Punalur Suspension Bridge

Punalur Suspension Bridge
പുനലൂർ തൂക്കുകയർ പാലം
Punalur Suspension Bridge
Location in Kerala
General information
Location	Kollam District
Address	Near KSRTC Bus Stand, National Highway 208, Punalur
Town or city	Punalur
Country	India
Coordinates	9°01′01″N 76°55′34″E / 9.017°N 76.926°E / 9.017; 76.926Coordinates: 9°01′01″N 76°55′34″E / 9.017°N 76.926°E / 9.017; 76.926
Topped-out	1877
Completed	1877
Renovated	August–September 2013
Dimensions
Other dimensions	Length - 400 ft
Technical details
Material	Stone, Wood, Steel etc.
Design and construction
Engineer	Albert Henry

The Punalur Suspension Bridge, located in Punalur is the oldest mototrable Bridge in Kerala, which was built by the British and is now a historical attraction. The bridge has a length of 400 feet. The suspension bridge was built to prevent wild animals from crossing into the town from the forest area of old Kattupathanapuram.

The Punalur Suspension Bridge is the first motorable bridge in South India. The suspension bridge crossing the river is the only suspended-deck type in south India. Built in 1877 by Albert Henry across the Kallada River, this huge bridge was suspended by two spans and was used for vehicular movement. Construction took more than six years. It is said that after completion of the bridge people hesitated to walk over the bridge. In order to prove the strength of the bridge the engineer and his family passed under the bridge in a country boat while six elephants were walking over it. Now the bridge is of historical interest and is a major tourist attraction.

The main concept behind the construction of this bridge was that areas on the other side of the river Kallada was dense forests. A bridge was necessary. It was also built to prevent wild animals from getting to the populated side, a bridge which shakes when some one gets on it was built, this shaking scared off the animals and they wouldn't cross the bridge.

The bridge is connected to four wells. The iron rods of the bridge is connected to the clips, situated in the wells. Each well is about 100 feet deep and no one since knows the engineering behind the construction of this bridge.

A new concrete bridge was built near to the Punalur Suspension Bridge in 1972 due to heavy traffic on the National Highway 208, a new strong bridge was built.

The bridge was recently repaired and renovated by the government of Kerala. The structure was strengthened, new wood panels of the same tree (Kambakom) which was first used in the construction were fitted, the steel armrests and the stone columns were painted, night lamps were installed and a new park and resting place was made near the bridge.