Pulhal, human settlement in India
Pulhal is a town in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, located about 20 kilometers northwest of Chennai. The town spreads across flat land beside Pulhal Lake, a large reservoir built in 1876 that serves Chennai's water supply and is fed by seasonal rainfall.
Pulhal has a long history from the Iron Age through rule by Pallava and Chola kings who built temples like Sri Thirumoolanathar. During British rule, the lake was expanded in 1876 to supply water to the growing city of Madras, and after independence the town developed further with new infrastructure.
Pulhal is shaped by Hindu traditions and local festivals that bring the community together throughout the year. People regularly visit the Sri Thirumoolanathar Temple and celebrate seasonal occasions that mark the rhythm of daily life here.
The town is well connected by buses linking Pulhal to Chennai with travel taking about 40 minutes. Transportation is supported by the nearby NH-16 highway, and the flat terrain makes it easy to explore on foot, with bicycles and automobiles serving as primary transport modes.
The town is home to a modern Central Prison completed in 2006 and considered one of the state's most advanced correctional facilities. Additionally there is a refugee camp for Sri Lankan Tamils established in 1997 that now houses roughly 900 people who have built a functioning community.
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