Pugalur

Pugalur is on the bank of the perennial Kaveri River. It includes many villages and towns. Among these, TNPL Pugalur is the most famous. Other villages include Kattur, Kattipalayam, Kattur, Mettupalayam, Moolimangalam, MurugamPalayam, Punjai Thottakurichi, Punjaipugalur, Salapalayam, Sokkankadu, Sottaiyur, Thirukkattuthurai, and Velayuthampalayam.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

The highest temperatures in Pugalur are in early May to early June, usually about {{cvt|34|°C}} and exceeding {{cvt|38|°C}} for a few days most years. The average daily temperature during January is around {{cvt|23|°C}}, although the temperature rarely falls below {{cvt|17|°C}}. The average annual rainfall is about {{cvt|725|mm}} in Nanjai and {{cvt|310|mm}} in Punjai. These areas get most of their seasonal rainfall from the northeast monsoon winds from late September to mid-November.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

The population of Pugalur is around 40,000 in Punjai and 15,000 in Nanjai.{{cite web |url=http://www.karur.tn.nic.in/population.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202004839/http://www.karur.tn.nic.in/population.htm |archive-date=2 February 2007 |title=Karur District - Rain Water Harvesting}}

The main occupation in Pugalur is agriculture. The crops grown are sugarcane, paddy, plantain, yuca or manioc (Maravalli kizhangu), groundnuts, maize, millet, and corn. In recent years coconut trees have become more popular with farmers. There is a Farmers' Market (ulavar santhai) in Velayuthampalayam where farmers sell agricultural commodities. In addition, every village and town panchayat has a Tamil Nadu Co-operative Society.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

Employers include the EID Parry sugar factory in Pugalur, the textile industry in Karur, and the Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd (TNPL). TNPL is the largest producer of bagasse-based paper (made from sugarcane waste from sugar mills) in the world and is the second largest paper producer in Asia. It makes 4,00,000 tons of printing and writing paper and consumes one million tons of bagasse annually. It is {{cvt|2.5|km}} away from Pugalur. TNPL also has a 22 MW co-generation power plant in Pugalur.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

Banks and bank branches include Indian Overseas Bank in Nadayanur and Kandhampalayam, the Bank of India in Velayuthampalayam, the State Bank of India in Kagithapuram, the Lakshmi Vilas Bank in Pugalur, and the Dhanlakshmi Bank in Pugalur.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

Nanaparappu Mariyamman is the most famous temple in the area. Sri Mariamman Temple is in the heart of the city and another famous temple of the Karur District. Other well-known temples in Pugalur include Vangal Temple, Vangal and Malaiamman Temple, Punjai Thottakurichi, Shree Kandiamman Temple, and Puliyamarathan Temple.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

Arulmigu Megabaleeswarar, an 800-year-old temple, is located on the Kauvery River bank. It has an image of Lord Eswar facing west. The temple in Pugalur, dedicated to Lord Murugan, is on a hill northwest of Karur at Velayuthanpalayam. This temple is famous for its sculptures from the time of King Chera.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

Every year during the first week of February, Thaipusam is celebrated in the Pugalur temple. During Thaipusam, devotees take Kavadi to Pugalur temple and at night move a Theru (temple cart) with Lord Muruga around the hill with the help of chains. The Poomithi (walking on fire) festival is usually held in April (chithirai) and is the area's most important festival, with more than 2000 people participating. Temple festivals are also celebrated periodically during May by all age groups, irrespective of caste and creed.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

Most Pugalur residents have access to television. Movie theatres are located in Karur and Paramathi Velur.

The Rural Development Department established sports grounds for the village and town panchayats.

Pugalur is governed by the elected Directorate of Village panchayat, which has a president, vice-president, councilor, and members. Elections are held once every five years.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

Pugalur's main elementary school is TNPL Matric School, which is accredited with Five Star status by Bharathidasan University, Trichy. Other schools include Pugalur Boys and Girls High School and Rangasamy Gounder Higher Secondary School.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

M. Kumarasamy College of Engineering (MKCE), in nearby Thalavapalayam, is a landmark on National Highway No.7. The college is affiliated with Anna University, Chennai. It is approved by the All India Council of Technical Education. Kandaswami Kandar's College in Paramathi Velur is the arts and science college closest to Pugalur.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

General transportation is provided through private and government-operated buses. Pugalur has a railway station 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.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

The nearest airports are in Trichy ({{cvt|90|km|disp=sqbr}}), Coimbatore ({{cvt|112|km|disp=sqbr}}), and Madurai ({{cvt|156|km|disp=sqbr}}). The nearest major seaport is at Cochin (259 km), Thoothukudi ({{cvt|365|km|disp=sqbr}}) and Chennai ({{cvt|353|km|disp=sqbr}}).{{cn|date=November 2023}}

There is Government General Hospital near Pugali Malai in Velayuthampalayam. The two main private hospitals are on the Karur-Velur highway and offer inpatient services. In addition, there are many small clinics run by doctors. The public goes to Paramathy Velur, Karur, Erode, Coimbatore, and Trichy for major medical and surgical services. This is also a primary healthcare center in Vangal.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

Aircel, Airtel, BSNL, Reliance, Vodafone, and Tata DoCoMo are the communication providers in Pugalur. BSNL provides landline connections. Internet access is mostly dial-up, although BSNL offers a broadband internet connection. Post offices are in Velayuthampalayam, Nadayanur, TNPL Kagithapuram, and Paramathy Velur.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

A police station is located at Velayuthampalayam. The Rotary Club of Karur operates the Ambulance Service. Fire and Rescue are located at the Velayuthampalayam-Pugalur branch.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

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{{Municipalities of Tamil Nadu}}

Category:Cities and towns in Karur district