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Karaikudi | |
|---|---|
 Valar Tamil Noolagam  Alagappa Chettiar Arch  Sekkalai Road | |
| Motto(s): Self-sufficiency, Unique Pride | |
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  Karaikudi Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India. | |
| Coordinates:10°04′25″N78°46′24″E / 10.073500°N 78.773200°E /10.073500; 78.773200 | |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Sivaganga |
| Region | Chettinad |
| Established | 1801 |
| Named after | Karai plant |
| Government | |
| • Body | Karaikudi Municipal Corporation |
| • Mayor | S. Muthudurai,DMK |
| Area | |
• Total | 94.31 km2 (36.41 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 20th |
| Elevation | 118 m (387 ft) |
| Population (2023 - Revised) | |
• Total | 303,291 |
| • Rank | 30th |
| • Density | 3,216/km2 (8,329/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil,English[1] |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 630XXX |
| STD code | 04565 |
| Vehicle registration | TN-63Z |
| Website | tnurbantree |
Karaikudi is a city andmunicipal corporation inSivaganga district in the Indianstate ofTamil Nadu. It is thelargest city in the district, and the centre of theKaraikudi Metropolitan Area, that forms part of theChettinad region.
Karaikudi is administered by theKaraikudi Municipal Corporation, which was established by theGovernment of Tamil Nadu in 2024.[2][3] It forms part of theKaraikudi Assembly constituency, which elects a member to theTamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, and is a part of theSivaganga Lok Sabha constituency, which elects its member of parliament to theLok Sabha. It is one of the cities selected for development under theAtal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation.[4][5]
Kandangisarees are a type ofcotton sarees woven in this area, and forms a distinctgeographical indication.[6] TheChettinad cuisine originated in the region.[citation needed]
The name Karaikudi is derived from the thorny plantkarai. The town was established in the early 19th century, and the oldest known structure is the Koppudaiya Nayagi Amman temple.[7] During theIndian Independence movement,Bharathiyar visited the town in 1919 to participate in an event,[8] andMahatma Gandhi visited the town in 1927.[9][10] After independence, the town saw significant growth in the industrial sector.[7]
| Religion | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinduism | 83.9% | |||
| Islam | 11.4% | |||
| Christianity | 4.3% | |||
| Other or not stated | 0.4% | |||
As per the2011 census, the town had a population of 106,714 inhabitants with a sex-ratio of 1,000 females for every 1,000 males.[12] TheKaraikudi Metropolitan Area had a population of 181,851 as per the census.[12] As per the extension plans released by the government, the metropolitan area had an estimated population of 303,291 in 2023.[13] As per the 2011 census, the town had 19,619 children under the age of six, consisting of 10,405 males and 10,214 females. The average literacy rate was 81.48%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.[14] The town had 47,504 households. There were a total of 60,069 workers, of which 558 were engaged inagriculture, 1,303 in household industries, 30,836 in other industries, and other marginal workers.[15] In Karaikudi,Hinduism is the majority religion with 83.9% of the total population, followed byIslam (11.39)%,Christianity (4.3%),Jainism (0.05%), andSikhism (0.01%).[11]
Karaikudi is located inSivagangai district in theChettinad region.[16][17] It is located on theNational Highway 210 and the largest city in Sivaganga district.[citation needed] TheThennar River flows through the southern part of the town.[citation needed] It has an predominantly flat terrain with an average elevation of 82 m (269 ft). Rocky areas are found in the surrounding areas of the town with increasingly abrasive terrain on the western side. The soil is of the hard red lateritic type and is not suitable for cultivation. Thewater table in the area is generally at depths of 3 to 6 ft (0.91 to 1.83 m) and rises to nearly 1 m (3 ft 3 in) below the ground level during rainy seasons. Since the 1970s, the water supply of the town has depended on the deeper aquifers. The average maximum temperature is about 37 °C (99 °F), and average minimum temperature is about 22 °C (72 °F). The annual average rainfall in Karaikudi is about 920 millimetres (36 inches).[7]
| Elected members | |
|---|---|
| Member of Legislative Assembly | S. Mangudi (INC)[18] |
| Member of Parliament | Karti Chidambaram (INC)[19] |
