Thoothukudi
{{India city infobox |native_name=Thoothukudi |image_map = WikiprojectIndiacitiespromo.png |latd = 8.72 |longd=78.12|state_name=Tamil Nadu |district=
Thoothukudi |leader_title=
District Collector |leader_name=
Dr. R.Palaniyandi I.A.S. |altitude=x |population_as_of = 2001 | population_total = 216,058 | population_density = 46.75 |area_magnitude=1 E9 |area_total=4621 |area_telephone=91 (0)461|postal_code= 628xxx |vehicle_code_range= TN-69 to TN- |unlocode=INTUT |footnotes = |
Thoothukudi (தூத்துக்குடி in
Tamil) also known as
Tuticorin, is a city and a
municipality in
Thoothukudi district in the
Indian
state of
Tamil Nadu.
The city is also known as "Pearl City". It is a sea port city which serves southern Tamil Nadu, including the inland cities of
Coimbatore,
Madurai and
Tirunelveli. It is one of the oldest cities in India with the history dating back to the
6th century BCE. Thoothukudi is the headquarters of
Thoothukudi District.
There are a couple of theories as to the origin of the name
Thoorthu (Dig) and
Kudi (Drink)- The town had no rivers and the only source of drinking water was from wells).
*"Thoortha" means land "reclaimed" from sea while "Kudi" also stands for "settlement" or "colony" - Hence "Thoortha Kudi" or Thoothukudi could mean a settlment built on land reclaimed from sea.
Finally the Tuticorin name was used by Dutch people, who were here and now its called "Tuticorin" in English and "Thoothukudi" in Tamil.
Thoothukudi is traditionally known for its
pearl fishery and
shipbuilding. It was the sea port of the
Pandyan kingdom. Thoothukudi was the stronghold of the
Paravas, a community from the lineage of Pandyan kingdom and still continues to be a strong base of this community.This community also claims the status of uncrowned kings of the land holding a sway over power.But recently there is a slide in the community's stonghold since most of its youth are employed abroad.The Paravas community have a unique way of living, their cultural demarcations are very strong from that of the other communities in that region.The traditional old houses of the Paravas in the city are unique, built in both
Victorian style and
Chettinad style from
Burmese teak wood.Another community in this region is the Nadars -the southern trading community.Thoothukudi became the center of the
Indian independence movement in the early
20th century, with such leaders as the poet
Subramanya Bharathy,
Kattabomman, and
V.O. Chidambaram Pillai.
The major harbour of Thoothukudi is well known as a pearl diving and fishing centre. Thoothukudi was founded by the
Portuguese in
1548, captured by the
Dutch in
1658, and ceded to the
British in
1825.(Courtesy - The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001)The lighthouse built in
1842 marked the beginning of the history of Thoothukudi harbour development.
Location
Thoothukudi is in
South India about 540 km south west of
Madras(Chennai) and is geographically located in the
Gulf of Mannar.
The district of Mannar]] (
Bay of Bengal), south and south-west by the district of
Tirunelveli, West and North west by the district of
Virudhunagar and North by the district of
Ramanathapuram The total area of this district is 4621 km². and the administrative headquarters is an urban agglomeration and also one of the taluk headquarters within the district.
Climate
Tropical climate. Hot and humid.
Irrigation
There are no big reservoirs in this district so the
Papanasam and
Manimuthar dams which are located in the Tirunelveli district under
Tamirabarani system are the main sources of irrigation. Besides Tamirabarani river, the river
Vaipar in
Vilathikulam taluk and the river
Karumeni which traverses through
Sathankulam and
Tiruchendur taluks also acts as sources.In Ottapidaram taluk there is one small reservoir at Eppodumvendran village.
| Thoothukudi city officials | | Chairman | Daniel Raj |
| Collector | Dr.Palaniyandi PhD IAS |
| Superintendtent of Police | John Nicholson |
|
The economy of Thoothukudi is based on industries, port, salt pans and agriculture.
Industry in Tuticorin
Thoothukudi has a host of industries including power, chemicals, fisheries etc. Some of the industries are the Tuticorin Thermal Power Station (TTPS),
SPIC fertilizer plant,
TAC fertilizer plant, Darangadara Chemicals, Kilburn Chemicals, Madura Coats, Transworld Garnet Industries, AVM JumboBags (SIPCOT,Sterlite Copper Industries and St. John Freight Sytems Limited. The heavy water plant at Thoothukudi employs the ammonia hydrogen exchange process (monothermal) [
1].
