Thoothukudi

Thoothukudi (formerly Tuticorin) is a port city, a municipal corporation, and an industrial city in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The city lies on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. Thoothukudi is the capital and headquarters of Thoothukudi district. It is located about 590 kilometres (367 miles) southwest of Chennai, 190 kilometres (118 miles) northeast of Thiruvananthapuram, and 580 kilometres (360 miles) southeast of Bengaluru. According to the Confederation of Indian Industry, Thoothukudi has the second highest Human Development Index in Tamil Nadu, next to Chennai. Thoothukudi City serves as the headquarters of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Limited, one of the leading private sector banks in India. Major educational establishments in the city include the Government Thoothukudi Medical CollegeFisheries College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Maritime Academy, V.O. Chidambaram CollegeKamaraj CollegeAnna University (Thoothukudi Campus), and Government Polytechnic College. The V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority is one of the major ports in India. Thoothukudi is an emerging energy and industrial hub of South India.

Thoothukudi
Tuticorin (colonial)
City
Nickname(s): 
Pearl City, Salt Capital of Tamil Nadu and Sea Gateway of Tamil Nadu.
Thoothukudi
Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu
Thoothukudi
Thoothukudi (India)
Coordinates: 8.764200°N 78.134800°E / 8.764200; 78.134800
Country India
StateTamil Nadu
DistrictThoothukudi
Former nameTuticorin
RegionPandya Nadu
Named forMacaroon, Parotta, Pearl and Salt
Government
  TypeMunicipal corporation
  BodyThoothukudi City Municipal Corporation
  Mayor Corporation CommissionerN. Jagan Periyasamy Dinesh Kumar C., I.A.S.
  Lok Sabha ConstituencyThoothukkudi
  State Assembly ConstituencyThoothukkudi
Area
  Metro
90.663 km2 (35.005 sq mi)
  Rank8
Elevation
29 m (95 ft)
Population
 (2011)
  City237,830
  Rank8th in Tamil Nadu
  Metro
411,628
DemonymThoothukudian
Languages
  OfficialTamil
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
628 0xx
Telephone code+91-461
Vehicle registrationTN-69, TN-92,TN-96
Literacy92.10
ClimateBSh (Köppen)
Coastline40 kilometres (25 mi)
Websitethoothukudi.nic.in
www.thoothukudicorporation.com

Thoothukudi is known as "Pearl City" due to the pearl fishing carried out in the town. It is a commercial seaport that serves the inland cities of southern India and is one of the sea gateways of Tamil Nadu. It is also one of the major seaports in India, with a history dating back to the 6th century CE. The city is believed to be of significant antiquity and has been ruled, at different times, by the Early Pandyas, Medieval Cholas, Later Cholas, Later Pandyas, Ma'bar Sultanate, Tirunelveli Sultanate, Vijayanagar Empire, Madurai Nayaks, Chanda Sahib, Carnatic kingdom, Portuguese, Dutch, and the British. Thoothukudi was settled by the Portuguese, Dutch, and later the British East India Company. The city is administered by the Thoothukudi Municipal Corporation, which covers an area of 353.07 km2 (136.32 sq mi) and had a population of 237,830 in 2011. The urban agglomeration had a population of 410,760 as of 2011.

The majority of the people of the city are employed in salt pans, sea-borne trading, fishing, and tourism. The 21 islands between Thoothukudi and Rameswaram shores in the Gulf of Mannar are noted as the first Marine Biosphere Reserve of India and have around 36,000 species of flora and fauna. This protected area is called the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park. Our Lady of the Snows Basilica festival is celebrated annually in August. This and the Shiva temple festivals, including Adi Amavasai, Sasti, and Chittirai chariot festivals, are the major festivals of the area. Roadways are the major mode of transport to Thoothukudi, while the city also has rail, air, and sea transport.

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