Karaikal district
Encyclopedia
Karaikal district (also Karikal or Karaikkal) is one of the four regions of the Union Territory
of Pondicherry in India
.
Karaikal town about 16 km. north of Nagappattinam and 9 km.south of Tarangambadi is the regional headquarters. Karaikal region is made up of the Communes of Karaikal
, kottucherry, Nedungadu
, Tirunallar
, neravy
and Tirumalarajanpattinam
.
This Karaikal area formed an integral part of the Pallava kingdom in the eighth century(C 731-796). Poet Sekkizhar (992-1042) describes the town as "vanga malik kadar karaikal", the 'Karaikal of many vessels on the coast' in his Peria puranam. In that the poet relates the life story of one Punithavathiar who abandoned the pleasures of material life and devoted herself entirely to a life of prayer and penance to signify her devotion to Lord Siva. He called her 'Karaikal Ammayar', conveniently after the town which must have been famous already.
Medieval History
In 1738, Dumas, a shrewd calculative prudent man and a lover of peace and above all one who was anxious to extend the French territory in India by smooth means, negotiated with Sahuji of Thanjavur for possession of Karaikal, the fortress of Karakalcheri and 5 village for 40000 chakras. On 14.2.1739 the French took possession of Karaikal town, the fort of Karakalcheri and 8 dependent villages. The King of Thanjavur raised the price for the town of Karaikal and the fort of Karakalcheri to 50000 chakras.
He also demanded a loan of 150000 chakras without interest repayable in 3 years against the hypothecation of Mayavaram lands and an annual rent of 4000 pagodas for 5 villages. The French agreed to all the terms except for the payment of 150000 chakras which was reduced to 10000 chakras while the annual rental was reduce to two or three thousand chakras. The villages so received were Kilaiyur, Melaiyur, Puduthurai, Kovilpathu and Tirumalairayanpattinam. Subsequently 2 villages were ceded to the French. Pratap Singh who succeeded the throne renewed demand for a loan of 100000 chakra and on receipt of the first instalment of 4000 chakras he assigned 8 more villages to the French viz., Codague (Kondagai), Vanjiyur, Arimullimangalam, Niravi, Dharmapuram, Uzhiapathu, Mattakudi (probably Mathalangudi) and Polagam. Then on 12-2-1740 he sold for 60000 chakras these villages which he had assigned only the previous year for 40000 chakras.
The same year he pledged Thirunallar Mahanam for 55350 chakras and also pledged 33 villages for 60000 chakras. By a treaty signed on 12.1.1750 Pratap Singh ceded to the French 81 villages around Karaikal and cancelled the annual rent of 2000 pagodas payable for the villages. This was all the territory the French possessed around Thanjavur when they surrendered to the British in 1761. The territory then passed twice to the British control before it was finally handed over to the French in 1816/1817 under the Treaty of Paris, 1814.
Modern History
The formation of Karaikal national congress on 13.6.1947 and Students Congress on 31.1.1947 symbolised the first concrete expression of popular desire in Karaikal for freedom from French rule. The French ruled this district till 31 October 1954 on which date the French flag flying atop the government house at Karaikal was lowered with due military honors before a large gathering of officials and non-officials. Thus the de facto transfer of power took place on 1 November 1954 followed by de jure transfer on 16 August 1962.
Karaikal district occupies an area of 161 square kilometres (62.2 sq mi).
Location
Karaikal is a small coastal enclave of territory which was formerly part of French India
. Together with the other former French enclaves of Pondicherry (formally known as Puducherry), Yanam
, and Mahé, Karaikal forms the Union Territory of Pondicherry. Karaikal is bounded on the North and South by Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu
state, on the west by Tiruvarur district
(also belonging to Tamil Nadu), and on the East by the Bay of Bengal
. The enclave is located 132 km south of the city of Pondicherry, and is known for its rich cultural heritage.
