Punalur is an old township with a grand legacy of British architecture and labor activism. The thirteen arch railway bridge and suspension bridge are gateway monuments to a memorable past when trains on the meter gauge rail route between Kollam – Punalur and Punalur – Sengottai chugged along the scenic mountain terrain for over a century. They are still there, neglected and usurped.
Our visit to Punalur early in October was short. The climate was hot, humid and hardly bearable. Amid the buzzing confusion stood the suspension bridge like a monument.
The bridge and surroundings are now cluttered with constructions and development activities, which emphasizes the lack in preserving our precious memories; or are we trying hard to leave them behind? Are they haunting us? The silly colonial, oppressive memories.
Not far from Punanlur is Thenmala where we went to see the 13 ring bridge. The bridge stood with dignity reminding us of an era when life was chugging away in a siesta with no modern nuisances to interfere.
If you have not watched please watch the YouTube video "Ormmakalilekku Oru Ottayadipatha", I highly recommend it.
Our visit to Punalur early in October was short. The climate was hot, humid and hardly bearable. Amid the buzzing confusion stood the suspension bridge like a monument.
View of Kallar river from the bridge.
Another view of the Suspension bridge. I would have loved to take a journey over this bridge in that lazy but wonderful train.
Not far from Punanlur is Thenmala where we went to see the 13 ring bridge. The bridge stood with dignity reminding us of an era when life was chugging away in a siesta with no modern nuisances to interfere.
Peepal tree at Thenmala junction, a beautiful place but for the modern shanties around.
The 13 ring bridge, one of the tourist attractions in Punalur.
If you have not watched please watch the YouTube video "Ormmakalilekku Oru Ottayadipatha", I highly recommend it.
The 13 ring bridge, another view.
From the top of the bridge. Did I hear a steam trumpet from the curve behind?
More about Punalur: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punalur
No comments:
Post a Comment