Residents here also claim that this name comes from 'poovan pazham' (A type of banana) which was grown in large amounts.Poomala was largely a forest, until the area was occupied by the Christian settlers from central Travancore.Today, it is a growing tourist area as well, as the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) of Thrissur undertook a 50 lakh project that was launched in 2008 to beautify the environs of the dam.Poomala Dam was officially designated as a tourist centre by the Home Minister of State, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, on 21 March 2010.The main tourist attractions in and around Poomala are Cheppara caves, Pathazhazhakund dam, Pamboorampara rock etc.