2004 Tsunami
On the 26th of December 2004, Karaikal faced its worst tragedy in recent memory. Tsunami
waves hit this coastal town and more than 500 people, mostly fishermen and their families, were washed away by the killer waves.
Rivers
The main branches of Kaveri below Grand Anicut are the Kodamurutti, Arasalar, Virasolanar and the Vikramanar. Although
Arasalar
and its branches spread through Karaikal, the waters of Kodamurutti and Virasolanar also meet the irrigation needs of the
region
Topography
Forming part of the fertile Cauveri delta the region is completely covered by the distributaries of Cauveri. Covered completely by a thick mantle of alluvium of variable thickness, the lie of the region is flat having a gentle slope towards the Bay of Bengal in the east. It is limited on the north by the Nandalar and on the south-east by the Vettar. The group of rocks known as Cuddalore formations is met with in the area contiguous to Karaikal region in Nagappattinam District.
December and January are the coolest months with the maximum at about 28 C and the minimum at about 23C. Minimum temperature
as low as 16C may sometimes be recorded. The diurnal ranges of temperature are generally small throughout the year, being
highest (about 10C) in May and June, and the least (about 5C) during November to February.
most common and remarkable ones : Excoecaria agallocha L (Tam. Tillai), Clerodendrum inerme Gaertn. (Tam. Sangankuppi), Acanthus ilicifolius L. (Tam. Kaludai Mulli), Solanum trilobatum L (Tam. Tudulai), Pandanus tectorius Sol. (Tam. Talai). The trees grown in the area is Palmyra palm, Babul tree, Samutirappalai, Pongam oil tree, Wild date palm.
Karaikal district has a population
of 200,314 , roughly equal to the nation of Samoa
. This gives it a ranking of 589th in India (out of a total of 640
). The district has a population density of 1252 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
over the decade 2001-2011 was 17.29 %. Karaikal has a sex ratio
of 1048 females
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
of 87.83 %.
Tamil
is the principal language spoken and Tamils
are the predominant linguistic group in the district. Considerable amount of Sri Lankan Tamils are found in the pockets of Karaikal.
Hindus formed the majority of the population at 75.41% of the population followed by Christians at 10.70%, Muslims at 6.46% and others at 0.12%.
are within easy distance of Karaikal. These include the world famous temple of
Special Places Near Karaikal
Ten kilometres to the North of Karikal is the former Dutch
colony of Tranquebar
(Tharangambadi).
Nearest Domestic Airport is in Trichy (Trichirapalli). Indian Airlines connects Trichy with Chennai
, Sharjah
, Kuwait
and Colombo
. Sri Lankan Airlines Service connects Tiruchirapalli with Colombo and proposed service with Jaffna
.
Train
Railway Station karaikal and railway station at Nagore (15 km from karaikal).
Road
Public Transport Many town buses are in operation in this district. They connect tourist places like Tirunallar
, Nagore
, Nagapattinam
, Velankanni, Mayiladuthurai
and Thiruvarur in Tamilnadu State. Many private and public buses with registration of Pondicherry union territory and Tamilnadu state are plying in this region. Long distance buses operated by Tamilnadu government from Nagapattinam to Madras via. Pondicherry, pass through this place. Government owned bus services and Pondicherry Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) also runs long distance bus services between Karaikal and Pondicherry
Port
Karaikal Port Private Limited (KPPL), a private port developed by the Chennai based MARG Limited, became operational in April, 2009. The port is located on the Eastern coast of India at keezhavanjore village in Karaikal District of Pondicherry state around 300 km along the coast south of Chennai Port and around 360 km along the coast north of Tuticorin Port. The shoreline of the port is between 10o 50’56’’ N and 10o 49’44’’ N.
Loading and unloading of goods are usually carried on with the help of boats whenever water level is high in the river. The goods are brought to the warehouses without difficulty. There are storage facilities in the warehouses situated not far from Arasalar and Vanjiar. However, in view of existence of a port in Nagapattinam
, this minor port does not have much importance.
