It is a coastal area of the Arabian Sea and lies west to Kuttanad, popularly known as The rice bowl of Kerala.

Punnapra is located on NH 66 of about 8 km (5.0 mi) south of district headquarters Alappuzha.

In 1940s, Communist party developed a good influence among the workers in the coir industry and organised a strike for better wages.

Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, the diwan(prime minister) of Travancore intervened to resolve the labour issues, but situation worsened with the faction of workers demanding for Responsible Government, a political move against the rule of Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer.

A landlord, Applon Aroj in Punnapra was given with police protection on demand and one demonstrator was shot dead in an agitation near to his house.