Thoothukudi
Encyclopedia
Thoothukudi also known as Tuticorin, is a port city and a Municipal Corporation
in Thoothukudi district
of the India
n state
of Tamil Nadu
. Thoothukudi is the headquarters of Thoothukudi District
.
Thoothukudi is also known as "Pearl City". It is a commercial seaport which serves the inland cities of Southern India and is one of the sea gateways of Tamil Nadu. It is also one of the major seaports in India with a history dating back to the 6th century AD. It is located about 190 kilometres (118 mi) northeast of Thiruvananthapuram
(Trivandrum) and 590 kilometres (367 mi) south of Chennai
.
, and is known for its pearl
fishing and shipbuilding
industries. Freedom fighter Vanchinathan
killed the then Tirunelveli District Collector Ash during the freedom struggle in Maniyachi. To honour him, Maniyachi Railway station is called Vanchi Maniyachi Junction.
The major harbour of Thoothukudi is well known as a pearl diving and fishing centre. It is one of the oldest seaports in the world and was the seaport of the Pandyan kingdom after Korkai
, near Palayakayal. It was later taken over by the Portuguese
in 1548, captured by the Dutch
in 1658, and ceded to the British
in 1825. The lighthouse built in 1842 marked the beginning of the history of harbour development in the city. Thoothukudi was established as a Municipality in 1866 with Roche Victoria as its first chairman. It attained the status of Corporation on August 5, 2008 after 142 years of being a municipality.
Finally, the name "Tuticorin" was used by Portuguese who came here.
Today the city is referred to as Thoothukudi in Tamil and in English.
, on the Gulf of Mannar
, about 590 kilometres southwest of Chennai
's Kathipara junction
.
, launched the first swadeshi ship S.S. Gaelia and S.S.Lawoe in British India from Thoothukudi Port. After Independence, the minor Port of Thoothukudi witnessed a flourishing trade and handled a variety of cargo.
To cope with the increasing trade through Thoothukudi, the Government of India sanctioned the construction of an all-weather Port at Thoothukudi. On 11 July 1974, the newly-constructed Thoothukudi port
was declared to be the tenth major port in India Second only to JN Port (Mumbai) in size. Thoothukudi is an artificial port. This is the third international port in Tamil Nadu and its second all-weather port. The port is also helping increase the tourism in the region. A new ferry has been commenced between Thoothukudi and Colombo
.
Thoothukudi is one of the very few ports of India where Mechanised Sailing Vessels are operated. These vessels are operated at the Old Port which is termed by the port authorities as Zone B.
which is caught here is dried and sold as Maasi. Dry fish from Thoothukudi is sent to Sri Lanka and many parts of South India. The fish-cake produced here are used for food for prawns and other fishes. There are 11 marine fishing villages.
There is one Joint Director of Fisheries and Assistant Directors of Fisheries in charge of Pearl-chunk fishing, Fishermen Training Institute and for technical guidance. There is fish-seed farm at Kadamba. Service centre/Base workshop of this district is situated at Thoothukudi. Fish is produced and supplied to the poor at cheaper rates. There is a fish curing centre at Palayakayal, Punnakayal. The estimated inland fish catch is 1,583 MT and Marine fish catch is 34,066 MT in the year 1999.
Currently projects,
Proposed projects,
Funds have been allocated for converting the permanent way
to a double track between Dindugul and Tuticorin and the electrification of the Madurai – Tuticorin line is expected to be completed by March 2012. A proposal for connecting Karakudi – Kanyakumari through Ramand, Tuticorin and Tiruchendur is under survey.
is at Vagaikulam, 14 km from the heart of the city. It was for some years closed to commercial traffic but reopened in April 2006. The State Government plans to extend the runway and modernize the airport to handle to more traffic and bigger aircraft. There was also a proposal in 2009 for a greenfield airport.
Madurai Airport
is the nearest international airport.
Malai, a hill situated in Western Ghats near Papanasam
, a small village in the Tirunelveli district
.
As per Hindu legend, Lord Shiva sent the two saints Vyasa
and Agatyar (in Sanskrit
Agastya
) to create the divine languages Sanskrit and Tamil. Agatyar came to Papanasam and established the Tamil culture
from the Pothigai
Malai.
Tuticorin Gymkhana Club has two Synthetic Turf Tennis courts, Tuticorin is the only other place after Chennai in Tamil Nadu to have this modern facility.
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
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...
of 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
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
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...