Kandoori, a popular Muslim festival, is held at Mastan Syed Dawood
Dargah in Karaikal, Pondicherry. It is celebrated in honor of Syed
Dawood, a Sufi saint who came to India in search of his spiritual
guide, Halareth Syed Ahamed Kalkhel Diwan Oliulla, and spent his last
years in Karaikal.Kandoori Festival is held annually and is
marked by processions, music and dance. It ends with an elaborate
display of fire-works.
Sani Peyarchi Festival
Karaikal is known all over the country for its unique and the only temple devoted to the Lord Saneeswara (Lord Saturn) at Thirunallar. Those who are troubled by vicisitudes in life and wish bright future do spare their time to pay obiesance to the Lord Saturn. The Sani Peyarchi festival is the "Kumb Mela of Pondicherry" attracting lakhs of devotees.
Mangani Festivals
Although situated within Karaikal municipality, Karaikal Ammayar temple which holds the annual 'Mangani" festival which is a well attended 'Mela', as also Kandoori festival celebrated by Karaikal Darga and the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes celebrated by Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Masi Magam
This annual festival takes place on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Masi (Between February and March). Deities from as many temples in and around Karaikal are brought in ceremonial processions to the seashore for a symbolic immersion ceremony. Thousands of people go to the seashore to have a dip in the sea which is said to wash away one's sins. The most important deity, which takes part in the festival, is Sowriraja Perumal of Thirukannapuram village in Tamil Nadu area. The saying goes that Sowriraja Perumal married a fishermen community woman and hence the moment the deity enters Tirumalairayan-pattinam village of Tirumalairayanpattinam
commune for the festival, the fishermen take charge of the deity and charges are replaced after the festival is completed i.e. after the holy bath. This festival is held with all pomp and glory although it cannot be compared to the degree of celebration in Pondicherry.
Fire-Walking Festivals
Three or four times in a year, local temples conclude their annual festivals with hundreds of men, women and children walking on fire for fulfilment of their vows.
Union Territory
A Union Territory is a sub-national administrative division of India, in the federal framework of governance. Unlike the states of India, which have their own elected governments, union territories are ruled directly by the federal government; the President of India appoints an Administrator or...
of Pondicherry in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Karaikal town about 16 km. north of Nagappattinam and 9 km.south of Tarangambadi is the regional headquarters. Karaikal region is made up of the Communes of Karaikal
Karaikal
Karaikal is a major port city of east coast of India and a municipality in Karaikal district in the Union Territory of Pondicherry, India. Several explanations are offered for the word 'Karaikal'. The imperial Gazetteer gives it the meaning 'fish pass'. According to Julien vinson the town is said...
, kottucherry, Nedungadu
Nedungadu
Nedungadu, formerly Nedoungadou, is a town and commune in the Karaikal District of Pondicherry, India.- Demography :According to the 2001 census, Nedungadu had a population of 15,406 with 7,573 men and 7,833 women. The sex ratio was 1,034....
, Tirunallar
Tirunallar
Thirunallar is a small town in Karaikal, India, in the Union Territory of Pondicherry , and can be reached by road from the town of Kumbakonam which lies in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu...
, neravy
Neravy
Neravy,or Neravi, is a town and commune in the Karaikal District of Pondicherry, India.- Demography :According to the 2001 census, Kottucheri had a population of 10,886 with 5,392 men and 5,494 women. The sex ratio was 1,019....
and Tirumalarajanpattinam
Tirumalarajanpattinam
Tirumalarajanpattinam is a town and commune in the Karaikal District of Pondicherry, India. Tirumalarajanpattinam is situated at a distance of 6 kilometres toi the south of Karaikal municipality.- Etymology:...
.
