Thoothukudi District-Tourism Details

1.Thoothukudi

This is the district headquarters.  Major industries such as SPIC, Chemical Industries, Heavy Water Plant and Thermal Plant are located here.  It is also called  "Pearl City" in view of the pearl fishing being conducted  periodically.  The city is also famous for the production of salt.

Here is one Sivan Temple called as Sri Sankara Rameswarar Temple and one Sri Vaikundapathy Temple built by the Pandya King Sankara Pandyan.

One famous Church named as " PANIMAYA MATHA" (Lady Snow) is here.  It was built by Portugese in 1714.

  2.Manapad 

This is also located on the sea-shore at the Bay of Bengal about 18 Km, from Tiruchendur.  An ancient Roman Catholic Church is here where the Cross is said to have been brought from Jerusalem.  This Church is also associated with St. Xavier, the famous missionary from West.  Since there are other small temples here this place is called as "Chinna Jerusalem" (Small Jerusalem)

 3. Ottapidaram

Ottapidaram continues to be a Tourism centre for Freedom fighters, since it is the birth place of the great patriot V.O.Chidambaranar. His house has been converted into a memorial and is preserved by the government.

4.Panchalankurichi

Panchalankurichi, a small but historic village, is 3 Kms. from Ottapidaram and 18 km from Tuticorin. From here the great warrior Katta Bomman Known as "Veerapandiya Kattabomman " raised his voice against the British regime in the 17th Century A.D.

The existing memorial fort was constructed by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1974. Sri Devi Jakkammal Temple, the hereditary Goddess of Kattabomman, is located near the fort. The cemetery of British soldiers are seen near the fort. Within the memorial Hall, there are beautiful paintings on the walls depicting the heroic deeds of the saga. The tourists can easily get a good idea about the history of the momentous period from that. The remnants of the old fort is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. At Kayatar, very near to  Tirunelveli , there is another memorial for Kattabomman. It is the place where he was hanged.

Kattabomman Memorial Fort  

This was built in 1974. The visitors can see this during the hours of 8-00 to 1-00 PM and 2-00PM to 6-00 PM. The temple for their family goddess Jackammal is nearby to it. The snap shot of the 5th generation heir of Veerapandya Katthabomman is shown. His name is Vee. Veemaraja alias Jegaveera Pandya Subbramania Kattabomma Durai. Bommu means the god Sastha Ayyanam Swamy. The British gave the sentence of death by hanging to Kattabomman and others on charges of treasm,for their freedom fights.

Some of the other noteworthy persons who were hanged along with Kattabomman are:

    1. Kaadal Kudi Zamin
    2. Veeraghenchayan Naieker Zamin
    3. Nagalapuram Puthur Zamin
    4. Dali Ethalappa Naicker Zamin
    5. Kaveri Ammal Patti Zamin
    6. Vripachy Zamin
    7. Sivagengai Zamin

The entrance fee for the visitors is 50 paise for children and
Re. 1-00 for adults.

5.Korkai Port

Korkai, the ancient Port City of the Pandya Kings of the Sangam period, now identified with the village Korkai (Srivaikundam taluk of Thoothukudi Dt.) has attracted the attention of scholars, historians and archaeologists for more than a century.  Although Korkai is recognised as an ancient Port City, it's precise location is still a point of conjecture.  Korkai is now remote village, situated 5 km inland.  In this article, an attempt is made to locate the port based on field exploration, folk beliefs, and coastal geology and geomorphology.

6.Thiruchendur 

Thiruchendur is situated on the coast of Mannar.   It is 40 Kms from Thoothukudi.  It can be reached from Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Courtallam and Kanyakumari by bus. Nearest airport is in Madurai or Thiruvananthapuram. It can also be reached by train.

Tiruchendur is very popular for the seashore temple of Lord Subramanya. The temple tower and the sculptures of the temple are worth seeing. It is also ideal for see bathing.

The temple is one among the six abodes. Lord Subramanya, after defeating Soorapadma came to this place offered his prayers to Lord Siva. That victory is still celebrated by the pilgrims here during the Tamil Month 'Aippasi' as a festival.

7.Kazhugu Malai

This place is famous for the Jain cave temple and jain architecture.  There is also a Murugan Temple called Kalugasalamoorthy Kovil which belongs to the 18th century.

8.Ettaiyapuram

During the region of Pandyas at Madurai people from Chadragiri near Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh were brought and posted as "watch keepers (Dhisai Kavalars) of Ilasanadu. This was later called Ettayapuram. When the local chiefs refused to pay the taxes to the Pandya kingdom , Ettappar at Ilasanadu collected the taxes with the help of his army. Later Pandya king appointed Ettappar as a ruler of the place . After the rule of 150 years Ettayapuram was formed in 1565 in this place.

    Bharathiar Mani Mandapam

In memory of the National poet Subramania Bharatiar, a memorial was built by Kalki Krishna Moorthy in 1945 and Mahatma Gandhi showered his blessings on the occasion of opening. In 1981 the centenary year of Bharatiar was celebrated. This was taken over by the Public Relations Department on 11-12-81.

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