Kovilpatti
Encyclopedia
Kovilpatti also known as Covilpatti, is a special grade municipality
in Thoothukudi District
in the India
n state of Tamil Nadu
. Belongs to Kovilpatti constituency
It is the second largest town in Thoothukudi District. It was the largest taluk in terms of revenue villages in India but recently it was split into Ettayapuram
and Kovilpatti Taluks. Now Elaiyarasanendal and some other villages have been added to Kovilpatti taluk.
The town was constituted as a Municipal Town in 1964 composed of Kovilpatti Village and Illuppaiyurani Village. In 1961, the town was 2.64 km2 with a population of 33,305; in 1971, it extended to 7.25 km2 holding a population of 48,509 and in 1991, it was 12.58 km2 with a population of 78,834.
, Kovilpatti had a population of 87,450. Males constituted 49% of the population and females 51%. Kovilpatti had a higher literacy rate, 98%, than other towns: male literacy at 99.8%, and female literacy at 94.9%. 11% of the population was under 6 years of age.
Kovilpatti is a fast growing town in Tuticorin District with prominent commercial and industrial activity, including a large number of match factories, textile mills and factories manufacturing crackers. Located 100 km south of Madurai city, 55 km north of Tirunelveli Town and 60 km north-west of Tuticorin.
Kovilpatti is situated on the National Highway No.7 (longest highway in India) which connects Varanasi
in the north and Kanyakumari in the south. The town lies approximately 130 m above mean sea level
. A small hill in the southeast is known as Swarna Kathiresa Malai. The deity is Lord Muruga. The town is very airy between the months of June and August because of a pass in the western ghats. The postal codes are 628501, 628502 and 628503.
was part of Sivakasi Lok Sabha Constituency till 2008. As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in the Tamil Nadu, the Kovilpatti constituency
will be a segment of the new Thoothukkudi (Lok Sabha constituency). Delimitation was made effective for all elections in the state of Tamil Nadu that is held on or after 19 February 2008.
With 5 terms from 1967 to 1990, S.Alagarsamy was the longest serving member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly representing the Kovilpatti constituency
.
works (Safety Matches) and fireworks, and is often called the "Matchless City of Matches" (You can see this words in big hoarding while entering to Kovilpatti thru Iluppaioorani village). It is the largest manufacturer of match boxes in India and second only to Sivakasi
in the manufacture of fireworks. In a day, more than 500 trucks carry loads of finished safety matches and fireworks to all parts of India, and to the ports of Tuticorin and Chennai
for exports. Because of its strategic location, Kovilpatti has emerged as an industrial town. Two large textile mills, Lakshmi Mills (more than 75 years old) and Loyal Mills ( more than 100 years old). Kovilpatti Agricultural Research Station is one of the most highly regarded agricultural research centres in Tamil Nadu.
Annarathna Match Industries, Comorin Match Industries, East India Match Company, Liberty Match Company (P) Ltd., Rose Matches (P) Limited and Kamachi Match Works are a few of the companies manufacturing safety matches in this town. Manufactured matches from Kovilpatti are delivered to all the states of India and abroad. Consequently, transportation has been important in the development of Kovilpatti.
Kovilpatti is also known for hockey. The Kuppusamy Naidu Memorial Tournament started at 1945 was conducted every year and it was the second oldest hockey tournament in India. It happens every year for around 15 days and hockey teams from all over India participate in this tournament. Since 2009 it has been conducted by K.R Educational Institutions as 'Lakshmi Ammmal All India Memorial Hockey Tournament'.
Kovilpatti is very well known for Kadalaimittai (sweet peanut cake). This is made out of groundnut/peanut
and other added flavours.
Kovilpatti is one of the industrial cities in Tamil Nadu. The town started its industrial development earlier than 1891. The introduction of the Southern Railway, the establishment of Loyal Textiles (1891),Lakshmi Mills (1926), establishment of Government Revenue Divisional Offices (1911)etc., induced the industrial growth of the Town
Kovilpatti is famous for match factories, textile mills and fireworks industry. Kovilpatti is the largest manufacturer of matchboxes in India and it is second only to Sivakasi in the manufacture of fireworks.
