Kovilpatti

Kovilpatti
Special grade municipality
Clockwise from the top Kovilpatti Kadalamittai, City,Kovilpatti railway, Main City,Government College arts,Kovilpatti hockey stadium, Kathiresan malai temple, and Kovilpatti Lakshmi Mill
Kovilpatti Kovilpatti, Tamil Nadu
Coordinates: 9°10′22″N77°52′17″E / 9.172700°N 77.871500°E / 9.172700; 77.871500
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Thoothukudi
Government
• Type	Special grade Municipality
• Body	Kovilpatti Special grade Municipality
Area
• Total	76.37 km2 (29.49 sq mi)
• Rank	13
Elevation	130 m (430 ft)
Population  (2011)Metro Population Around 3,00,000
• Total	167,620
• Density	2,200/km2 (5,700/sq mi)
Languages
• Official Tamil	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	TN 69, TN 96
Website	municipality.tn.gov.in/kovilpatti

Kovilpatti is an Industrial City and Special Grade Municipality in Thoothukudi District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

History

The town already existed before 1876. Kovilpatti was a water stop for steam engines after the introduction of the Southern Railways, and the establishment of textile mills like Loyal Textiles (1891) and Lakshmi Mills Ltd (1926) fueled the economic growth of the town. The Government Revenue divisional offices were sited there in 1911. The town was constituted as a Municipal Town in 1964, composed of Kovilpatti Village and Illuppaiyurani village.

Geography

The town is spread around 59 square kilometres (23 sq mi) and had a population of 95,097 in 2011, with the urban agglomeration having a population of around 3,00,000. In November 2023, Kovilpatti Municipality passed resolution to merge seven neighbour panchayats with the city which increases the city population to 1,67,620 people, according to 2011 Census and increases the City area to 76.37 km²

Kovilpatti is located at 9°10′N77°52′E / 9.17°N 77.87°E / 9.17; 77.87 . ^[1] It has an average elevation of 106 metres (347 feet). Located 100 km south of Madurai, 55 km north of Tirunelveli and 60 km north-west of Tuticorin, Kovilpatti is situated on National Highway No. 07 NH 7, which connects Srinagar in the north and Kanyakumari in the south. The town lies approximately 130 m above mean sea level.

Climate

The climate of Kovilpatti town is hot and dry. Temperatures range between a maximum of 37 °C and a minimum of 22 °C. April to June are the hottest months, and December and January are coldest, with temperatures rising towards the end of February. Rainfall occurs mostly during the northeast monsoon in October to December. However, the town receives little rainfall, averaging 840 mm compared to the district average. Annual rainfall has ranged from 964 mm to 228 mm during past decades. ^[2]

Demographics

Population

In 1961, the area of the town was 2.64 km² with a population of 33,305; in 1971, it extended to 7.25 km² and the population reached 48,509. In 1991, it was 12.58 km² with a population of 78,834.

In the 2011 census, Kovilpatti had a population of 95,057. The sex ratio of 1,065 females to 1,000 males much exceeded the national average of 929. ^[3] A total of 8,325 residents were under the age of six, constituting 4,158 males and 4,167 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 10.32% and 0.84% of the population respectively. The city's literacy rate was 81.27%, compared to the national average of 72.99%. ^[3] The city had 25099 households in 2011. There were a total of 41,006 workers, comprising 85 cultivators, 165 main agricultural labourers, 932 in household industries, 36,989 other workers, 2,835 marginal workers, 26 marginal cultivators, 26 marginal agricultural labourers, 262 marginal workers in household industries, and 2,521 other marginal workers. ^[4]

Religion

Religious census
Religion			Percent(%)
Hindu			92.30%
Muslim			2.48%
Christian			5.12%
Sikh			0.01%
Buddhist			0.01%
Other			0.08%

In the religious census of 2011, Kovilpatti was 92.29% Hindus, 2.48% Muslims, 5.12% Christians, 0.01% Sikhs, 0.01% Buddhists and 0.08% followers of other religions. ^[5]

Government and politics

Kovilpatti (state assembly constituency) is part of the Thoothukkudi (Lok Sabha constituency). ^{[6] [7]}

The member of loksabha currently is Kanimozhi from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party and the state legislative member is Kadambur Raju from All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party.

Economy

Kovilpatti is one of the industrial cities in Tamil Nadu, with almost all the Nationalized and Private banks having branches. The town started its industrial development earlier than 1891. The introduction of the Southern Railway, the establishment of Loyal Textiles (1891), Lakshmi Mills (1926), and the establishment of Government Revenue Divisional Offices (1911), induced the industrial growth of the town. Kovilpatti is famous for match factories like rose matches, Cycle Brand, eagle box. textile mills and fireworks industry. Kovilpatti and its neighboring towns are candy paradise and most shops sell eatables like dark brown spiral candy, bright yellow wavy sev, Ellu mittai, cocoa mittai, cheeni mittai, karupatti mittai and yeni padi mittai.

