Tirunelveli

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Tirunelveli

Tirunelveli or Nellai in Tamil Nadu, is a 2000 year old city located on the west bank of the only perennial river of the south, the Tamraparni. It grew into prominence during the Pandya Regime and served as their capital for some time. The city along with its twin town Palayamkottai is also one of the oldest Christian centres in Tamil Nadu. The city surrounded by paddy fields is known for its reed mats, palm handicrafts, palm sugar and temples especially the Kanthimathi Nellaiyappar Shiva temple after which the city is named. Welcome to Tirunelveli District, the penultimate southern most district of Tamil Nadu, is described as a microcosm of the State.

The district has diverse geographical and physical features such as lofty mountains and low plains, rivers and cascades, seacoast and thick inland forest, sandy soils and fertile alluvium, a variety of flora, fauna, and protected wild life. The name 'Tiru-Nel-Veli' comes from a Hindu mythological story in which Lord Shiva is said to have protected the nel (paddy) by creating a veli (fence). The city also goes by the name Nellai and is sometimes called the "Halwa City" after the characteristic sweet produced there. Tirunelveli is also spelt Thirunelvelli. In the British period the name of the city was anglicized as Tinnevelly or Tinnevelli.

The climate of Tirunelveli is tropical - hot and humid. The average temperature during the hot season (March to September) is 38°C and during the mild season (October to February), 32°C. The average annual rainfall is 68cm, most of which occurs during the North-East monsoon (October-December). The twin city of Tirunelveli is Palayamkottai, on the eastern bank of the Thamirabarani river, while Tirunelveli is on the western bank. Palayamkottai is known for its educational institutions and is sometimes referred to as the South Indian Oxford.

The town, surrounded by paddy fields, has a rich heritage in education dating back to the pre-independence era. Almost all the colleges and institutions of higher education for the area are in Palayamkottai, some of them having been in existence for more than a century and a half. They include the Tirunelveli Medical College, Siddha College, Engineering College, St. Xavier's College, St. John's College and Sarah Tucker College.

TamilNadu Districts - Tirunelveli

Home » TamilNadu Districts » Tirunelveli