Owing to the availability of cheap labour, dry climatic condition and availability of good transportation, industrial development took place in the town. The availability of black soil around the town which favoured the cultivation of cotton paved way for the development of ginning and spinning mills. Lakshmi Mills and Loyal Mills are the major industrial establishments in Kovilpatti providing both direct and indirect employment to around 25000 people.
The dry climate prevailing over the town was a significant factor in the siting of the match and fireworks factories for which Kovilpatti is famous. It is the largest manufacturer of match boxes in India and second only to Sivakasi
in the manufacture of fireworks.
The raw material for the match and fireworks industry come from northern states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and finished goods are transported to northern states by road and rail. The match industry ranks first in the town in the number of factories (about 200) and production (90 lakhs gross of match boxes). The match units are concentrated in Wards A,C and D, which employ about 3000 workers. The products are transported to northern India through road and railway.
7 ginning factories, 17 printing press, 10 rice and flour mills, 3 saw mills and 196 other industrious, including one software company, function in the town.
is situated about 15 km east of Kovilpatti. It is notable as a cotton growing centre. It is also famous as the birth place of Nationalist poet and freedom fighter, Bharathi. 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.
, the Tamil writer.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in Thoothukudi District
Thoothukudi District
Thoothukudi District, also known as Tuticorin District, is a district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. Thoothukudi is the district headquarters. It is also known for Pearl cultivation with abundance of pearls found in the seas of Thoothukudi...
in the 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...
n state 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...
. Belongs to Kovilpatti constituency
Kovilpatti (State Assembly Constituency)
Kovilpatti is an Assembly Constituency and was part of Sivakasi Lok Sabha Constituency in Tamil Nadu. As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in the Tamil Nadu, the Kovilpatti assembly constituency has been a segment of the new Thoothukkudi .[3]...
It is the second largest town in Thoothukudi District. It was the largest taluk in terms of revenue villages in India but recently it was split into Ettayapuram
Ettayapuram
Ettayapuram is a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is notable for being the birth place of the great Tamil Poet Mahakavi Bharathiar. Muthuswami Dikshitar, one of the triad of Carnatic music also was patronised in his final years by the ruler of Ettayapuram...
and Kovilpatti Taluks. Now Elaiyarasanendal and some other villages have been added to Kovilpatti taluk.
Demographics
Kovilpatti is the gateway for entrants to Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts from north and west. The town started its developments earlier than 1876. The introduction of Southern Railway (Kovilpatti was a water stop for steam engines), the establishment of textile mills like Loyal Textiles (1891), Lakshmi Mills Ltd ( 1926 ) and siting of the Government Revenue Divisional Offices(1911), fueled the economic growth of the Town.The town was constituted as a Municipal Town in 1964 composed of Kovilpatti Village and Illuppaiyurani Village. In 1961, the town was 2.64 km2 with a population of 33,305; in 1971, it extended to 7.25 km2 holding a population of 48,509 and in 1991, it was 12.58 km2 with a population of 78,834.
, Kovilpatti had a population of 87,450. Males constituted 49% of the population and females 51%. Kovilpatti had a higher literacy rate, 98%, than other towns: male literacy at 99.8%, and female literacy at 94.9%. 11% of the population was under 6 years of age.
Geography
Kovilpatti is located at 9.17°N 77.87°E. It has an average elevation of 106 metres (347 feet).Kovilpatti is a fast growing town in Tuticorin District with prominent commercial and industrial activity, including a large number of match factories, textile mills and factories manufacturing crackers. Located 100 km south of Madurai city, 55 km north of Tirunelveli Town and 60 km north-west of Tuticorin.
Kovilpatti is situated on the National Highway No.7 (longest highway in India) which connects Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
in the north and Kanyakumari in the south. The town lies approximately 130 m above mean sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
. A small hill in the southeast is known as Swarna Kathiresa Malai. The deity is Lord Muruga. The town is very airy between the months of June and August because of a pass in the western ghats. The postal codes are 628501, 628502 and 628503.
