Kulathupuzha is a town in the east part of Kollam district of Kerala, India. It is one of the important pilgrim spots linked with the legend of Sabarimala. Kulathupuzha is also the birthplace of the Malayalam music legend Raveendran. Kulathupuzha is the source of the Kallada river, Thenmala Dam(KIP) is located on this river. As declared by Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Kulathupuzha panchayat is the first in India to have achieved Constitution-literacy.
Kulathupuzha town is situated in Punalur Tehsil along State Highway-59 and State Highway 2 along Kallada River. It is situated 58 km away from district headquarters Kollam and 63 km away from state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
Kulathupuzha is well known for the Kulathupuzha sastha Temple is known as Bala Sastha who is Lord Hariharaputra. The Vishu Mahotsavam in April is the most important festival of this temple. The temple legend is intertwined with fishes in a nearby river.
In Napier Museum, Thiruvananthapuram there are numerous wooden carvings of Hindu mythological figures that were retrieved from Kulathupuzha.
Kulathupuzha forms a part of the southernmost reserve forests of the State, falling in the SOI sheet No. 58 H/1. Kulathupuzha reserve covers an area under 1000 km2. Its forest constitutes predominantly of tropical wet – and semi – evergreens and moist deciduous types. Apart from settlements, some parts are occupied by Forest departmental plantations mainly of teak, eucalyptus and acacia. The plantations are grown by planting saplings on cleared natural forests. Plantations are raised to sustain and supplement the timber needs of a few industries in the State. popularly known as the Rakoodu Estate (Rock Wood Estate) is near Kulathupuzha. Senthurini Wilde Life Sanctuary is near Kulathupuzha. Kallar estate is one of the famous tea estates leftover from British ruling times. A British bungalow is there.
Kulathupuzha forests have the largest variety of exotic Myristica Swamp freshwater variety swamp in Kerala. Besides Kulathupuzha it is found in India only at Idukki Uttara Kannada and Shivaliks Himalayas.Also, the forest is the origin of Ithikara and Kallada rivers. Thenmala eco-tourism is just 9 km away.
