Karaikudi

History

The name Karaikudi is derived from the thorny plant karai. The town was established in the early 19th century, and the oldest known structure is the Koppudaiya Nayagi Amman temple. During the Indian Independence movement, Bharathiyar visited the town in 1919 to participate in an event, and Mahatma Gandhi visited the town in 1927. After independence, the town saw significant growth in the industrial sector.

Demographics

As per the 2011 census, the town had a population of 106,714 inhabitants with a sex-ratio of 1,000 females for every 1,000 males. The Karaikudi Metropolitan Area had a population of 181,851 as per the census. As per the extension plans released by the government, the metropolitan area had an estimated population of 303,291 in 2023. 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%. The town had 47,504 households. There were a total of 60,069 workers, of which 558 were engaged in agriculture, 1,303 in household industries, 30,836 in other industries, and other marginal workers. In Karaikudi, Hinduism is the majority religion with 83.9% of the total population, followed by Islam (11.39)%, Christianity (4.3%), Jainism (0.05%), and Sikhism (0.01%).

Geography

Karaikudi is located in Sivagangai district in the Chettinad region. It is located on the National Highway 210 and the largest city in Sivaganga district. The Thennar River flows through the southern part of the town. It has an predominantly flat terrain with an average elevation of 82 m. 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. The water table in the area is generally at depths of 3 to and rises to nearly 1 m 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, and average minimum temperature is about 22 °C. The annual average rainfall in Karaikudi is about 920 mm.

Administration and politics

Karaikudi was constituted as a municipality in 1928 and was upgraded to a Grade II Municipality in 1973, to Selection Grade in 1988, to special grade in 2013, and city Corporation in 2024. The city covers an area of 94.31 km2 and comprises the revenue towns of Kottaiyur and Kandanur and nearby villages of Kalanivasal, Sekkalai Kottai, Ilupakkudi, Ariyakudi, Koviloor, Managiri and Senjai. The corporation has 100 wards, and there is an elected councillor representing each of those wards. 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.

Karaikudi is a part of the Karaikudi assembly constituency and it elects a member to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and forms part of the Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency that elects it member to the Lok Sabha. Law and order is maintained by the Sivaganga sub division of the Tamil 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.

Culture

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. A temple for Tamil Thai (Mother Tamil) was established in 1993. Siraavayal manjuvirattu, a type of jallikattu bull taming festival is held during the annual Pongal festivities. Prominent temples include Sivan temple, Koppudaiya Amman temple, Ariyakudi Thiruvenkatamudayan temple, Pillayarpatti Karpagavinayagar temple, Kundrakudi Shanmughanathar temple, Mathur Ainootreeswarar temple Kandanur Kandaneswarar Sivan temple, Koviloor Kotravaaleeswarar Sivan temple, and Vairavanpatti Valarolinathar-Vadivudai Ambal temple.

Economy

• Karaikudi is a developed urban center in Sivaganga district in Tamil Nadu. UNESCO has offered to set up a Chettinad Heritage Museum in Sivaganga district recognizing the unique style of architecture in the region.
• Tourism is the main focus in recent years as the places are getting tourists from both domestically and internationally throughout the year since the government identified Karaikudi as heritage town and world heritage identified it in one among List of World Heritage Sites in India.
• Chettinad Kottan are palm leaf baskets woven by the women of the region. Chettinad Kottan has been noted for its unique style and colors and was granted a Geographical Indication tag in 2013. Chettinadu Kandangi sarees are a popular type of sarees produced in the region. In these area around 250 rice mills and paper mills located in puduvayal and pallathur are the sub urban region of karaikudi is one of the trade and commercial economical growth area. It is also called as second rice bowl of Tamil Nadu.
• Athangudi tiles are cement tiles like mosaic used for building the palatial houses in the town and in modern times, is a source for handicraft industry. Indian Overseas Bank was founded on 10 February 1937 in Karaikudi by M. Ct. M. Chidambaram Chettyar.

Major companies and government organisations

• C.E.C.R.I Central Electrochemical Research Institute under CSIR is located here in Alagappapuram is working on the development of new and improved products and processes as well as novel innovations in electrochemical technologies. It is operating from 25 July 1948. It also has its ocean research bench at Thondi & Mandapam in Ramanathapuram District.

• TNSTC head Karaikudi Regional Office - Div - III is serving people transportation services for Sivaganga and Ramnathapuram Districts. It is operating from 1 April 1983.

• BSNL Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Regional Headquarters in Karaikudi is serving Telecommunication services for Karaikudi Telecom District areas comprising Sivaganga District and Ramanathapuram District.

• AAVIN Karaikudi Dairy in Sivaganga Union is supplying milk and milk products to most of the southern districts commercial and residential needs by collecting sources from Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram Districts. It is operating since 1983.

• Karaikudi has the Postal Sorting Office and serves as the Headquarters of the Postal Sorting District of the Madurai Sub-Zonal postal region since 1972, so the entire postage received for both Sivaganga district & Ramanathapuram district will be received & handled here from Madurai and then dispatched to the rest of areas in the postal circle. It also serving as the Postal Intra Circle Hub (ICH) of Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram Districts.

• Karaikkudi Sarvodaya Sangam is the only Sarvodaya Sangh in entire Sivaganga district which is headquartered at Karaikudi and its area of operation area extends to entire of Sivaganga district and parts of Pudukkottai district.

Transport

Air

Nearby airports include Tiruchirapalli International Airport (95 km) and Madurai Airport (100 km).

Karaikudi also has an unused airstrip called Chettinad airport also known as Karaikudi airport. This old British era airfield had been used during World War II. The government of India is planning to reopen this airfield under the UDAN scheme.

Rail

Karaikudi is well connected by rail through the Karaikudi Junction railway station. It is a major rail hub and serves the city and its suburbs. A complete list of railway stations within Karaikudi city limits can be found in this list.

Bus

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, the Karaikudi Bus Terminal.

Education

Main article: List of educational institutions in Karaikudi

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 to Alagappa University, and Alagappa Chettiar College of Engineering and Technology, the oldest college here, established in 1953. 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 include Alagappa Government Arts College and Alagappa Polytechnic College.

Many educational institutions in the town benefited from donations made by the businessman and philanthropist Alagappa Chettiar, who attended Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Vidyalaya. The school, located on Sivan Koil Street, dates back to 1913 and is now SMSV Higher Secondary School for Boys.

Utility services

Electricity supply to Karaikudi is regulated and distributed by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB). The town along with its suburbs forms the Sivaganga Electricity Distribution Circle. Water supply is provided by the Karaikudi Municipality from seven borewells is located at Sambai Oothu (Artesian aquifer). 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. The municipality maintained a total of 46.55 km of storm water drains in 2011. As of 2011, there was one government hospital and 13 private hospitals in the town. 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.

Future projects

Karaikudi is experiencing a hike in development in recent years. Part of this development Karaikudi is getting these projects below to enhance its development:

• Karaikudi Local Planning Authority (KLPA)- KLPA oversees sustainable urban and rural development through master planning, zoning, and infrastructure improvements in the city.
• Karaikudi Neo TIDEL Park - A new Tidel Park is being developed in Kalanivasal Village near Karaikudi at a cost of 35 crores. This TIDEL Park will accommodate an efficient telecommunication system, ATMS and food courts, this will enhance the IT infrastructure of the city and surrounding areas giving World Class Infrastructure.

References

https://www.postalindia.in/division/tamilnadu-madurai-karaikudi

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