Climate and rainfall
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 north-east monsoon in the months of October to December though 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.Politics
Kovilpatti constituencyKovilpatti (State Assembly Constituency)
Kovilpatti is an Assembly Constituency and was part of Sivakasi Lok Sabha Constituency in Tamil Nadu. As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in the Tamil Nadu, the Kovilpatti assembly constituency has been a segment of the new Thoothukkudi .[3]...
was part of Sivakasi Lok Sabha Constituency till 2008. As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in the Tamil Nadu, the Kovilpatti constituency
Kovilpatti (State Assembly Constituency)
Kovilpatti is an Assembly Constituency and was part of Sivakasi Lok Sabha Constituency in Tamil Nadu. As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in the Tamil Nadu, the Kovilpatti assembly constituency has been a segment of the new Thoothukkudi .[3]...
will be a segment of the new Thoothukkudi (Lok Sabha constituency). Delimitation was made effective for all elections in the state of Tamil Nadu that is held on or after 19 February 2008.
With 5 terms from 1967 to 1990, S.Alagarsamy was the longest serving member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly representing the Kovilpatti constituency
Kovilpatti (State Assembly Constituency)
Kovilpatti is an Assembly Constituency and was part of Sivakasi Lok Sabha Constituency in Tamil Nadu. As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in the Tamil Nadu, the Kovilpatti assembly constituency has been a segment of the new Thoothukkudi .[3]...
.
Development and growth
Kovilpatti is famous for matchMatch
A match is a tool for starting a fire under controlled conditions. A typical modern match is made of a small wooden stick or stiff paper. One end is coated with a material that can be ignited by frictional heat generated by striking the match against a suitable surface...
works (Safety Matches) and fireworks, and is often called the "Matchless City of Matches" (You can see this words in big hoarding while entering to Kovilpatti thru Iluppaioorani village). It is the largest manufacturer of match boxes in India and second only to Sivakasi
Sivakasi
Sivakasi is an active town and a municipality in Virudhunagar District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the capital of India’s firecracker industry with about 8,000 factories, big and small, producing 90 percent of the total fireworks output.It is also known as "kutti japan" meaning "small...
in the manufacture of fireworks. In a day, more than 500 trucks carry loads of finished safety matches and fireworks to all parts of India, and to the ports of Tuticorin and 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...
for exports. Because of its strategic location, Kovilpatti has emerged as an industrial town. Two large textile mills, Lakshmi Mills (more than 75 years old) and Loyal Mills ( more than 100 years old). Kovilpatti Agricultural Research Station is one of the most highly regarded agricultural research centres in Tamil Nadu.
Annarathna Match Industries, Comorin Match Industries, East India Match Company, Liberty Match Company (P) Ltd., Rose Matches (P) Limited and Kamachi Match Works are a few of the companies manufacturing safety matches in this town. Manufactured matches from Kovilpatti are delivered to all the states of India and abroad. Consequently, transportation has been important in the development of Kovilpatti.
Kovilpatti is also known for hockey. The Kuppusamy Naidu Memorial Tournament started at 1945 was conducted every year and it was the second oldest hockey tournament in India. It happens every year for around 15 days and hockey teams from all over India participate in this tournament. Since 2009 it has been conducted by K.R Educational Institutions as 'Lakshmi Ammmal All India Memorial Hockey Tournament'.
Kovilpatti is very well known for Kadalaimittai (sweet peanut cake). This is made out of groundnut/peanut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
and other added flavours.
Industry
Kovilpatti is a bifunctional town with commercial and industrial activities prominently. Kovilpatti was the largest Taluk in terms of revenue villages in India until recently it was split into Ettayapuram and Kovilpatti Taluks.Kovilpatti is one of the industrial cities in Tamil Nadu. The town started its industrial development earlier than 1891. The introduction of the Southern Railway, the establishment of Loyal Textiles (1891),Lakshmi Mills (1926), establishment of Government Revenue Divisional Offices (1911)etc., induced the industrial growth of the Town
Kovilpatti is famous for match factories, textile mills and fireworks industry. Kovilpatti is the largest manufacturer of matchboxes in India and it is second only to Sivakasi in the manufacture of fireworks.
