Perumbavoor

In June 2026, Perumbavoor became a major focus of Operation Toofan, a statewide anti-narcotics campaign launched by the Kerala Police. The operation involved repeated raids on labour camps, bus stands, commercial establishments and other locations suspected of involvement in drug trafficking. Police seized heroin, cannabis, MDMA, banned tobacco products and other contraband, and detained or arrested multiple suspects during the operation.^[8][9]

Police officials described Perumbavoor as an important drug distribution centre while cautioning against portraying the town as Kerala's "drug capital". Authorities stated that most migrant workers were law-abiding and that enforcement efforts were directed at organised trafficking networks rather than any particular community.^[10]

Perumbavoor municipality was formed in 1936. It was one among the 4 Panchayats sanctioned by Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer (Diwan-Thiruvithamcore). The others were Paravur, Nedumangad and Boothapandi.^[11] Perumbavoor constituency is one of the most Jacobite Christian-populated areas in India.

Perumbavoor Municipality was established on 1 January 1953. It administers an area of 13.605 km² through 29 wards and has a population of 28,110.^[12]

The municipality is governed by an elected Municipal Council comprising 29 ward councillors. It is headed by a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson. The incumbent Chairperson is Sangeetha K. N., and the Vice Chairperson is Binu John Jacob. ^[13][14]

Perumbavoor assembly constituency is a part of Chalakudy (Lok Sabha constituency). Manoj Moothedan is the current MLA from Perumbavoor and Benny Behanan is the current MP.

Its jurisdiction formely encompassed the towns of Alwaye and Kolenchery, which were separated later. It has a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, and Subordinate Judge's Court (Sub-court).^[15]

Perumbavoor is a predominantly agricultural town and Asia's Largest plywood industry. The wood-based industry in Perumbavoor has its roots in the pre-independence period, when the town's proximity to the Periyar River and the surrounding high-range forests made it a natural hub for timber trade. Timber was transported by elephant from highland forests, floated down rivers, and processed at the town's "Chapra" area using handsaws before being shipped across Kerala by boat and cart. After Indian independence, the government began auctioning hardwood from public forests through the Mudickal timber depot, driving rapid growth in sawmills. When the commercial felling of forest wood was progressively restricted, the industry adapted: the spread of rubber plantations in central Kerala provided an alternative raw material, and by 1980 entrepreneurs began converting sawmills into veneer and plywood manufacturing units using rubberwood. This transition transformed Perumbavoor into one of India's most significant plywood manufacturing clusters, with over 1,000 units operating in the town and surrounding areas^[16]. Commodities like rubber, pepper, ginger, turmeric, plantain, vegetables, coconut, nutmeg, cocoa, rice, arecanut, cloves, etc., are traded every day in the local market. Most of these commodities are supplied to mainstream exporters in Kochi or to local retailers. The rest of the economy is shared by the government, the private sector, and small industries. Perumbavoor is an important city for the timber trade in Kerala.

Pictures of the town taken on 9 July 2012 at 8:00 AM. Historic images of the town are liked by all.

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  Perumbavoor Taluk Office Kunnathunad
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  Perumbavoor KSEB
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  Perumbavoor Municipal Office
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  Old Perumbavoor Taluk Office
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  Town Juma-masjid
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  Perumbavoor Ambalam (Temple)
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  Perumbavoor Temple Pond
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  Perumbavoor Church
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  Perumbavoor Kalady Junction
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  Perumbavoor Upper Bus stop
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  Perumbavoor Aushadi Junction
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  Perumbavoor Kalady Road
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  Perumbavoor GOV Hospital Junction
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  Perumbavoor GOV Hospital
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  Perumbavoor Bhajana Madam
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  Perumbavoor Vegetable Market CUM Shopping Complex
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  Perumbavoor Flower Shop
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  Perumbavoor Shopping Complex

KL-40 is the RTO code for Kunnathunad Taluk and Perumbavoor. Perumbavoor JRTO is situated at Pattal. Perumbavoor has a KSRTC Subdepot operating several long-distance services to places inside and outside Kerala. Private bus services run to several neighbouring towns. AutoRickshaws are commonly used for small distances. There are frequent bus services to Ernakulam, Aluva, Angamaly, Kothamangalam, Muvattupuzha, Kolenchery, Thrippunithura, etc. from here. The nearest railway stations are Angamaly and Aluva. The Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery is only 14 km from the town.

Perumbavoor is surrounded by many small but populous commuter villages, connected to the town by bus services. The notable ones are Vallam, Koovappady, Vengola, Mudickal, Thottuva, Ponjassery, Manjappetty, Kodanad, Akanad, Meempara, Chooramudy, Alattuchira, Panamkuzhy, Cheranalloor, Punnayam, Odakkaly, Panichayam, Payyal, Nedungapra, Kallil, Malayidomthuruth, Kottapady, Keezhillam, etc. Kuruppampady town is one of the main interchange points for public transport.

Perumbavoor lies in the north-eastern corner of the Kochi urban area. The geographic advantages of Perumbavoor are that NH 544 lies closer to this town apart from Main Central Road and the Aluva-Munnar highway passing through this place. Perumbavoor is surrounded by important towns like Aluva, Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam, Angamaly, etc., in close distances. Important suburban regions of Kochi, like Aluva, Kalamassery, Kakkanad, and Thrippunithura, are all in proximity to Perumbavoor.

• Kochi - Edapally - Pookkattupady - Chembarakky (34 km)
• Thodupuzha - Vazhakkulam - Muvattupuzha -Keezhillam (40 km)
• Thrissur - Chalakudy - Angamaly (59 km)
• Kottayam - Ettumanoor - Koothattukulam - Muvattupuzha (76 km)
• Alappuzha - Cherthala - Kundannoor - Petta - Pallikkara - Kizhakkambalam (85 km)
• Munnar - Pallivasal - Adimali - Kothamangalam (98 km)
• Thiruvananthapuram - Kottarakkara - Pandalam - Changanassery - Kottayam -Muvattupuzha (228 km)

• Kochi
• Piravom
• Kothamangalam
• Aluva
• Muvattupuzha