Karaikudi was constituted as a municipality in 1928 and was upgraded to a Grade IIMunicipality in 1973, to Selection Grade in 1988, to special grade in 2013,[citation needed] andcity Corporation in 2024.[20] The city covers an area of 94.31 km2 (36.41 sq mi)[13] and comprises the revenue towns of Kottaiyur and Kandanur and nearby villages of Kalanivasal, Sekkalai Kottai, Ilupakkudi, Ariyakudi, Koviloor, Managiri and Senjai.[21] The corporation has 100 wards,[citation needed] and there is an elected councillor representing each of those wards.[22] It is headed by a mayor and assisted by a deputy mayor. The functions of the municipality are devolved into six departments: general administration/personnel, engineering, revenue, public health, city planning and information technology.[23]
Karaikudi is a part of theKaraikudi assembly constituency and it elects a member to theTamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and forms part of theSivaganga Lok Sabha constituency that elects it member to theLok Sabha.[24] Law and order is maintained by the Sivaganga sub division of theTamil Nadu Police headed by a deputy superintendent. There are three police stations–North, South, and Azhagappapuram. There are special units which operate at the district level.[25]
Karaikudi and surrounding areas are popular for their unique Chettinad architecture based buildings and palatial mansions. Kannadasan Manimandapam, Kamban Manimandapam and Thousand windows house are major visitor attractions in Karaikudi.[26] A temple forTamil Thai (Mother Tamil) was established in 1993.[27] Siraavayal manjuvirattu, a type ofjallikattu bull taming festival is held during the annualPongal festivities.[28] Prominent temples include Sivan temple, Koppudaiya Amman temple,Ariyakudi Thiruvenkatamudayan temple,[29]Pillayarpatti Karpagavinayagar temple,Kundrakudi Shanmughanathar temple, Mathur Ainootreeswarar temple[30]Kandanur Kandaneswarar Sivan temple,Koviloor Kotravaaleeswarar Sivan temple, andVairavanpatti Valarolinathar-Vadivudai Ambal temple.[citation needed]
Nearby airports includeTiruchirapalli International Airport (95 kilometres (59 mi)) andMadurai Airport (100 kilometres (62 mi)).
Karaikudi also has an unused airstrip calledChettinad airport also known as Karaikudi airport. This old British era airfield had been used duringWorld War II. Thegovernment of India is planning to reopen this airfield under theUDAN scheme.[41]
Karaikudi is well connected by rail through theKaraikudi Junction railway station. It is a major rail hub and serves the city and its suburbs.[42] A complete list of railway stations within Karaikudi city limits can be found inthis list.
The town has two bus terminals, including the Rajaji bus stand. Buses that connect Karaikudi with nearby villages and smaller towns terminate at the Rajaji. The State Transport Corporation Buses run Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Trichy. Nearby cities run moffusil buses terminating at the town's other terminal, theKaraikudi Bus Terminal.[citation needed]
Karaikudi serves as one of the two headquarters of the Educational District in Sivaganga district. As of 2011, there were several government and many private schools in Karaikudi and surrounding areas. The town is home toAlagappa University, andAlagappa Chettiar College of Engineering and Technology, the oldest college here, established in 1953.[43] Government Law College, Karaikudi and Government Agriculture College, Karaikudi are also located in the town, providing specialized education in law and agriculture respectively. Other prominent institutions includeAlagappa Government Arts College andAlagappa Polytechnic College.
Many educational institutions in the town benefited from donations made by the businessman and philanthropistAlagappa Chettiar, who attended Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Vidyalaya.[44] The school, located on Sivan Koil Street, dates back to 1913 and is now SMSV Higher Secondary School for Boys.
Electricity supply to Karaikudi is regulated and distributed by theTamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB). The town along with its suburbs forms the Sivaganga Electricity Distribution Circle.[46] Water supply is provided by the Karaikudi Municipality from seven borewells is located at Sambai Oothu (Artesian aquifer).[47] As per the municipal data for 2011, about 45 metric tonnes of solid waste were collected. The underground drainage system in the city is on board at process and the sewerage system for disposal of sullage is through septic tanks, open drains and public conveniences.[48] The municipality maintained a total of 46.55 km (28.92 mi) of storm water drains in 2011.[49] As of 2011, there was one government hospital and 13 private hospitals in the town.[50][51] The municipality operates one daily market namely the Anna Daily Market and there are three weekly markets (Uzhavar Santhai) that cater to the needs of the town and the rural areas around it.[52]
Karaikudi is experiencing a hike in development in recent years. Part of this development Karaikudi is getting these projects below to enhance its development:
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