Tuticorin is also known as Thoothukudi and is the Pearl District of Tamilnadu. Plan your travel to this port city in the months between January and March. This is the period when the city has relatively pleasant weather and you could enjoy some the tourist spots within the district. There are quite a few historical sites and temples along with a sanctuary, where you could plan your trips when in Tuticorin. Some of them are as under:


Tiruchendur Murugan Temple

Thousands of years back, Tamilans worshipped Nature as Muruku(a Tamil word meaning: ‘youthfulness, tenderness, fragrance, etc’). Temples were constructed in natural settings – around forests, hilly areas, waterfalls and seashores, Tiruchendur temple is one among them, but it has a special significance. It was here that lord Murugan arrived with his band of warriors to fight against the Asura, Soorapadma. So a temple was constructed at Tiruchendur for Lord Murugan in rememberance of this.

Lord Murugan with the blessings from his divine parents, Brahma, Vishnu and crores of devas, created Tiruchendur in southeastern region near Vira Magendragiri Hills. Near Tiruchendur temple, a small temple for Lord Vinayaga is also found. It is called Tundugai VinayagarTemple. All devotees will first worship this Tundugai Vinayagar and then only worship Lord Murugan. In the temple, Vinayagar and then only worship Lord Murugan. In the temple, there are three prakarams.

In the first prakaram (round), Siddhi Vinayaga peruman Temple is situated. In this prakaram, if one moves towards west, on the farthest west there one can see 108 Sivalingas. These Sivalingas are called 108 Mahadevars. Ythen if one turns north, one can see a tall sized Vallapa Vinayagar facing west. After going to the north end, if one turns east, the perumal Sannidhi is situated there. After reaching the Perumal Sannidhi end, if one turns south, one finds the copper kodi Maram (Holy Flag mast). Kalyana Vinayagar is situated near kodi Marm. Usually marriages take place near this sannidhi. Ph: 04639-242270.

Ayyanar Sunai :

            It is 10 kms from Tiruchendur.  40 kms from Tirunelveli.  A natural water gushes out from this spring throughout the year.  A temple is dedicated to village deity Ayyanar.  It has now been developed into a beautiful picnic center.  Nearby this spring one can admire the forest with send dunes.  The Ayyanar is the family deity for many local people.

Bharathiar Mani Mandapam:

            In memory of the National poet Subramanis Bharathiar a memorial was built by kalki Krishna Moorthy in 1945 and Mahatma Gandhi showered his blessings on the occasion of its opening.  In 1981 the centenary year of Bharathiar was celebrated.  This was taken over by the public Relations Department on 11 – 12 – 1981.  Located at Ettaiyapuram.

Church of Our Lady of Snow – Panimaya madha Church :

            The statue of Our Lady of Snows is a posthumous gift of St.francis Xavier who reveived it here in june 1655.  This statue was installed at St.Paul’s Church.  The festival commences with flag hoisting on 26 July every year when the preparatory Novena begins.  The festival is celebrated for nine days.  During the period several Holy Masses are conducted in the mornings and evening.  More than 50,000 people congregate hear during this feast.  The Golden car is taken out through the streets once in a decade.  Holy masses are shed on the Golden car itself from 5 a.m. and by 7 a.m.

Kattabomman Memorial Fort Panchalankurichi

            Veerapandiya kattabomman, also known as kattabomman or ‘kattaBommu’ was an 18th century Indian palaiyakkarar chieftain from panchalankurichi and who was one of the earliest to oppose the British rule.  He waged a war with the British six decades before Indian War of Independence which occurred in 1857 in Northern India.  After a bloody war with the British he was captured by British and hanged in 1799.  His fort was destroyed and his wealth looted by the British army.  Today Panchalankurichi is a historically important place in the present day Thoothukudi district.

            Azhagiya Veerapandiapuram (Ottapidaram of today) was ruled by Jagaceera Pandiyan.  He  had a minister Bommu, also a brave warrior, who had migrated from Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu during the Vijayanagar times.  He was known as Gettibommulu in Telugu after the god Sastha Ayyanam Swamy to describe his strengh and fighting qualities which over a period of time, become kattabomman in Tamil.  Kattabomman ascended the throne after Jagaveera Pandiyan, who had no children.

Kattabomman Memorial Fort :

            This was built in 1947.  The visitors can see this during day time 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. & 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Family goddess Jackammal is located nearby.  The snap shot is of the 5th generation heir of Veerapandya kattabomman temple.

            The entrance fee for the visitors is 50 paise for children and Rs. 1/- for adults.

            Loaction at Panchalankurichi the car is pulled by the congregation with great faith through the streets of Thoothukudi and the car comes back to the campus by noon.  Usually more than 20,000 people take part in this feast.  It is surprising to see that many hindus participate in this feast of Our Lady of Snow to thank Her for the boons that she bestowed upon them and to seek Her blessings.

Ettaiyapuram :

            34 kms. From Thoothukudi.  This is the birth place of Mahakavi Bharathiyar.  A Memorial for Umarupulavar Dhansha is also located here.  During the reign of Pandyas at Madurai people from Chandragiri near Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh were brought and posted as “watch keepers (Dhisai Kavalars) of llasanadu.  This was later called Ettayapuam.  Ettayapuram was formed in 1565.