Etymology
Several explanations are offered for the word Karaikal. The imperial Gazetteer gives it the meaning 'fish pass'. According to Julien Vinson the town is said to have known as Karaigiri in Sanskrit. However, the name Karaikal is no doubt a combination of two words 'Karai' and 'Kal'. Both the words ‘Karai and 'Kal' have several meanings, of which the more acceptable ones are 'lime mix' and 'canal' respectively. Hence it has been suggested that the name may mean a canal built of lime mix.History
Early HistoryThis Karaikal area formed an integral part of the Pallava kingdom in the eighth century(C 731-796). Poet Sekkizhar (992-1042) describes the town as "vanga malik kadar karaikal", the 'Karaikal of many vessels on the coast' in his Peria puranam. In that the poet relates the life story of one Punithavathiar who abandoned the pleasures of material life and devoted herself entirely to a life of prayer and penance to signify her devotion to Lord Siva. He called her 'Karaikal Ammayar', conveniently after the town which must have been famous already.
Medieval History
In 1738, Dumas, a shrewd calculative prudent man and a lover of peace and above all one who was anxious to extend the French territory in India by smooth means, negotiated with Sahuji of Thanjavur for possession of Karaikal, the fortress of Karakalcheri and 5 village for 40000 chakras. On 14.2.1739 the French took possession of Karaikal town, the fort of Karakalcheri and 8 dependent villages. The King of Thanjavur raised the price for the town of Karaikal and the fort of Karakalcheri to 50000 chakras.
He also demanded a loan of 150000 chakras without interest repayable in 3 years against the hypothecation of Mayavaram lands and an annual rent of 4000 pagodas for 5 villages. The French agreed to all the terms except for the payment of 150000 chakras which was reduced to 10000 chakras while the annual rental was reduce to two or three thousand chakras. The villages so received were Kilaiyur, Melaiyur, Puduthurai, Kovilpathu and Tirumalairayanpattinam. Subsequently 2 villages were ceded to the French. Pratap Singh who succeeded the throne renewed demand for a loan of 100000 chakra and on receipt of the first instalment of 4000 chakras he assigned 8 more villages to the French viz., Codague (Kondagai), Vanjiyur, Arimullimangalam, Niravi, Dharmapuram, Uzhiapathu, Mattakudi (probably Mathalangudi) and Polagam. Then on 12-2-1740 he sold for 60000 chakras these villages which he had assigned only the previous year for 40000 chakras.
The same year he pledged Thirunallar Mahanam for 55350 chakras and also pledged 33 villages for 60000 chakras. By a treaty signed on 12.1.1750 Pratap Singh ceded to the French 81 villages around Karaikal and cancelled the annual rent of 2000 pagodas payable for the villages. This was all the territory the French possessed around Thanjavur when they surrendered to the British in 1761. The territory then passed twice to the British control before it was finally handed over to the French in 1816/1817 under the Treaty of Paris, 1814.
Modern History
The formation of Karaikal national congress on 13.6.1947 and Students Congress on 31.1.1947 symbolised the first concrete expression of popular desire in Karaikal for freedom from French rule. The French ruled this district till 31 October 1954 on which date the French flag flying atop the government house at Karaikal was lowered with due military honors before a large gathering of officials and non-officials. Thus the de facto transfer of power took place on 1 November 1954 followed by de jure transfer on 16 August 1962.
Geography
Location
Karaikal is a small coastal enclave of territory which was formerly part of French India
French India
French India is a general name for the former French possessions in India These included Pondichéry , Karikal and Yanaon on the Coromandel Coast, Mahé on the Malabar Coast, and Chandannagar in Bengal...
. Together with the other former French enclaves of Pondicherry (formally known as Puducherry), Yanam
Yanam district
Yanam district is one of the four districts of the Union Territory of Pondicherry in India.-Revenue Villages:Apart from the town of Yanam itself, the following villages fall under the district's jurisdiction:* Agraharam* Darialatippa* Farampeta...