. Thoothukudi is the headquarters of 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...
.
Thoothukudi is also known as "Pearl City". It is a commercial seaport which serves the inland cities of Southern India and is one of the sea gateways of Tamil Nadu. It is also one of the major seaports in India with a history dating back to the 6th century AD. It is located about 190 kilometres (118 mi) northeast of Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
(Trivandrum) and 590 kilometres (367 mi) south of 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...
.
History
Thoothukudi is part of the Pearl Fishery CoastPearl Fishery Coast
The Pearl Fishery Coast refers to a coastal area of southern India, extending along the Coromandel Coast from Tuticorin to Comorin.The coast took its name from the presence of pearls on the coast, and the numerous fisheries that operated to exploit them....
, and is known for its pearl
Pearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
fishing and shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
industries. Freedom fighter Vanchinathan
Vanchinathan
Vanchinathan , popularly known as Vanchi, was an Indian Tamil independence activist.He is best remembered for having shot dead Ashe, the Collector of Thirunelveli and having later committed suicide in order to evade arrest....
killed the then Tirunelveli District Collector Ash during the freedom struggle in Maniyachi. To honour him, Maniyachi Railway station is called Vanchi Maniyachi Junction.
The major harbour of Thoothukudi is well known as a pearl diving and fishing centre. It is one of the oldest seaports in the world and was the seaport of the Pandyan kingdom after Korkai
Korkai
Korkai is a small village in the Srivaikuntam taluk of Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated about 3 km north of the Thamirabarani River and about 6 km from the shore of Bay of Bengal. Korkai was the capital, principal center of trade and important port of the Early Pandyan...
, near Palayakayal. It was later taken over by the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in 1548, captured by the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1658, and ceded to the British
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1825. The lighthouse built in 1842 marked the beginning of the history of harbour development in the city. Thoothukudi was established as a Municipality in 1866 with Roche Victoria as its first chairman. It attained the status of Corporation on August 5, 2008 after 142 years of being a municipality.
Origin of the name
There are three theories as to the origin of the name:- Thoothu (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 (& river) while "Kudi" also stands for "settlement" or "colony". Hence "Thoortha Kudi" or "Thoothukudi" could mean a settlement built on land reclaimed from sea.
Finally, the name "Tuticorin" was used by Portuguese who came here.
Today the city is referred to as Thoothukudi in Tamil and in English.
Geography
Thoothukudi is in South IndiaSouth India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
, on the Gulf of Mannar
Gulf of Mannar
The Gulf of Mannar is a large shallow bay forming part of the Laccadive Sea in the Indian Ocean. It lies between the southeastern tip of India and the west coast of Sri Lanka. A chain of low islands and reefs known as Adam's Bridge, also called Ramsethu, which includes Mannar Island, separates the...
, about 590 kilometres southwest of 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...
's Kathipara junction
Kathipara junction
Kathipara Junction is an important road junction in Chennai, India. It is located at Alandur, , south of Guindy, at the intersection of the Grand Southern Trunk Road , Inner Ring Road, Anna Salai and the Mount-Poonamallee Road...
.
Administration
Thoothukudi was a part of Tirunelveli Lok Sabha constituency till 2009. Thoothukudi was separated from Tirunelveli Lok Sabha constituency and became a new Lok Sabha constituency from 2009. The constituency comprises the whole of Thoothukudi District, which includes Vilathikulam, Thoothukkudi, Tiruchendur, Sri Vaikuntam, Ottapidaram and Kovilpatti.Economy
The economy of Thoothukudi revolves around shipping, fishing, salt pan, and agricultural industries. Thoothukudi has a host of other industries including power, chemicals and IT.Thermal power plant
The Thoothukudi Thermal Power Station has five 210 megawatt generators. The first generator was commissioned in July, 1979. This power station supplies about one-third of the total power demand of Tamil Nadu.Shipping
Thoothukudi has been a centre for maritime trade and pearl fishery for more than a century. Its natural harbour with a rich hinterland, facilitated development of the port. Thoothukudi was declared as a minor anchorage port in 1868. In 1906, V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, with the help of Bal Gangadhar TilakBal Gangadhar Tilak
Lokmanya Tilak –, was an Indian nationalist, teacher, social reformer and independence fighter who was the first popular leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The British colonial authorities derogatorily called the great leader "Father of the Indian unrest"...
, launched the first swadeshi ship S.S. Gaelia and S.S.Lawoe in British India from Thoothukudi Port. After Independence, the minor Port of Thoothukudi witnessed a flourishing trade and handled a variety of cargo.
