Punalur is an interesting place located in the eastern part of Kollam district of Kerala, India. This is an ancient municipal town that has been known for its strategic location between the States of Kerala and TamilNadu and active participation in commercial activities, hence making it a point of attraction in that aspect. The area is not only famous for its business and trade importance, but for tourism too. Punalur with its nearby areas like Kulathupuzha, Aryankavu and Thenmala, which are located on the laps of Western Ghats, are important tourism destinations. The area has dense forest and is a rich ecosystem for flora and fauna. The waterfalls like Palaruvi and rivers like Kallada along with Thenmala dam, nourish the area. The route leading to Sengottai and Thenkasi covers picturesque locations and has an important role in monsoon tourism in Kerala. The area is also important due to the presence of some temples, among which Aryankavu Sastha Temple is one of the famous. As the public transport has inherent limitation to reach every spots on time, rent a car in Punalur will help you to explore maximum places in minimum time.

Renting a car in Punalur without a driver is a perfect way to enjoy this charming town at one's own pace. The following is a detailed description of Punalur with a focus on its specialities, advantages and other features.

Location and Geography

Punalur is located in the eastern part of the Kollam district on the banks of the Kallada River. This geographical location endows Punalur with beautiful greenery and scenic beauty enhanced by its closeness to the foothills of the Western Ghats. The town is located about 45 km from Kollam and 75 km from the state capital, Trivandrum. In this case, self drive car rentals in Punalur can add value to tourists' trips through these beautiful routes.

Our Services

We provide both automatic and manual cars for rent in Punalur at your convenience. Some of the additional services that car rental services in Punalur provide include the following. There are car rental services for those who do not wish to drive themselves and have drivers who are familiar with the roads and famous landmarks. Airport transfers from Trivandrum or Kochi International Airport are arranged to make your transfer from the airport to your destination as easy as possible. To enhance the driving experience, GPS and navigation systems in cars ensure that you do not get lost when driving in Punalur while the round the clock roadside assistance ensures that any mechanical problems are dealt with as soon as possible.

Major Attractions and Landmarks

Punalur Suspension Bridge: This suspension bridge was constructed in 1877 and is considered one of the British engineering masterpieces and an important historical landmark. It was built to protect the town from wild animals and is the only suspended-deck type bridge in South India made of wooden planks, iron bars, metal sides and massive iron chains. Visiting these landmarks is easier when you hire a car for self drive in Punalur.

Thenmala Ecotourism Park: Being the first ecotourism park in India, Thenmala Ecotourism Park has many activities, such as mountain biking, trekking, boating, etc., which showcase the beauty of the Western Ghats. Self drive car rentals in Punalur are available to enable you to visit such distant ecotourism sites with more ease. Kallada Dam, located at Thenmala is also a tourism attraction.

Kapaleeshwarar Temple: This temple is not only a religious place but also an architectural wonder of the Dravidian style, which attracts tourists and filmmakers. This and other temples in the area can be comfortably visited by an automatic car for rent in Punalur, which will be beneficial for the visitors.

Punalur and nearby areas, being parts of Western Ghats and forest region, driving on hilly roads are always challenging. Hence, rent an automatic car in Punalur will help anyone to enjoy driving on the hilly terrain enjoying the calm weather, especially during monsoon.

Ecological and Environmental Benefits

The advantage of the location of Punalur is that it can become one of the key points for ecotourism due to its close location to the Western Ghats. The beautiful vegetation cover, accompanied by various plant and animal species, makes it a perfect destination for nature lovers and scientists.

Self drive car rentals in Punalur enable tourists to visit different ecological centres of their own accord and at their own convenience. The creation of parks like Thenmala also underlines the environmental awareness that is characteristic of the region.

Cultural and Social Aspects

Punalur has always been a cultural hub due to its historical background and geographical position. The people of the town speak a mix of Tamil and Malayalam languages, and the food, festivals, and activities that are practiced in the town also reflect the same. Hiring an automatic car in Punalur can add value to your cultural tour in the town.

The Punalur Suspension Bridge and other structures built during colonial rule are also a part of the cultural heritage of the town. Thus, it has become a center of historical and architectural importance. Such places as the Pattazhi Devi Temple bring people from different regions of the country, thus increasing the social activity of the town.

Connectivity and Accessibility

Punalur is well connected by road and rail transport facilities. Punalur railway station is one of the important stations in the Kollam-Sengottai railway line and plays a crucial role in passenger and freight operations.

Also, the National Highways and state transport services provide easy access to the major cities and towns in Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Those who plan to travel around the town a lot may consider car rental in Punalur without a driver. For those who would like to travel within the town and other nearby places, Maaz self-drive car rentals in Punalur are the best solution.