, and Mahé, Karaikal forms the Union Territory of Pondicherry. Karaikal is bounded on the North and South by Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
state, on the west by Tiruvarur district
Tiruvarur District
Tiruvarur district is one of the 30 districts in the Tamil Nadu state of India. The district occupies an area of 2161 km². It is lies between Nagapattinam district on the east and Thanjavur district on the west, and is bounded by the Palk Strait on the south...
(also belonging to Tamil Nadu), and on the East by the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
. The enclave is located 132 km south of the city of Pondicherry, and is known for its rich cultural heritage.
2004 Tsunami
On the 26th of December 2004, Karaikal faced its worst tragedy in recent memory. Tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
waves hit this coastal town and more than 500 people, mostly fishermen and their families, were washed away by the killer waves.
Rivers
The main branches of Kaveri below Grand Anicut are the Kodamurutti, Arasalar, Virasolanar and the Vikramanar. Although
Arasalar
Arasalar River
The river Arasalar is a branch of Cauvery which split into 5 different rivers when it enters into Tanjore District from Trichy. Exactly in the place near to Pullambadi where the River Cauvery been stopped by Lower Anaicut and from Tiruvaiyaru this Arasalar separates from River Cauvery....
and its branches spread through Karaikal, the waters of Kodamurutti and Virasolanar also meet the irrigation needs of the
region
Topography
Forming part of the fertile Cauveri delta the region is completely covered by the distributaries of Cauveri. Covered completely by a thick mantle of alluvium of variable thickness, the lie of the region is flat having a gentle slope towards the Bay of Bengal in the east. It is limited on the north by the Nandalar and on the south-east by the Vettar. The group of rocks known as Cuddalore formations is met with in the area contiguous to Karaikal region in Nagappattinam District.
Climate
Karaikal is situated on the east coast of India, near latitude 11 N in the deltaic region of the Cauveri, experiences tropical maritime type of climate with small daily range of temperature and moderate rainfall. Karaikal has an annual average rainfall of about 126 cm. 68 percent of which occurs during October to December. The amount of rainfall during the south-west monsoon period is small, being less than 20 per cent of the annual. November is the rainiest month, accounting for about a third of the annual total. The range of variation of annual rainfall is wide.December and January are the coolest months with the maximum at about 28 C and the minimum at about 23C. Minimum temperature
as low as 16C may sometimes be recorded. The diurnal ranges of temperature are generally small throughout the year, being
highest (about 10C) in May and June, and the least (about 5C) during November to February.
Flora and fauna
Among the littoral species tolerating a certain amount of salinity in the soil and in the water, the following five are themost common and remarkable ones : Excoecaria agallocha L (Tam. Tillai), Clerodendrum inerme Gaertn. (Tam. Sangankuppi), Acanthus ilicifolius L. (Tam. Kaludai Mulli), Solanum trilobatum L (Tam. Tudulai), Pandanus tectorius Sol. (Tam. Talai). The trees grown in the area is Palmyra palm, Babul tree, Samutirappalai, Pongam oil tree, Wild date palm.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census2011 census of India
The 15th Indian National census was conducted in two phases, houselisting and population enumeration. Houselisting phase began on April 1, 2010 and involved collection of information about all buildings...
Karaikal district has a population
Demographics of India
The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...
of 200,314 , roughly equal to the nation of Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. This gives it a ranking of 589th in India (out of a total of 640
Districts of India
A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Districts are further subdivided, in some cases into Sub-Divisions, and otherwise directly into tehsils or talukas.District officials include:...
). The district has a population density of 1252 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
Family planning in India
Family planning in India is based on efforts largely sponsored by the Indian government. In the 1965-2009 period, contraceptive usage has more than tripled and the fertility rate has more than halved , but the national fertility rate is still high enough to cause long-term population growth...
over the decade 2001-2011 was 17.29 %. Karaikal has a sex ratio
Sex ratio
Sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. The primary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at time of birth, and tertiary sex ratio is the ratio of mature organisms....
of 1048 females
Women in India
The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times through the low points of the medieval period, to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful...