To cope with the increasing trade through Thoothukudi, the Government of India sanctioned the construction of an all-weather Port at Thoothukudi. On 11 July 1974, the newly-constructed Thoothukudi port
Tuticorin Port
Tuticorin Port is one of the 12 major ports in India. It was declared to be a major port on 11 July 1974. It is second-largest port in Tamil Nadu and fourth-largest container terminal in India after Kochi International Container Transshipment Terminal, Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Chennai Port....
was declared to be the tenth major port in India Second only to JN Port (Mumbai) in size. Thoothukudi is an artificial port. This is the third international port in Tamil Nadu and its second all-weather port. The port is also helping increase the tourism in the region. A new ferry has been commenced between Thoothukudi 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...
.
Thoothukudi is one of the very few ports of India where Mechanised Sailing Vessels are operated. These vessels are operated at the Old Port which is termed by the port authorities as Zone B.
Fisheries
Marine fishing, Pearl and Valamburi Chunk fishing are famous in this district from the time immemorial. Thoothukudi is the main centre for deep sea fishing in the district which has a lengthy coast-line of about 140 km. Prawn culture was important and earned a considerable amount of foreign exchange. Now the prawn culture has been banned by the Supreme Court of India due to pollution issues. Thoothukudi Fishing industry thrives since this is the place known to attract varieties of fish daily unlike other centres. Fishes caught here are either sold locally or exported. TunaTuna
Tuna is a salt water fish from the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus. Tuna are fast swimmers, and some species are capable of speeds of . Unlike most fish, which have white flesh, the muscle tissue of tuna ranges from pink to dark red. The red coloration derives from myoglobin, an...
which is caught here is dried and sold as Maasi. Dry fish from Thoothukudi is sent to Sri Lanka and many parts of South India. The fish-cake produced here are used for food for prawns and other fishes. There are 11 marine fishing villages.
There is one Joint Director of Fisheries and Assistant Directors of Fisheries in charge of Pearl-chunk fishing, Fishermen Training Institute and for technical guidance. There is fish-seed farm at Kadamba. Service centre/Base workshop of this district is situated at Thoothukudi. Fish is produced and supplied to the poor at cheaper rates. There is a fish curing centre at Palayakayal, Punnakayal. The estimated inland fish catch is 1,583 MT and Marine fish catch is 34,066 MT in the year 1999.
Roads
Tuticorin City is well connected by road. The Major Highways are,- Tuticorin – Madurai – Trichy – (NH 45-B)
- Tuticorin – Palayamkottai (NH 7-A)
- Tuticorin – Palayakayal – Tiruchendur (State Highway)
- Tuticorin – Ramanathapuram (State Highway). Was recently upgraded as part of the East Coast Road (ECR) Project which will soon connect Tuticorin with Chennai through coastal line.
Currently projects,
- Tuticorin – Palayamkottai (NH 7-A) Expressway 4-way laning
Proposed projects,
- The expansion of ECR from Tuticorin to Kanyakumari at a cost of 190 crores is planned.
Railways
Tuticorin City railway station is one of the oldest stations in India and South Indian Railway began a Madras – Tuticorin service connecting with the boat to Ceylon in 1899. The station was declared a Model Station in 2007 and several infrastructure developments are in process. There is also another station, known as Tuticorin Melur.Funds have been allocated for converting the permanent way
Permanent way
The permanent way is the elements of railway lines: generally the pairs of rails typically laid on the sleepers embedded in ballast, intended to carry the ordinary trains of a railway...
to a double track between Dindugul and Tuticorin and the electrification of the Madurai – Tuticorin line is expected to be completed by March 2012. A proposal for connecting Karakudi – Kanyakumari through Ramand, Tuticorin and Tiruchendur is under survey.
Airport
Tuticorin AirportTuticorin Airport
Tuticorin Airport is a domestic airport located from Thoothukudi , Tamil Nadu, India.-Structure:Tuticorin Airport has one asphalt runway, oriented 10/28, 1351 metres long and 30 metres wide. Its 100 by 60 metre apron provides parking space for 2 ATR 72 or similar aircraft at a time, while its...
is at Vagaikulam, 14 km from the heart of the city. It was for some years closed to commercial traffic but reopened in April 2006. The State Government plans to extend the runway and modernize the airport to handle to more traffic and bigger aircraft. There was also a proposal in 2009 for a greenfield airport.
