Thirunelveli

THIRUNELVELI – TAMILNADU TRAVEL GUIDE

INTRODUCTION

Located on the northern banks of the Thamirabarani River, the province of Thirunelveli is situated almost 80 kms north of Kanyakumari, the southernmost point of peninsular India. With an average elevation of around 47 meters or, 154 feet, the city is also known by names like Tinnevelly or Tinnevelli. Also known as the “Halwa City” after the typical sweet produced here, a tour to Thirunelveli is a definite must-include if you are planning a trip to Tamil Nadu.

History

One the capital of the Pandya kings, the historic city of Thirunelveli has always enjoyed a prominence in the political front of Tamil Nadu. Thirunelveli became one of the most prominent seats of politics during the reigns of the Chola kingdom (c.900–1200) and of the Vijayanagar Empire, before being annexed to the territory of the Nawab ofArcot who later ceded it to the sovereignty of the British.

Fairs & Festivals

The festivals of Thirunelveli are varied and add an extra spark of life to the town’s daily lives. Notable among these are:

January

Pongal Festival

February

R.C. Church Car Festival at Uvari

April

Papanasam Chitrai Visu Festival

May

Veerapandia Kattabomman Vizha – Panchalankurichi

June

Lord Murugan Temple Car Festival at Tiruchendur,Kalugumalai and Panpozhil

July

Saral Thiruvizha, Kutrallam

Nellaiappan Ganthimathi Car Festival – Thirunelveli

Adithabasu Festival – Sankarankoil

Govt. Exhibition at Thirunelveli

August

Adi Ammavasai Festival at Papanasam

September

World Tourism Day at Thirunelveli

Pottal Pudur – Mask Sandanakoodu Festival

October

Thiruchendur Lord Muruga Temple Kandasashti Festival

Athangarai Pallivasal Mask – Sandankoodu Festival

November

Kulasekarapatinam Thasara Vizha.

December

Kurukkuthurai – Thirunelveli Junction ‘Karthigai Thiba Thiru Vizha

How to Reach :

1.By Road :

Thirunelveli is well-connected to a number of neighboring cities by an efficient network of roads. These cities include Quilon, Tiruchendur, Rajapalayam, Ambasamudram and Nazareth.

2.By Train :

Thirunelveli is home to one of the busiest railway stations of Tamil Nadu, called the the Tirunelveli Junction railway station.

3.By Air :

The nearest airport to Thirunelveli is the Tuticorin airport, at Vaagaikulam, about 28 km from Tirunelveli city.

Best Time to Visit :

The climate of Thirunelveli is a typically tropical one with hot and humid summers and mild winters. The summers during the months of March to September see an average temperature of around 38°C while mild winters with an average temperature of 32°C can be observed during the months of October to February. This would definitely constitute the best time to plan a tour to Thirunelveli.

Places to Visit :

The major tourist attractions of a tour to Thirunelveli include :

The Nellaiappar Temple

A twin temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, the beautiful temple of Nellaiappar is one of the most revered temples of Tamil Nadu. It is said that the sage Agasthya worshipped Lord Shiva here. Close to the site is another impressive temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Close to these temples are nine Vaishnavite temples dedicated to Vishnu, which include the Alwar Nava Tiruppatis, the Krishnapuram Venkatachalapati temple with its brilliant sculptural work and the grand Tiruchendur Temple to Lord Subramanya, one of the most revered deities of Hinduism.

Kattabomman Memorial Fort

An impressive fort constructed by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1974, this houses the famous Sri Devi jakkammal Temple, the hereditary Goddess of Kattabomman.

Places Around Thirunelveli

The important places of tourist interest located around Thirunelveli are :

Tenkasi-53 Kms: Implying that the site is as holy as that of Kashi, this temple is one of the holiest places in the entirety of Tamil Nadu and dates back to almost 400 years.
Ettayapuram-72 Kms: Birthplace of the famous regional poet Subramanya Bharathy, who brought about sparks of revolution with his brilliant works, this is also the site of the Umaru Pulavar Dhansha.
Krishnapuram-13 Kms: An impressive temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple is home to one of the most respected deities of Tamil Nadu, Lord Thiruvenkatanathar.