Poothakkulam

Poothakkulam,  also known as Bhoothakkulam, is a village in Kollam district in the state of Kerala, India. The village is located 3.9 km away from Paravur, 11.4 km from Varkala and 23 km from Kollam. In 2011, it had a population of 628,451 residents. The village covers an area of 16.56 km2.

Geography
Poothakkulam is located in the southernmost portion of the Kollam district near Idava Nadayara Kayal. The village is bordered by the Paravur municipality in the west, Parippally Panchayath in the east, Chirakkara Panchayath in the north, and the Thiruvananthapuram district in the south.

Topography
Poothakkulam's elevation is close to sea level, showing at the nearby Bhoothakulam reservoir(paanattu chira) and surrounding paddy fields.

Educational institutions

 * Govt Higher Secondary School, Bhoothakkulam
 * Chempakassey Higher Secondary School, Bhoothakkulam
 * Bhoothakulam North LPS
 * Bhoothakulam South LPS
 * Kalakkode UPS, Kalakkode
 * Harisree Nursery & LP School, Bhoothakkulam
 * Devaraja Vilasom LP School,(DVLPS) Puthenkulam

Transportation
The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (49.8 km) and the nearest railway station is Paravur Railway station (4.5 km). The major road passing through Poothakkulam is Paravur -Parippalli road.

Air
The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (49.8 km)

Rail
Paravur Railway station (4.5 km)

Varkala Sivagiri railway station(13 km)

Road
Bhoothakulam is well connected to nearby places through roads. Road transport is provided mainly by private transport bus operators and state owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation.

Major roads

 * Paravur - Paripppally Road
 * Bhoothakulam- Ooninmoodu-Varkala Road
 * Alinmoodu- Ozhukupara Road
 * Vettuvila - Kalakkodu
 * Kalakkodu - Bhoothakkulam

Industry
Coir, cashew nuts and hand loom are the major industries of Poothakkulam. Kalakkod Q 23 Co-operative society was established as the first Coir society in Poothakkulam.

Administration
Poothakkulam is an ISO 9001-2015 certified grama panchayat. It consists of 18 wards and is currently led by Left Democratic Front (Kerala).

The incumbent Panchayat president is Ammini Amma who contested and won from P.H.C Ward.

Poothakkulam is part of Chathannoor (State Assembly constituency) State Assembly constituency, Ithikkara Block Panchayath, Kollam District Panchayat and Kollam (Lok Sabha constituency)

Recognition
Poothakkulam Panchayath falls under the jurisdiction of Paravur circle inspector.

Culture
Poothakkulam has a rich cultural heritage. The village contains numerous libraries, cultural societies, and organizations.

Sankara Pillai smaraka grantha sala, Gandhi memorial reading room and Samskarika Nilayam kottuvankonam are some major libraries.

Poothakulam village has numerous captive elephants.

Libraries

 * Shankarapilla Memorial Library
 * Priyadharshini Memorial Library& Reading room
 * Public Library, Kottuvankonam
 * Gandhi Memorial Reading Club & Library, Kalakkode
 * Reading room, Paravila
 * Yuvareshmi arts&sports club ,library&reading room aalintemoodu(panchayath office junction)

Recreational centres

 * 1) Kalipoyka Children Park
 * 2) GHSS Football Stadium
 * 3) Mini stadium, Bhoothakulam
 * 4) Kaveri Elephant Park, Puthenkulam
 * 5) Pachayath Park, Kalakkode

Hospitals

 * Government Homeo Dispensary, Poothakkulam
 * Community Health Center, Kalakkode
 * Government Ayurveda Dispensary, Poothakkulam
 * Karthika Hospital, Mavila
 * Mohan's Hospital, Edayadi
 * Murari Hospital, Ammarathumukku
 * JJ Hospital, Puthenkulam
 * Santhosh Hospital, Puthenkulam

Financial institutions

 * Bhoothakulam Service Co-Operative Bank
 * Kalakkode Service Co-operative bank
 * Indian Overseas Bank, Puthenkulam
 * Catholic Syrian Bank, Ooninmoodu

Places of worship

 * Bhoothakulam Sree Dharma Shastha Temple, Bhothakulam
 * Ezhamvila Sree Bhadrakali Temple, Bhoothakulam
 * Vaikundapuram Mahavishnu Temple, Bhoothakulam
 * Punnekulam Temple, Chempakassery
 * Mahavishnu Temple, Kottuvankonam
 * Mecheryil Bhadra Devi Temple, Bhoothakulam
 * Appupan Kavu temple, Bhoothakulam
 * Pallathil Kavu temple, Edayadi
 * parashumoottil MAHADEVA temple
 * koonamkulam krishna temple
 * Aalintemoodu krishna temple