Kayalpattinam :

            Kayalpatthnam is situated between Thoothukudi and Tiruchendur on the State Highways. It is 30 km. From Thoothukudi and 3 km from Arumuganeri. Once it was famous port being only next to Korkai in 12th and 13th centuries.  This small place is mostly inhabited came from Arabia and worked for Pandya kings particularly in collecting pearls and chanks. They obtained a grant from the Pandya king and settled down here more than thousand years ago.  Kayalpattinam.  The Muslims here are called Marakkayars and were assigned the work of collecting the taxes levied on the chunk fishery and salt pans, and remitting them to the central treasury.

Kayatar :

            This small town is 24 kms from Tirunelveli on NH7 Maduri road.  Now this place is preserved as monument for kattabomman.  It is the place where he was hanged.

Kazhugumalai :

            Kazhugumalai (literally meaning, Eagle Hill) lies about 21 kms south-west of kovilpatti and 19 kms east of Sankarankoil.  There is an overhanging boulder over a cavern on the hillock, wich contains nearly 100 Jaina images arranged  in neat rows.  Images of Adinatha, Neminatha, Mahaveera, Parsvantha, Bahubai, Ambika and Padmavati are carved in specially-cut niches.  It is though that these images were carved at the instance of monks and lay devotees sometime around the 8th-9th  century A.D.  The establishment is said to have been headed by one gunasagaradeve.  There is also a Pandya monolithic temple called Vettuvankovil, just 150 metres to the north of the Jaina cave.  The temple is only one of early monolithic Pandya temples that still survivie.

Korkai Port :

            29 kms from Tiruchendur. Korkai, the ancient Port City (12th Centuary) of the Pandya Kings of the Sangam period, now identified with the village Korkai (Srivaikundam taluk of Thoothukudi Dt.) has attracted the attention of scholars, historians and archaeologists for more than a century.  Although korkai is recognized as an ancient Port City, it’s precise location is still a point of conjecture.  Korkai is now a remote village.  An attempt is made now to locate the port based on field explortion, folk beliefs, and coastal geology and geomorphology.

Kudhiraimoil – Theikuddierupu :

            Karukkuvel Ayyanar temple is situated in the middle of dense forest in the Kudhiraimoil – Theikuddiruppu village near kayaamoil.  The sand dunes surrounding the temple looks like a fortress around the temple.  One can worship the ayyanar along with his consorts Poosanam and Porkalai.  Since Ayyannr descended from a tree called karkuvaa and conducted many wonders he is described as karkuvaa Ayyan.  In later days it became karkuruva Ayyan.  He is also known as karkuruvela Ayyan, Karkuruvaail Ayyan and and karkoola Ayyan.  Five poojas are conduted regularly in this temple.

Kulasekarapattinam :

            The temple 20 Kms from Tiruchendur is known for the popular ‘Dasara’ festival where folk dance artists from all over the state participate in the festival.  It is a coastal village with a fine beach.

Memorial for Umaru Pulavar :

            The memorial was inaugurated on 29th Oct. 2007 by the Hon’ble Speaker Thiru R Avudaiappan, Government of Tamilnadu Legislative Assembly.  The tomb and a spacious prayer hall in the ground floor, with a library on the top floor.  About 1,000 literary works of Umaru Pulavar for the readers in the library.  At the age of 16, Umaru Pulavar stole the national limelight by wining a literary debate with Vallai Varundhi, a renowned poet  from North India.  Subsequently, Umaru Plavar was made the court poet of the Ettayapuram Zamin, sources said.  ‘Seerapuranam’, considered to the one of the best works by him, depicts the history related to Prophet Mohammed Nabi, and it contains 5,027 poems in three ‘kandams’, which are Vilathathu kandam, Noobuvathu Kandam and Hijurathu Kandam.  “Each of the ‘Kandams’ narrates various stages of life of Nabi,” sources said.  According to historians, the collection of the poet’s works at the library would be of immense help to research scholars.  Memorial is maintained by the information and Public Relations Department under the direct supervision of the District Public Ralations Department under the the direct supervision of the District Public Relations Officer.

Sri Vaikuntam :

            37 kms from Tirunelveli Srivaikuntam is famous for the temple dedeicated to ord Vidhu known as Sri Vaikuntapathi Swami with a lofty gopuram.  The Thiruvengada Mudaliyar Mandapam is rich with sculptures of Yalis, Elephants and Warriors.  The Ekadasi Mandapam wich is opened on Vaaikunta Ekadasi days, contains exquisite sculptures.  The Kailasanathaswamy temple is an another important temple.  It contains six inscriptions on the times of Veera Pandiya Kattabomman.

Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park

The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park is a unique marine biosphere reserve, located in the Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamilnadu. Rich in marine life, the Gulf of Mannar is spread over an area of about 10,500-sq-kms with 21 islands and continuous stretches of coral reef.

Kalakadu Wildlife Sanctuary
Sprawling in an area of 223 sq kms in Tirunelveli district, the sanctuary is a popular hunt for botanists and ornithologists as it is home to a great variety of flora and fauna. Tourists can expect of some great fun amidst the gallery of varied species of animals and dense forests.