Madurai Airport
Madurai Airport
Madurai Airport is fourth largest airport in Tamil Nadu and serves Madurai, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The airport is located about from the Madurai railway station. The airport was established in 1957. -Airport specifications:...
is the nearest international airport.
Port
- Tuticorin Port is a natural deep-sea harbour formed with rubble mound type parallel breakwaters projecting into the sea for about 4 kilometres.
- The harbour basin extends to about 400 hectares of protected water area and is served by an approach channel of 2400 metres length and 183 metres width.
- Tuticorin Port boasts of 9 Cargo Berths, 1 Shallow Water Berth, 1 Passenger Jetty, 1 Oil Jetty and 2 Coal Jetties in Tuticorin Port.
- Works are being carried out to increase the depth of the canal and basin to handle vessels of up to 12.8m draft.
- The present capacity of the Tuticorin Port is 20.55 million tonnes.
- A luxury ferry liner, the Scotia Prince, is conducting a ferry service to ColomboColomboColombo 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 LankaSri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Ferry services between the two countries have been revived after more than 20 years.
Language
There is a tradition that the Tamil language originated from the PothigaiPothigai
The Pothigai Malai , also known as the Agasthiyar Malai, is in the Ashambu hills, part of the Annamalai Hills in the southern part of the Western Ghats of Southern India. Legend says that Sage Agastya created the Tamil language here.-Geography:The Pothigai hills is in the Thiruvananthapuram...
Malai, a hill situated in Western Ghats near Papanasam
Papanasam
Papanasam is a panchayat town in Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In otherwords it is a grown up village and Growing Town. This is the town 25 km from Tanjore and 15 km from Kumbakonam...
, a small village in the Tirunelveli district
Tirunelveli District
Tirunelveli District is a district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The city of Tirunelveli is the district headquarters. A unique feature of this district is that it encompasses all five geographical traditions of Tamil Literature; kurinji , mullai , marudham , neithal and palai...
.
As per Hindu legend, Lord Shiva sent the two saints Vyasa
Vyasa
Vyasa is a central and revered figure in most Hindu traditions. He is also sometimes called Veda Vyasa , or Krishna Dvaipayana...
and Agatyar (in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
Agastya
Agastya
Agastya was a Tamil/Vedic Siddhar or sage. Agastya and his clan are also generally credited with uncovering many mantras of the Rig Veda, the earliest and most revered Hindu scripture, in the sense of first having the mantras revealed in his mind by the Supreme Brahman...
) to create the divine languages Sanskrit and Tamil. Agatyar came to Papanasam and established the Tamil culture
Tamil culture
Tamil culture is the culture of the Tamil people. Tamil culture is rooted in the arts and ways of life of Tamils in India, Sri Lanka, and across the globe...
from the Pothigai
Pothigai
The Pothigai Malai , also known as the Agasthiyar Malai, is in the Ashambu hills, part of the Annamalai Hills in the southern part of the Western Ghats of Southern India. Legend says that Sage Agastya created the Tamil language here.-Geography:The Pothigai hills is in the Thiruvananthapuram...
Malai.
Media and communication
- Tuticorin has All India Radio Station which Carries AIR External Services for South Asia in English, Sinhala and Tamil (1053 kHz).
- FM Radio Stations in Tuticorin City include Suryan FM (93.5 MHz), Hello FM (106.4 MHz).
- CCL got the FM Radio License for Tuticorin under Phase II of FM Radio Licenses by Government of India.
- Tuticorin City is the landing point for the first undersea cable of BSNL, Ltd. Connecting Tuticorin with Colombo. The optical fibre cable runs between Mt. Lavinia (Sri Lanka) and Tuticorin (325 km).
Education
Thoothukudi has numerous schools, including those classed as Primary, Middle and Higher Secondary, as well as colleges.Facilities
Tharuvai stadium hosts most of the local matches and is maintained by Sports Development Authoriy of Tamil Nadu.Tuticorin Gymkhana Club has two Synthetic Turf Tennis courts, Tuticorin is the only other place after Chennai in Tamil Nadu to have this modern facility.
Parks
- Roche Park is situated on the southern corner of the city on the way to harbour.
- Harbour Beach park is situated near the harbor guest house.
- Nehruji Park is in the northern side of the city.
- Rajaji Park near Government Hospital which is full of trees.
- Teppakulam park around the Sundara Vinayagar Temple tank in the heart of the city.