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
Literacy in India
Literacy in India is key for socio-economic progress, and the Indian literacy rate grew to 74.04% in 2011 from 12% at the end of British rule in 1947. Although this was a greater than sixfold improvement, the level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84%, and India currently has the...
of 87.83 %.
Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
is the principal language spoken and Tamils
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
are the predominant linguistic group in the district. Considerable amount of Sri Lankan Tamils are found in the pockets of Karaikal.
Hindus formed the majority of the population at 75.41% of the population followed by Christians at 10.70%, Muslims at 6.46% and others at 0.12%.
Places of interest
Its calm beaches are the prime tourist attraction of Karaikal. Several tourist destinations that lie in neighbouring Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
are within easy distance of Karaikal. These include the world famous temple of
- Karaikal Big Mosque
- Sri Saneeswara bagavan, the Lord Darbharanyeshwar Temple at Thirunallar(5 km from Karaikal).
- Karaikal Port.
- Karaikal Beach
- Karaikal Ammayar TempleKaraikal Ammayar TempleKaraikal Ammaiyar Temple is a Hindu Tamil temple dedicated to the goddess Punithavathi. It is located on Barathiar Street, in the center of Karaikal. Pondicherry, India.-History:...
. - The church of Our Lady of Angels built in 1891.
- Aayiram Kaliamman temple at T.R. Pattinam.
- Mastan Syed Dawood dargah, Karaikal.
- Bhadrakaliamman Temple at Ambagarattur
Special Places Near Karaikal
- The famous Abirami amman temple at Thirukadaiyur, 16 km north of Karaikal.
- Singaravelavar temple at Sikkal, 24 km from karaikal.
- The Christian Basilica of Our Lady of Good HealthBasilica of Our Lady of Good HealthThe Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health is located at the small town of Velankanni in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. The Roman Catholic Basilica is devoted to Our Lady of Good Health...
at Velankanni(TN): Famous Christian Pilgrim Shrine, 26 km from Karaikal. - NagoreNagoreNagore is a town in the Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India. It is located approximately 16 km south of Karaikal and 4 km north of Nagapattinam. Tiruvarur , Mayiladuthurai , Muthupet are nearby towns. It has a population of approximately 90,000. The prime attraction is the renowned...
Andavar Dargah (TN): Muslim Pilgrim Centre, located 10 km south of Karaikal. - Danish Fort (TN), Tanquebar. Around 12 km north to Karaikal.
- Tranquebar. The place where first Tamil printing press in the world were started by Bartholomew Ziegenbalg, in 1706.
Ten kilometres to the North of Karikal is the former Dutch
Dutch Empire
The Dutch Empire consisted of the overseas territories controlled by the Dutch Republic and later, the modern Netherlands from the 17th to the 20th century. The Dutch followed Portugal and Spain in establishing an overseas colonial empire, but based on military conquest of already-existing...
colony of Tranquebar
Tranquebar
Tharangambadi is a panchayat town in Nagapattinam district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, 15 km north of Karaikal, near the mouth of a distributary of the Kaveri River. Its name means "place of the singing waves"...
(Tharangambadi).
Transportation
AirNearest Domestic Airport is in Trichy (Trichirapalli). Indian Airlines connects Trichy with Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, Sharjah
Sharjah (city)
Sharjah is the third largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula.Sharjah is the seat of government of the emirate of Sharjah...
, Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
and Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. Sri Lankan Airlines Service connects Tiruchirapalli with Colombo and proposed service with Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
.
Train
Railway Station karaikal and railway station at Nagore (15 km from karaikal).
Road
Public Transport Many town buses are in operation in this district. They connect tourist places like Tirunallar
Tirunallar
Thirunallar is a small town in Karaikal, India, in the Union Territory of Pondicherry , and can be reached by road from the town of Kumbakonam which lies in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu...