Owing to the availability of cheap labour, dry climatic condition and availability of good transportation, industrial development took place in the town. The availability of black soil around the town which favoured the cultivation of cotton paved way for the development of ginning and spinning mills. Lakshmi Mills and Loyal Mills are the major industrial establishments in Kovilpatti providing both direct and indirect employment to around 25000 people.
Sivakasi
Sivakasi is an active town and a municipality in Virudhunagar District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the capital of India’s firecracker industry with about 8,000 factories, big and small, producing 90 percent of the total fireworks output.It is also known as "kutti japan" meaning "small...
in the manufacture of fireworks.
The raw material for the match and fireworks industry come from northern states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and finished goods are transported to northern states by road and rail. The match industry ranks first in the town in the number of factories (about 200) and production (90 lakhs gross of match boxes). The match units are concentrated in Wards A,C and D, which employ about 3000 workers. The products are transported to northern India through road and railway.
7 ginning factories, 17 printing press, 10 rice and flour mills, 3 saw mills and 196 other industrious, including one software company, function in the town.
Notable people
- Subramanya Bharathi, nationalist poet
- V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, freedom fighter
- Veerapandiya KattabommanVeerapandiya KattabommanVeerapandiya Kattabomman also known as Kattabomman was an 18th century Palayakarrar chieftain from Panchalankurichi of Tamil Nadu, India and the 47th King of Panchalankurichi who fought the British. His ancestors migrated to Tamil Nadu from areas in present day Andhra Pradesh during the...
, freedom fighter - S.Alagarsamy, member of Legislative Assembly represented Kovilpatti 5 Terms from 1967 to 1990
- CharlieCharlieCharlie is a common nickname for Charles and less commonly for Charlotte or Charlene.Charlie may also refer to:- Music :* Charlie , a British rock band in the 1970s and 1980s...
, Tamil film actor - Janakiraman, developer of Acetoxy silicone sealant
- Vai. Gopalsamy (Vaiko), politician in nearby Kalingappatti
- Rajanarayanan, writer (Edaiseval)
- Umarup Pulavar
Schools
- Aayira Vaisiya Higher Secondary School
- Aayira Vaisiya Middle School
- Bhavan's Kindergarten and Primary School
- CKT Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- Counian Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- E.V.A Vallimuthu High School
- EDUSTAR International School(CBSE)
- Everest Marriapa Higher Secondary School
- Govt Girls Higher Secondary School
- John Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- K.R Saratha Higher Secondary School, Nalatinputtur.
- Kamarajar Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- Kammavar Girls Higher Secondary School
- KRA Vidhyashram
- Lakshmi Mills Higher Secondary School
- Nadar Higher Sec.School
- Parvathi High School, Illuppaiurani.
- Punitha Ohm convent Matriculation School
- Seventh Day Adventist Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- St. Pauls Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- UPMS Matriculation School
- V.O.C. Govt Higher Secondary School,(oldest school in the town)
- Vishwakarma High School
Higher education
- G.Venkataswamy Naidu College
- Institute of Agriculture at Agricultural Research Station of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
- K.R College of Arts and Science
- Lakshmi Ammal Polytechnic
- Mano Arts & Science College, Puliyagudi
- Mano College, Nagampatti, Pasuvanthanai-Post
- National Engineering College
- Oscar Catering Institute
- Punitha Ohm Teacher Training Institute
- SSDM Arts and Science College
- Thiruvalluvar ITI
- Unnamalai Institute of Engineering and Technology
- Vairavan College of Engineering, near Kadambur
- Vinayaga ITI
Temples
- Aathi Vinayagar Temple : in Sankaralingapuram, main deity is Vinayagar.
- Arulmigu Sankareshwariamman Temple: at Veeravanchi Nagar, main deity is Sankareswariamman. Location of ten day Aadith Thiruvizha.
- Kaliamman Kovil Temple : in Sankaralingapuram, main deity is Kali Amman.
- Kathiresan Temple: the deity is Lord muruga called Kathiresan. The tunnel is said to lead to Ettayapuram Jaminthaar's bungalow.
- Krishna Temple, near town center.