Port
On 11th July
1974,the newly constructed Thoothukudi port was declared as the 10th Indian major port and is second largest port in Tamil Nadu. Thoothukudi is a natural port. The
Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project, a project to create a shipping channel through the shallow
Palk Strait to allow larger ships through, is headquartered at the Port of Thoothukudi [
2]. The
Tata Group has proposed to extract
chromium from the sands of coastal Tamil Nadu and the headquarters of this project is planned to be stationed in Thoothukudi.
Salt Production
The district constitutes 70% of the total salt production of Tamil Nadu and 30% of India.
Agriculture
Paddy is cultivated in
Srivaikundam, Sattankulam and
Tiruchendur taluks.
Cumbu,
Cholam,
Kuthiraivali and other
pulses are raised in the dry tracts of
Kovilpatti,
Vilathikulam,
Ottapidaram and Thoothukudi taluks. Cotton is cultivated in Kovilpatti, Ottapidaram and Thoothukudi taluks.
Groundnut cultivation is undertaken in Kovilpatti, Tiruchendur and Sattankulam taluks. Groundnut cake is being used as manure and cattle feed.
Palmyrah trees are grown mostly in Tiruchendur, Srivaikundam, Sattankulam and Vilathikulam taluks.
Jaggery is produced from palmyrah juice and the production of jaggery is the main occupation of the people of Tiruchendur and Sattankulam taluks.
Banana and other vegetables are raised in Srivaikundam and Tiruchendur taluks. The road going towards kulayankarisal from thiruchendur road has a special of having banana farms on one side and salt farm on another side which cannot be seen anywhere as each farm needs a different type of water.Thoothukudi is the largest exporter of
Banana in
Tamilnadu# Airport - is at Vagaikulam [ From 1st Apr 2006, Airdeccan started daily flights to and from Chennai] # Port - One among twelve major ports of India. Has one of the best container terminal in India, operated by Port of Singapore # Rail - Connected by Broad Gauge Rail [Tirunelveli, Chennai, Mysore and Trivandrum]# Road - Connected by National Highways with Madurai and Tirunelveli. At present the three roads connecting Thoothukudi with Madurai, Tirunvelveli and Ramnad are being converted into four laned highways
As of 2001 India
census, Thoothukkudi had a population of 216,058. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Thoothukkudi has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 79%. In Thoothukkudi, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Paravas, Nadars,Pillamars(Nangudi Vellalars), dominate the region. The people here are used to take rest after lunch and have
a small nap before going back to office. This is one of the few districts in India with
Ayyavazhi followers. The day of incarnation of
Vaikundar,
Ayya Vaikunda Avataram is a holiday for the district.
Tuticorin has many primary and secondary schools, apart from that 4 UG and PG degree colleges and one medical college and a polytechnic and a ITI. The biggest among the schools are St. Francis Xavier Higher Secondary school,St.Thomas Higher secondary school, Spic Nagar Higher Secondary school, Holy Cross Anglo Indian School etc. There is also a Government Fisheries Institute doing extensive research in marine life. A government maritime academy is also present.
*
Kattabomman Veerapandiya was a chieftain who refused to bow down to the demands of the British for agricultural tax on native land who laid down his life to the cause of independence. The fight he launched in Panchalankurichi has been hailed as the inspiration behind the first battle of independence of
1857, which the British called the
Sepoy Mutiny.
* Subramanya
Bharathi,
Poet - The great
Tamil poet Subramanya Bharathy is from
Ettayapuram in the erstwhile Tirunelveli district before the Thoothukudi district was carved out. He composed poems foreseeing India's freedom. He wrote many articles on many subjects. He also wrote about the unity of India in spite of its variety in languages,
religion and cultures.
*
V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, one of the freedom fighters of India, who in
1906 launched the first
swadeshi ship
S.S. Gaelia in British India. [
3]
*
Cruz Fernandez, - the municipal chairman, who was responsible for bringing ought water from Vallanad to Tuticorin. He did lot of things to Tuticorin developement
*
JLP Roche Victoria, Former state minister and who pioneered the Vallanad water project which is the lifeline of Tuticorin.
*
All about Thoothukudi & Thoothukudi District*
Official government website of Thoothukudi district*
Tuticorin Statistics*
Muthunagar*
Port of Tuticorin*
Our Lady of Snows Shrine Basilica, Tuticorin*
St.Anthony's Shrine (Church of St.Antony's of Padua) at Puliyampatti, Tuticorin District