, Nagore
Nagore
Nagore is a town in the Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India. It is located approximately 16 km south of Karaikal and 4 km north of Nagapattinam. Tiruvarur , Mayiladuthurai , Muthupet are nearby towns. It has a population of approximately 90,000. The prime attraction is the renowned...
, Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. It is a prominent seaport on the east coast of India and an important centre of trade and commerce.The town of Nagapattinam dates back to the Sangam period...
, Velankanni, Mayiladuthurai
Mayiladuthurai
Mayiladuthurai , formerly known by its Sanskrit names Māyavaram and Mayūram is a town in the Nagapattinam District of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Mayiladuthurai taluk of Nagapattinam district and is the second-largest town in the district...
and Thiruvarur in Tamilnadu State. Many private and public buses with registration of Pondicherry union territory and Tamilnadu state are plying in this region. Long distance buses operated by Tamilnadu government from Nagapattinam to Madras via. Pondicherry, pass through this place. Government owned bus services and Pondicherry Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) also runs long distance bus services between Karaikal and Pondicherry
Port
Karaikal Port Private Limited (KPPL), a private port developed by the Chennai based MARG Limited, became operational in April, 2009. The port is located on the Eastern coast of India at keezhavanjore village in Karaikal District of Pondicherry state around 300 km along the coast south of Chennai Port and around 360 km along the coast north of Tuticorin Port. The shoreline of the port is between 10o 50’56’’ N and 10o 49’44’’ N.
Loading and unloading of goods are usually carried on with the help of boats whenever water level is high in the river. The goods are brought to the warehouses without difficulty. There are storage facilities in the warehouses situated not far from Arasalar and Vanjiar. However, in view of existence of a port in Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. It is a prominent seaport on the east coast of India and an important centre of trade and commerce.The town of Nagapattinam dates back to the Sangam period...
, this minor port does not have much importance.
Festivals
Kandoori FestivalKandoori, a popular Muslim festival, is held at Mastan Syed Dawood
Dargah in Karaikal, Pondicherry. It is celebrated in honor of Syed
Dawood, a Sufi saint who came to India in search of his spiritual
guide, Halareth Syed Ahamed Kalkhel Diwan Oliulla, and spent his last
years in Karaikal.Kandoori Festival is held annually and is
marked by processions, music and dance. It ends with an elaborate
display of fire-works.
Sani Peyarchi Festival
Karaikal is known all over the country for its unique and the only temple devoted to the Lord Saneeswara (Lord Saturn) at Thirunallar. Those who are troubled by vicisitudes in life and wish bright future do spare their time to pay obiesance to the Lord Saturn. The Sani Peyarchi festival is the "Kumb Mela of Pondicherry" attracting lakhs of devotees.
Mangani Festivals
Although situated within Karaikal municipality, Karaikal Ammayar temple which holds the annual 'Mangani" festival which is a well attended 'Mela', as also Kandoori festival celebrated by Karaikal Darga and the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes celebrated by Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Masi Magam
This annual festival takes place on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Masi (Between February and March). Deities from as many temples in and around Karaikal are brought in ceremonial processions to the seashore for a symbolic immersion ceremony. Thousands of people go to the seashore to have a dip in the sea which is said to wash away one's sins. The most important deity, which takes part in the festival, is Sowriraja Perumal of Thirukannapuram village in Tamil Nadu area. The saying goes that Sowriraja Perumal married a fishermen community woman and hence the moment the deity enters Tirumalairayan-pattinam village of Tirumalairayanpattinam
commune for the festival, the fishermen take charge of the deity and charges are replaced after the festival is completed i.e. after the holy bath. This festival is held with all pomp and glory although it cannot be compared to the degree of celebration in Pondicherry.
Fire-Walking Festivals
Three or four times in a year, local temples conclude their annual festivals with hundreds of men, women and children walking on fire for fulfilment of their vows.