Punalur is a city situvated near the border of Tamil Nadu in the district of Kerala Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India . It is the pioneer in the beginning of the industrial revolution in Kerala, establishing Punalur Paper Mills, the first industry in Kerala. It is located on the banks of the river Kallada. The place was named after two Tamil water by means of words Dagger and Ooru means place that means earth of water. It is about 45 km northeast of Kollam and 75 km north of Thiruvananthapuram . Punalur is the headquarters of Pathanapuram Taluk. This place is the gateway to the West Ghats.it is the second largest city kollam.it is also known as the hottest city in South India.