pala Casino Resort and Spa, casino located in Pala, California*Pala, Chad, town in Chad*Pala , town on Atauro Island, East Timor*Pala , town in Kerala, India...

. This part of Kerala is famous for its fertile lands and rubber plantations. It is at an altitude of 495 Metres above MSL

MSL

- Organizations :* Major Series Lacrosse* Major Soccer League* Malaysia Super League* MBCgame Starleague * Metal Storm Limited, an Australian modern armament company...

 sea level.

Overview

Ponkunnam is a part of Chirakkadavu grama panchayath. NH 220 (Kollam-Kottarakkara-Kottayam-Theni), the former K.K road (Kottayam

Kottayam

Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...

-Kumily

Kumily

Kumily is a town in the Cardamom Hills near Thekkady and the Periyar Tiger Reserve, in the Idukki District of Kerala State in South India. It is a major tourist destination and a spices trading center....

 road), passes through the town. Kottayam is around 34 km. K.K road is an easy way to Madurai

Madurai

Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...

 in Tamilnadu. The Main Eastern Highway (Punalur-Pathanamthitta

Pathanamthitta

Pathanamthitta is a large town and a municipality situated in the central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, south India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The city has a population of 38,000...

-Muvattupuzha Road / SH - No2 ) meets NH 220 at Ponkunnam. Ponkunnam is well connected to almost all the places of Kerala by road. Thekkady

Thekkady

Thekkady is the location of the Periyar National Park, which is an important tourist attraction in the Kerala state of India.- Overview :...

 is 83 km far from here.

Ponkunnam has all communities (Christians, Hindus, Muslims) mostly agriculturist. Famous novelist and short story writer Ponkunnam Varkey

Ponkunnam Varkey

Ponkunnam Varkey was a writer and activist living in Kerala, India. He isconsidered a leading figure of the 'progressive' school of Malayalam fiction....

 lived here. Ponkunnam Damodaran the famous Poet was born here. K.P.A.C Ravi , actor cum Singer, belongs to Ponkunnam. Malayalam Film actor Babu Antony

Babu Antony

Babu Antony is an Indian film actor, noted mainly for his negative character roles. He has also acted as a lead actor in a number of films. His life and movie roles are much debated in film industry at one time....

 and his brother Thampi Antony hail from Ponkunnam.

The old name was Chirakadavu Vadakkum Bhagam.The name Ponkunnam was coined by Magistare T.Pappu Pillai about 100 years back, while inaugurating the vegetable market. Late A.K.Patchu Pillai is the Father of modern Ponkunnam. Karippaaparambil Dominc(Dummini Vakil), Pangappattu S.Ramanatha Pillai, Mulavelil Neelakanda Pillai, P.R.Rajagopal, Ex Minister P.T.Chacko and Rosamma Punnose were leading advocates of Ponkunnam Bar. Late P.N.Krishna Pillai,Punnamparambil was the first qualified Doctor of Ponkunnam. The operation theater of Kanjirappally Taluk Hospital is built in his memory.Palayakunnel Vaidyans were famous Ayurveda Physicians. Dr.C.P.S.Pillai is the Seniormost Modern Medical Practitioner. Vidvan A.P.Karunakaran Nair is a famous Sanskrit Scholar. Malayoram is the trimonthly published from Ponkunnam by Jose Pulluveli.
KVMS, Santhi Nikethan and Sri Hari are the thre hospitals in Ponkunnam Town. Maju Issac Mathew was the owner of the first publishing house. They issued 'BHASHARASHMI' in malayalam language.
Ponkunnam is the gateway to highrange. Ponkunnam is developing rapidly towards Kanjirappally with the new state of the art shopping complexes and office towers and relocation of banks from the town centre due to traffic congestion. The government offices such as Punchayat, Water Authority, Electricity Board etc., are located at KVMS junction. Possibilities are there that in a short span of 5 years the two towns, Ponkunnam and Kanjirappally may be joined with all commercial and hospitality businesses.
M.V.Vasu pillai,first spare parts dealer,at kk rd ponkunnam,Mohandas,M.V vasu pillai & sons, spare parts dealer is now running the shop.

Latest News

• Thakadiyel (Old building) being demolished as part of State Highway development.
• Mini civil station foundation laid.
• New KSEB office was inaugrated
• New Holy Family Forane church consecrated on 23-12-2010