Kovilpatti is the leading producer of matches in the country and hence gets the name "Matchless city of Matches". It stands second in the fireworks industry in the country just after Sivakasi. Kovilpatti is famous for its unique candy kadalai mittai (Ground-nut candy) and is referred to as "Land of Homemade sweets and Savouries" . ^[8] Manthithoppu Transgenders' Milk Producers' Cooperative Society (MTMPCS) - The first cooperative society in the country to be run by trans people was set up at Manthithoppu in Kovilpatti by the former Thoothukudi district Collector Mr.Sandeep Nanduri IAS. ^[9]

Culture/Cityscape

Veerapandiya Kattabomman Memorial

Landmarks

Points of interest are the ruins of Ettayapuram Jamin palace, the Manimandapam of Bharathiyar, the birth house of Bharathiyar, and the memorial of Sri Muthusamy Deikshidar.

Kalugumalai is a massive dome of rock of 300 ft (91 m) height on the road connecting Kovilpatti and Sankarankoil, westerly. It is famous for a rock cut temple called "Vettuvankoil" and these arts also proudly called as "Southern Ellora". Another rock cut temple is dedicated to lord Subramaniya Swamy is located at the foot of the rock. The remains of "Samana Palli" or Jain school can be seen atop the hill along the Vettuvan Koil. The government of Tamil Nadu has listed this place as tourist place.^{[ vague ][ citation needed ]}

Sankarankoil is situated west of Kovilpatti. It is the site of Sankara Narayanar and Gomathiamman temple and attracts pilgrims and devotees from the surrounding districts. The Adithapasu festival attracts large crowds every year during July or August. ^[10]

Festivals

The Chithirai festival of the Shenbagavalli Poovananathar temple is celebrated annually in mid-April marking the start of Tamil New Year.

Cuisine

"Kadalai mittai" i.e. (Peanut candy/Chikki) is the town's signature dish. It attracts people from all part of the world. Large quantities get exported to Southeast Asia, Europe and the US.It has got GI(Geographical Indication) tag from GOI in 2020

Similarly Kaisuthu muruku, Karuppatti Mithai and Karasevu are also notable food in the Kovilpatti region. Asiacandy is popular and famous for peanutcandy.

Transport

Kovilpatti Bus Stand, view from inside

By Air

St. Bobgalie's Airport a small, unused airport which is rarely used as a helipad. It is located in Mottamalai near Nalatinpithur.

By Rail

Kovilpatti Railway Station has three platforms with stoppings for all Major Express and passenger trains. It is a major station on the busy Chennai Egmore-Kanniyakumari line. Major renovation and redeveloping works are going on in the station complex under Indian Railways' prestigious 'Amrit Bharat Station Scheme' as Kovilpatti station is one of the high income generating stations of Southern Railway !!

By Road

Kovilpatti is located on NH 44, connecting Varanasi and Kanniyakumari. The town has two bus stations, Aringar Anna bus stand & the Additional bus stand. Aringar Anna bus stand is within the town,and the Additional bus stand is on NH 44. City bus services are available round the clock connecting both the bus stations.

Education

Polytechnic

• Lakshmi Ammal polytechnic college

Engineering Colleges

• National Engineering College
• Unnamalai Institute of Technology

Arts and Science Colleges

• Unnamalai Arts and Science college
• G. Venkataswamy Naidu College of Arts and Science(Autonomous)
• K.R. College of Arts and Science
• S.S. Duraisamy Nadar Mariammal College
• Punitha Ohm College of Education ^[11]
• Govt Arts & Science College

Others

Oscar Institute Of Science And Management

Annai Theresa Paramedical College

Stadium

SDAT Astroturf Hockey Stadium International Field Hockey Stadium- Kovilpatti 628501

SDAT hockey stadium

Research Centre

Kovilpatti Veterinary Research Centre Government of Tamil Nadu, Department of Animal Care Veterinary Hospital, Kovilpatti-628501

References

1. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Kovilpatti
2. "About City". Kovilpatti Municipality. 2011. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
3. "Census Info 2011 Final population totals". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
4. "Census Info 2011 Final population totals - Kovilpatti". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
5. "Population By Religious Community - Tamil Nadu" (XLS). Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
6. "Press Note, Delimitation Commission" (PDF). Assembly Constituencies in Tamil Nadu. Delimitation Commission. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
7. "Press Note - Schedule for General Elections, 2009" (PDF). Press Information Burueau, Government of India. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
8. Gerald, Olympia Shilpa (19 January 2013). "In search of Kovilpatti Kadalai mittai". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 13 August 2021.
9. "Towards transfarmation". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
10. "Places of visit". Kovilpatti Municipality. 2011. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
11. "Educational Institutions". Kovilpatti Municipality. 2011. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.

External links

• Homepage of Kovilpatti Municipality
• Thoothukudi District Official Webpage