Tirunelveli District
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Tirunelveli District is a district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The city of Tirunelveli is the district headquarters.
Tirunelveli District is located between 08o 8’ and 09o 23’ N latitude and 77o 09’ and 77o 54’ E longitude. The total geographical area of the district is 6,824 km². It had a population of 2,723,988 in 2001. It is 48.03% urbanised.[1]
The district is surrounded by the State of Kerala and Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve to the west, Gulf of Mannar to the southeast and the districts of Virudhunagar to the north, Thoothukudi to the east and Kanniyakumari to the southwest.
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[edit] History
On acquisition from the Nawab of Arcot in 1801, the British named it as Tinnevelly district though their headquarters was first located in Palayamkottai the adjacent town, where they had their military headquarters during their operations against the Palayakars. Two reasons may be attributed for naming it after Tirunelveli. One is because it was and is the chief town of the district and the other is that it was already called as Tirunelveli Seemai under the Nayaks and Nawabs. Both Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai grew as the twin towns of the district.
In 1986, Tirunelveli district was split into Chidambaranar (present-day Thoothukudi) and Nellai-Kattabomman (later Tirunelveli-Kattabomman, present-day Tirunelveli) districts. This is one of the Ayyavazhi populated districts of Tamil Nadu. The Ayya Vaikunda Avataram was announced as a holiday for the district.
[edit] Irrigation
Tirunelveli District benefits from the southwest monsoon and the north-east monsoon. The district is irrigated by the rivers originating in Western Ghats, like the Pachaiyar River which soon mergers with the Tambaraparani River. The Tambaraparani River and the Manimuthar River both have many anicuts and dams with resevoirs that provide water for both agriculture irrigation and power generation. The total rainfall is light but it is generally evenly distributed. The Tamiraparani River provides consistent irrigation to a large agricultural area. There are several tanks and wells that provide the other source of irrigation.[2]
[edit] Places of interest
Tenkasi Cuttrallam having so many water falls. which is 59 km away from Tirunelveli and 7 km away from Tenkasi. Normally Jun to Aug is season time in Cuttrallam.
Waterfalls near Kutralam Falls
- Main Falls
- Small Falls (Sitraruvi)
- Five Falls
- VIP Falls or (Palathotta Falls)
- Tiger Falls
- old Courtallam Falls
- SenbahaDevi Falls
- Honey Falls (thean aruvi)
Visitors to this place like to have bath in these falls from dawn to dusk. One can have bath at anytime in a day and one would not get sneezing or cold as the water is said to possess medicinal qualities of the herbal plants grown in this mountain. Those suffering from rheumatic joints, chronic headache, nerve disorder get cured by a lengthy stay at Courtallam.
Many rivers originate in this district, including the Tambaraparani River and the Chittar River.
[edit] Ambasamudram (38 km)
A small town (a.k.a Ambai) in the foothills of Western Ghats is one of the five taluk headquarters of the district. Ambasamudram serves as the main transit point for Papanasam, Manimuthar, Courtallam and for Sabarimala devotees going through Shengottai. Situated in the banks of the perennial river Tamirabarani, it is one of the most pristine and fertile towns of the district. The town is famous for its Wooden Handicrafts (Kadasal). There is not much industrial presence in the town except for an ailing Madura Coats. There is a famous temple named Agasthiyar Kovil and it was names because of some true incidents.
[edit] Deivacheyalpuram (21 km)
Deivacheyalpuram is a small village situated at 21 km from Tirunelveli enroute to Thoothukudi. The Rajarajeswari temple and the Ramar temple are situated here. Also a 75 foot statue of Lord Anjaneya constructed in the temple premises, to attain world peace, is here. Poojas are performed in these temples everyday with special poojas performed every Fridays and on festivals. On every full moon day, the temple conducts Annadanam (free food to the poor).
[edit] Tenkasi (53 km)
The name itself implies that this town is 'Kasi (Varanasi) of the South'. The flag staff of the temple is noteworthy for its sculptural beauty and is 400 years old. Tenkasi is also the nearest place to Courtrallam (just 5 km away), which is well known for its waterfalls. The water of these falls is considered to cure several diseases owing to the different herbs on its path.
[edit] Manapad (70 km)
The Holy Cross Church at Manapad was built in 1581. Thousands of worshippers congregate during the festival season from 1st to 14th September every year. The church is associated with St. Francis Xavier.
[edit] Krishnapuram (13 km)
The temple in Krishnapuram is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The presiding deity is Thiruvenkatanathar. There are a number of life-size sculptures in this temple with intricate workmanship.
[edit] Tiger Reserve
The 900 km² Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve was established in 1962. Central location: is about 45 km west from Tirunelveli Town.
[edit] Kulasekarapattinam (68 km)
The Mutharamman temple 20 km from Tiruchendur is known for the popular Dasara festival where folk dance artists from all over the state participate in the festival. This coastal village used to be a port in its earlier days. This place has other two famous temples including Katchiappar temple and Chidarambeswar temple
[edit] Sankarankovil (54 km)
This temple depicts the concept of Hari and Haran being one God. There is a deity by the name Sankara Narayanan, which is half Lord Shiva and the other half Lord Vishnu. Also, there is another deity,named Avodai ambal or Gomathi Ambal. There is a sacred sand available in Gomathi Ambal temple, which is believed to cure the diseases. There is a famous festival Adi Thabasu in the month of June which is observed in this temple.Another one history is in that temple ,this temple was built by ukerama pandiyan in 900 cc.
[edit] Nanguneri(31 km)
This temple town siutated 31 km south of Thirunelvei famous for the large Vishnu temple. The prime deity in the temple is Thotathri Nathan. The temple is run by the Vanamamalai mutt and houses the famous Ennai Kenaru (oil well). About 635 years back ERULAPPA THEVAR of MARUGAL KURICHI offered many villages and 100s of acres of wet land of his own to this temple for "the free food to the poor scheme" of this temple (Even today these land are called as ERULAPPA KONE (KING)LAND. His son Theivanayaga Thevar constructed the KAL PANDAL-the stone roofed entrance and the MANIMANDAPAM - the present NELKALANGIYAM (STORE OF PADDY)and many SEVA to this temple and inturn he laid the scalpture of his parents & with his wife and himself as a first footing entrance stone of this temple so that vishnu devotees entering this temple could keep their foot (which -according to THAIVANYAGA THEVAR- THE FOOT OF LORD VISHNU) on their scalpture. He was having the SATHA SEVA right of this temple & since then his generation is having this right AND MUTHALMARIYATHAI in this temple. Nanguneri is the taluk headquarters and has a considerably large railway station. The town also has a Lord Shiva temple.There is a naval base name VIJAYA NARAYANA PURAM which is 21 miles from here and sankarankovil is also famous for aluva and sulthan shop beriyani
[edit] Mukkudal (20 km)
This temple village situated 20 km west of Tirunelveli famous for the large Muthumalai Amman Temple. This Village is famous for its Beedi Industries and Tamirabarani river.
[edit] Tirunelveli
One of the famous temples in Tamilnadu is located here. The Nellaiappar Temple is deeply connected with tradition and history and also known for its musical pillars and other splendid sculptural figures.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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