- Kurumalai Sivan Temple and Ayyanar Temple: 10 km from Kovilpatti. Kurumalai is an excellent rocky hill with more flora and fauna and the Lord Shiva is located nearly 800 feet (243.8 m) high. There is a place on the way to Shiva temple where you can find water originating from a rock lively and passing through shiva linga. Water will come through the year even during peak of summer.
- Market Murugan Kovil : near the municipal daily market
- Mukkarai Pillayar Kovil: on Ettayapuram Road before SIDCO Industrial Estate.
- Murugan Temple : in Sankaralingapuram, main deity is Murugan.
- Nageswariamman Kovil : in M.G.R Nagar, main diety is Goddess Nageswari.
- Natarajapuram Kovil Street: in Illayarasanenthal Road (Center Railway Gate Near), main deities are Madasamy, Karuppasamy & Sudalai Madasamy.
- Palani Andavar Koil : main deity is Lord Muruga.
- Pambalamman Temple: in Chithirampatti, main deity is is Nagar.
- Pathirakali Amman & Kali Amman Koil: in Velayuthapuram, main deities are Pathirakali Amman and Kali Amman.
- Pathirakali Amman Koil: in pathira kaliamman kovil street, main deity is Pathirakali Amman.
- Rajiv Nagar Vetrivinayagar Temple: in nearby Nadar Higher Secondary School, main deity is Vinayaga
- Ram Anuman Temple: in Kovilpatti Byepass road Ram Anuman Nagar, main deity is Lord Anjeneya
- Santhana Mariamman Kovil : This temple as the name suggests is for Goddess Mariamman. It is also located in Pudhugramam area.
- Saramariamman Kovil Temple: near market, main deity is Saramari Amman.
- Shenbagavalliamman Temple: location for the annual Car Festival and Theertha Vari.
- Sri Mariamman Kovil : in Pudhugramam, main deity is Goddess Mariamman
Churches
- ACA Church Bharathinagar
- Assembly of God Church New Road
- JEM Church Muthu Nagar
- Jesus With Us Church
- Maranatha Biblical Church
- Seventh Day Adventist Church, Chekkadi Street
- St. Joseph Church
- St.Pauls Church
- Tamil Baptist Church New Road
Ettayapuram
EttayapuramEttayapuram
Ettayapuram is a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is notable for being the birth place of the great Tamil Poet Mahakavi Bharathiar. Muthuswami Dikshitar, one of the triad of Carnatic music also was patronised in his final years by the ruler of Ettayapuram...
is situated about 15 km east of Kovilpatti. It is notable as a cotton growing centre. It is also famous as the birth place of Nationalist poet and freedom fighter, Bharathi. 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
Kalugumalai is a massive dome of rock of 300 feet height situated on the road connecting Kovilpatti and Sankarankoil. It is famous for a rock cut temple called “Vettuvankoil”. 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.Panchalankuruchi
Panchalankuruchi is situated three kilometres north of Ottapidaram. The famous freedom fighter Kattabomman's fort was located here. At present only the fort remains; the rest of the settlement was destroyed by the British at the end of the war in 1799. In 1975, the government of Tamil Nadu constructed a fort in Panchalankurich in memory of the freedom fighter.Sankarankoil
Sankarankoil is situated west of Kovilpatti. It is the site of temple of Sankara Narayanar and Gomathiamman and attracts pilgrims and devotees from the surrounding districts. The Adithapasu festival attracts large crowds every year during July or August.Idaiseval
Idaiseval is situated about 12 km south of Kovilpatti and is the birth place of Ki. RajanarayananKi. Rajanarayanan
Ki. Rajanarayanan , popularly known by Tamil initials as Ki. Ra., is a Tamil folklorist and author from India.-Writing career:Ki. Ra.'s first published short story was Mayamaan , which came out in 1958. It was an immediate success. It was followed by many more short stories...
, the Tamil writer.
Pillaiyarnatham
Pillaiyarnatham is located 15 km from Kovilpatti. It is the site of the Perumal and Selvakalyiamman temples and a government high school is located on the edge of the village. Many Telugu speaking people live there.Media
Local channels:- KCV Channel
- Pugal Music
- Pugal TV
- AKASH TV
- Tamil TV
- Deepam
- Krishna Media
- G TV
- Honey
- AMN
- Sathya