Tirunelveli Tourism, Tamil Nadu India
(Tirunelveli is also known as Nellai / Tinnevelly)
Tirunelveli Tourism, Tourist places in Tirunelveli, Sightseeing, Tirunelveli Travel Guide, Holiday Packages, weekend getaways, places near Tirunelveli, reviews, map and trips
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Tirunelveli Fast Facts
- State: Tamil Nadu
- District: Tirunelveli
- Famous for/as: Temples
- Population: 474,838
- Area: 108.65 km2 (41.95 sq mi)
- Altitude: 47 m
- Language: Tamil, English
- Best Season: Sep - Mar
- Weather: Summer 22 to 40°C, Winter 26 to 33°C
- Clothing: Tropical
- Local Transport:
- Pincode: 627xxx
- STDCode: 0462
Tirunelveli Info
Tourism Office:
Government of Tamil Nadu Tourist Office,
Tirunelveli Railway Junction,
Tirunelveli- 6257 002,
Tel: 0462 2500104
Tirunelveli, India Overview
Tirunelveli is believed to be an ancient city, over 2,000 years old; archaeological excavations close by unearthed an urn, with some rudimentary Tamil Brahmi script inscribed on it, which could date back to 500 BC. Next to Madurai, it was it was one of the most prominent cities of the Pandya kingdom as it served as their capital for sometime.
Situated on the banks of the river Thamiraparani, it is a twin town -- Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai – locate on either banks of the river.
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Must See Places in Tirunelveli, India
Tirunelveli, India History
The history of Tirunelveli was researched by Robert Caldwell, one of the Christian missionaries who visited the area in the nineteenth century for the purpose of both promoting their religious beliefs and educating the people.
Tirunelveli had been under the prominence of the Pandya kings, serving as their secondary capital while Madurai remained its primary capital. It was an important city of the Chola kingdom (c.900–1200) and of the Vijayanagar empire. The city was the chief commercial town in the period of Arcot Nawabs and Nayaks. They were among the various ruling dynasties of Tamil Nadu. In fact, they called the city "Nellai Cheemai", with cheemai meaning a developed foreign town. It was the Nayaks who, in 1781, granted its revenues and local administration to the British. In 1801, it was annexed by the British, who governed it until India achieved independence in 1947.
On acquisition from the Nawab of Arcot in 1801, the British anglicized its name as Tinnevelly and made it the headquarters of Tirunelveli district. This happened despite the fact that their administrative and military headquarters was located in Palayamkottai (which was also anglicized as Palankottah), during their operations against the Palayakars. Post-independence, both towns reverted to their original names.