Pugalur

Demographics

Pugalur is located on the bank of Perennial River kaveri. The population of Pugalur is around 40,000 in Punjai and 15,000 in Nanjai. Apart from Coimbatore, Erode, Namakkal, Nilagiri, Karur with Pugalur also comes under Kongu Nadu.

Geography

Pugalur with nanjai and punjai areas cover many Villages and Towns. Among that TNPL Pugalur is famous then coming Punjai Thottakurichi and Thirukkattuthurai panchayats.

Some of the Villages in Nanjai Pugalur are

Some of the Villages/Towns in Punjai Pugalur are

Climate

The highest temperature is obtained in early May to early June usually about 34°C, though it usually exceeds 38°C for a few days most years. Average daily temperature during January is around 23°C, though the temperature rarely falls below 17°C. The average annual rainfall is about 725 mm in Nanjai and 310 mm in Punjai. These areas get most of its seasonal rainfall from the north-east monsoon winds, from late September to mid November.

Hill

The temple in Pugalur situated north west of Karur dedicated to Lord Murugan on a small hill at Velayuthanpalayam is famous for excellent sculpture about King Chera.Panchayats around this hill are Punjai Pugalur town panchayat, Thirukkattuthurai village panchayat (3 km) and TNPL Pugalur town panchayat (3 km). Every year during the first week of February month Thaipusam is celebrated in this temple. During which devotees take Kavadi to this temple and at that night Theru (Temple Cart) with Lord Muruga in it is moved around the hill by people with the help of Chain.

Arulmigu megabaleeswarar which is 800-year-old famous temple located on the cauvery river bank.The face of lord eswar looking at west.

Vangal Temple,Vangal and Malaiamman Temple,Punjai Thottakurichi are other famous temples in Pugalur. Shree Kandiamman Temple and Puliyamarathan temple also famous in Pugalur.

And the great Nanaparappu Mariyamman temple is the powerful temple in the surrounding area.Poomithi which means walking on the fire festival usually April(chithirai) month is the ultimate festival,more than 2000 people will participate on the eve.This is the only powerful temple for the whole area.

Education

The schools in village/town panchayats of Pugalur are

Rural-Primary :

Indu Nursery & Primary School, Noaiyal[Kombupalayam Panchayat]

Panchayat Union Elementary School,Muthanur [Kombupalayam]

Panchayat Union Elementary School,Noyal[Kombupalayam]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Arumaikkaranpud[P.kadambankurichi Panchayat]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Kadampamkuichi [P.kadambankurichi]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Periyavallipala [P.kadambankurichi]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Varapalayam [P.kadambankurichi]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Karaipalayam [Thirukkattuthurai Panchayat]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Kattipalayam [Thirukkattuthurai]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Thirukkaduthura [Thirukkattuthurai]

Rangasamy Aided Primary School, Nadaiyanur [Thirukkattuthurai]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Vangal [Punjai Thottakurichi Panchayat]

Rural - Upper Primary :

Panchayat Union Middle School, Nanjai Pugalur

Rural - Higher secondary :

Government Higher Secondary School, Noyal [Kombupalayam]

Rangasamy Goundar Higher Secondary School, Nadayanur [Thirukkattuthurai]

Urban - Primary :

Primary CSI Aided Primary School Thalavapalayam,Punjai Thottakurichi

Primary National Nursery Primary School,Thalavapalayam[Punjai Thottakurichi]

Primary Panchayat Union Elementary School,Mettupalayam [Punjai Thottakurichi]

Primary Panchayat Union Elementary School,Malayampalayam[Punjai Thottakurichi]

Primary Panchayat Union Elementary School,Punjai Thottakurichi

Primary Panchayat Union Elementary School,Ayyampalayam[Punjai Thottakurichi]

Primary Panchayat Union Elementary School,East Thavittupalayam[Punjai Thottakurichi]

Mathy Nursery Primary School, Velayuthampalayam [Punjai Pugalur Panchayat]

P S F Aided Elementary School, Pugalur[Punjaipugalur]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Coolagoundanur [Punjai Pugalur]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Velayuthampalayam [Punjai Pugalur]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Nadunanaparapu [Punjai Pugalur]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Thiruvalluvar Nagar [Punjai Pugalur]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Orathai West[Punjai Pugalur]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Moorthipalayam [Punjai Pugalur]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Punjai Pugalur

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Kurukkapalayam [TNPL Pugalur Panchayat]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Moolimangalam [TNPL Pugalur ]

Panchayat Union Elementary School, Masagoundan Pudur [TNPL Pugalur ]

Urban - Upper Primary :

Panchayat Union Middle School, Thalavapalayam [Punjai Thottakurichi ]

Urban - Secondary :

Government High School, P Thottakurichi [Punjai Thottakurichi]

Krishna Matric School, Velayuthampalayam [Punjai Pugalur]

Urban - Higher Secondary :

Government (B) Higher Secondary School, Pugalur [Punjaipugalur ]

Government (G) Higher Secondary School, Pugalur [Punjaipugalur ]

T N P L Matric Higher Secondary School, Kagithapuram [TNPL pugalur ]

In recent days because of increased awareness the kids go to nearby TNPL Matric School, Pugalur (accredited with Five Star Status by Bharathidasan University, Trichy) and Pugalur Boys and Girls High School for better education of course including Rangasamy Gounder Higher secondary School.

