Poonjar
Poonjar is a small Indian town located on the eastern side of Kottayam district in Kerala state, India. Before the independence of India, Poonjar had been the part of Travancore princely state. Pala, Teekoy, Kanjirappally, and Erattupetta are the nearest towns and villages of Poonjar.
Geography
Geographically Poonjar is divided into Poonjar Thekkekara, Poonjar Vadakkekkara and Poonjar Nadubhagam villages. Two main tributaries of Meenachil river originate in Poonjar hills and join at Erattupetta. There are numerous waterfalls and rivulets in the hills. Kunnonny, Adivaram, Pathambuzha, Kaippally are some of the nearest villages.
Politics
Poonjar is one of the 140 legislative assembly constituencies of Kerala state. Poonjar's assembly constituency is part of Pathanamthitta (Lok Sabha constituency). Previously it was part of Muvattupuzha (Lok Sabha constituency). The major political parties of Poonjar are Kerala Congress (M), Indian National Congress, CPI (M) and CPI.
Eminent political leaders of the past include A. J. John, Anaparambil (former Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin) and K. M. George (former Minister and the founder of Kerala Congress). The present political leaders of Kerala who are from Poonjar are N. M. Joseph (former minister and State President of Janathadal (S)) and P. C. George.
Source - Wikipedia [Feb 2021]
Members of Kerala Legislative Assembly from Poonjar Assembly Constituency
| Year | Member | Party | ||
| 1957 | T. A. Thomman | INC | ||
| 1960 | T. A. Thomman | INC | ||
| 1967 | K. M. George | KEC | ||
| 1970 | K. M. George | KEC | ||
| 1977 | V. J. Joseph | KEC | ||
| 1980 | P. C. George | KC(J) | ||
| 1982 | P. C. George | KC(J) | ||
| 1987 | N. M. Joseph | JD | ||
| 1991 | Joy Abraham | KC(M) | ||
| 1996 | P. C. George | KEC | ||
| 2001 | P. C. George | KEC | ||
| 2006 | P. C. George | KEC | ||
| 2011 | P. C. George | KC(M) | ||
| 2016 | P. C. George | Ind. | ||
| 2021 | Sebastian Kulathunkal | KC(M) |
Local self governed segments in Poonjar Assembly Constituency
| Sl.No. | Name | Status | Taluk |
| 1 | Erattupetta | Municipality | Meenachil |
| 2 | Poonjar | Grama panchayat | Meenachil |
| 3 | Poonjar Thekkekara | Grama panchayat | Meenachil |
| 4 | Teekoy | Grama panchayat | Meenachil |
| 5 | Thidanad | Grama panchayat | Meenachil |
| 6 | Erumely | Grama panchayat | Kanjirappally |
| 7 | Koottickal | Grama panchayat | Kanjirappally |
| 8 | Koruthodu | Grama panchayat | Kanjirappally |
| 9 | Mundakayam | Grama panchayat | Kanjirappally |
| 10 | Parathode | Grama panchayat | Kanjirappally |
Poonjar is a place of historic importance, situated on the north-eastern part of Kottayam district. Poonjar, a town at the foothills of Western Ghats, was the capital of Poonjar Kingdom.
Poonjar Dynasty
The Poonjar dynasty originated from the Pandyan Kings of the Sangam Age. The founder of the dynasty, Manavikrama Kulashekhara Perumal, was a Pandyan king whose mother was a Chera princess. In 1152 AD, he shifted from Madurai due to the incessant civil wars in Tamil Country. The Raja carried one of the three idols of Meenakshi, their "Kula Devatha", which was used in the annual car festival at the famed Madurai Meenakshi Temple. It was established as a "pratishta" in the Meenakshi temple where it currently sits, on the banks of the Meenachil River.
Palani Hills
The Palani hills were also part of the Poonjar kingdom. In July 1877, among other leases, Kerala Varma Raja, then chief of the royal house leased 128,000 acres (520 km2) for 99 years, to a British planter named Thomas Munro. This is the famous Kannan Devan Hill Produce Company (KDHP) lease. The area under the current Mullaperiyar Dam was part of their jurisdiction. Their neighbour to the south, Travancore, whose territorial boundary was Kottarakara, did not dispute the actual control until 1889. Travancore finally established their suzerainty by royal proclamation on 24 September 1899, backed by the British.
