Eraniel | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Eraniel Junction | |
  Eraniel Location in Tamil Nadu, India | |
| Coordinates:8°12′N77°18′E / 8.2°N 77.3°E /8.2; 77.3 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Kanyakumari |
| Elevation | 10 m (30 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
• Total | 9,554 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Vehicle registration | TN 74, TN 75 |
| Website | www |
Eraniel is apanchayat town inKanyakumari district in the state ofTamil Nadu, India. It is of major commercial and political importance in the history of South India, as it was the seasonal capital of the affluentVenad and laterTravancore kingdoms until the seventeenth century, whenPadmanabhapuram andThiruvananthapuram rose to prominence. Currently it is known for its archaeological importance for the ruins of the dilapidatedEraniel Palace.
Eraniel is located at8°12′N77°18′E / 8.2°N 77.3°E /8.2; 77.3.[1] It has an average elevation of 10 meters (32 feet). It is near to Thuckalay. Eraniel's ancient name isEranyasinga nalloor.
Eraniel is a small settlement which sprawls over an area of around 3 km2. It is bounded in the north by Thalakkulam and in the east by Villukuri. Eraniel is around 72 km fromThiruvananthapuram and 7 km fromColachel Port. Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, is nearly 32 km from the town. Nearby tourist destinations includePadmanabhapuram Palace (was the capital of Travancore). In 1745, the capital was shifted from Padmanabhapuram to Thiruvananthapuram.[citation needed]
The nearest airport isThiruvananthapuram International Airport, 72 km away. The Eraniel railway station serves the town. Eraniel can be approached by road from Nagercoil, Muttam and Colachel.
Eraniel has a smallpalace located near Eraniel Gramam. The palace compound which spreads over slightly more than three-and-one-half acres only now consists of three identifiable parts – the Padippura or the majestic entrance way (now in total ruins), the main palace (also called Kuthiramalika) and the vasanthamandapam (spring pavilion)[2][3].[4][5]
As of 2010[update] Indiacensus,[6] Eraniel had a population of 9844. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Eraniel has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 80%. In Eraniel, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Government Higher Secondary School Eraniel (English Medium)
Government High School for Girls Eraniel(English Medium)
Government Middle School(Kotayakam)(English Medium)
Government Middle School(Eraniel Jn)(English Medium)
Government Higher Secondary School Kannatuvilai
Uma Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Alwarcoil & Madavilagam (English Medium)
Mothers Kidzee Pre School, Malkarai-Eraniel(English Medium)
All buses from Thingalnagar bus stand will pass through Eraniel. Many buses run from Nagercoil via Eraniel. There are also buses to Chennai from Eraniel. Eraniel railway station (ERL) (comes under Trivandrum Railway Division). Trains include Ananthapuri Express, Island Express, Guruvayur -Chennai Mail, Kanyakumari to Mumbai CST Express. Daily local trains from Nagercoil to Trivandrum also stops at Eraniel. A computerized railway reservation counter has now started in Eraniel Railway Station. Passengers can book railway tickets for any route from this station.
Following banks have their branches serving the village.