M. Kumarasamy College of Engineering (MKCE), Thalavapalayam, 639 113, is a landmark on the National High way No.7, located on the Karur – Salem route. The college is affiliated to the Anna University, Chennai and also approved by the All India Council of Technical Education, New Delhi. It is the major engineering college close to this village. Pugalur have produced many engineering graduates being employed by big multinational companies. Kandaswami Kandar's College, Paramathi Velur is the Arts & Science college near to Pugalur. But this college comes under Nammakkal district.

Occupation

The main dominant occupation of people is Agriculture. The main crops grown are Sugarcane, paddy, plantain, yuca or manioc (Maravalli kizhangu), groundnut, maize, millet and Corn. In recent days coconut trees have become more popular. Many people are also working in TNPL Company & EID Parry. Some go to Karur to work in textile industry. Farmers Market (ulavar santhai) is in Velayuthampalayam where farmers used to sell their agricultural commodities during morning time and also during every Thursday evening vendors in and around Velayuthampalayam sell domestic commodities in Velayuthampalaym Market near to municipality building.

Governance

It is governed by Directorate of Village panchayat which has President, Vice-President, Councilor and members. They are the elected representatives of the village/Town. Elections are conducted once in 5 years.

At present president is Ms Lalitha Vivekanathan and vice President is Ms.Kowsalya Palanisamy

Bank & Other Facilities

Ration shops are there in all major villages/towns from where pulses, fuel, domestic commodities are bought by people. The playgrounds and sports material to that is established through the Rural Development Department for the village panchayat/town panchayat.In every village/town panchayat there is Tamil Nadu co-operative Society.

Banks:- Indian overseas bank in Nadayanur [Thirukkattuthurai Panchayat]

Indian Overseas Bank, Kandhampalayam [Punjai Pugalur Panchayat]

Bank Of India, Velayuthampalayam branch[Punjai Pugalur Panchayat]

State Bank of India, Pugalur branch in Kagithapuram[TNPL Panchayat]

Lakshmi vilas bank, Pugalur branch in Pugalur bye pass[Pugalur panchayat]

Dhanlakshmi Bank, Pugalur branch in Pugalur[Punjai Pugalur Panchayat]

ATM's of Bank of India, Karur Vysya Bank ,Axis Bank , Indian Overseas Bank(2) and Lakshmi Vilas Bank(3), Dhanlakshmi Bank, RBL Bank with ATM are located in the town.

Police & Emergency

Police station : Nearby police station is located at velayuthampalayam.

Fire & Rescue Service : It is located in velayuthampalayam-Pugalur branch.

Ambulance Service : Contact 108 / Rotary Club Of Karur

Healthcare

There is Government General Hospital at the footsteps of Pugali Malai in Velayuthampalayam. There are two main private hospitals on the Karur-Velur highway which has inpatient services. There are many small clinics run by several doctors. The medical services are well supported by clustered medical stores in the junction of velayuthampalayam. For major medical and surgical services, the public go to one of the places (Paramathy Velur, Karur, Erode, Coimbatore, and Trichy).

Nearby Primary HealthCare Centre are in Vangal,

Entertainment & Festivals

Most of the town residents have access to almost all Television channels. One has to travel to 'Karur' (21 km) or 'Paramathi Velur' (4 km) to watch a movie in theatre.

The temple in Pugalur is situated north west of Karur and dedicated to Lord Subramania on a small hill at Velayuthanpalayam near Cauvery is famous for superb sculpture. Sri Mariamman Temple is one of the famous temples of Karur District, which is situated in the heart of the city. The temple festivals are celebrated periodically during the month of May by all age groups, irrespective of caste and creed, taking the `Kumbum` from the temple to the Amaravathi River is the glorious act for the pilgrim.

Transport

The town has very good transport facilities in the form of Private and Government run buses.All the buses from karur to salem highway(NH-7) have a stop here. Almost 250 buses ply through this town daily.

The nearest airport are in Trichy (90 km), Coimbatore (112 km) and Madurai (156 km). Major Airport are located at Coimbatore and Trichy. The nearest major sea port is at Cochin (259 km), Thoothukudi (365 km) and Chennai (353 km).

Pugalur Railway Station

The town Pugalur (Code: PGR) has a railway station which is well connected to Erode, Coimbatore, Trichy, Chennai, Madurai, Tuticorin, Palakad, Thrisur, Ernakulum, Bangalore, Nagercoil, Salem and Mysore. Both passenger trains and express trains pass through this station.

Totally 20 trains stops & passes through Pugalur railway station.Pugalur Railway station takes pride in the fact that all the express trains passing this station have a stop in this station except the Shathabdi Express.

Communication

BSNL, Aircel, Airtel, Reliance, Vodafone, Tata DoCoMo are the communication providers to this town. The well penetrated landline connections are provided by BSNL again. The availability of internet is also very good (Mostly dial-up connection). Now BSNL has provided very good broadband internet connection. Post office nearby is Velayuthampalayam Branch post office. Others are Nadayanur Sub post office and other Sub post office at TNPL Kagithapuram. Nearby Head post office is in Paramathy Velur (Nammakkal District).

Industries

Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd is promoted by the Government of Tamil Nadu with loan assistance from the World Bank. Today TNPL is the largest producer of bagasse (sugarcane waste from Sugar mills) based paper in the world and the 2nd largest paper producer in Asia. TNPL produces 4,00,000 tons of Printing & writing paper and consumes 1 million tones of bagasse every year. It is located 2.5 kilometers away from this village.

EID Parry India(pvt) Ltd has a sugar factory in Pugalur, about 0.4 kilometers away from this village. It has a capacity of 4000 TCD per year. It also has a 22 MW co-generation Power plant, with TNPL.