| Tirunelveli is a city in Tamil Nadu state of southern India . It is the headquarters of Tirunelveli District. Tirunelveli is about 2000 years old and is a town of old tradition . Tirunelveli was the capital of the Pandya Kingdom for some time, next to Madurai |
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| Tirunelveli is situated on the banks of the river Thamiraparani; it is on the way to Kanniyakumari from Madurai . It is a twin town - Thirunelveli and Palayamkottai. The town is located roughly 400 kilometers away from Chennai. |
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| The temple of Nellaiappar and Kanthimathi is situated in the centre of Tirunelveli. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and worshipped as Nellaiappar. Thiru-Nel-Veli (Thiru - Shri, Nel = Paddy, Veli = Fence). It is believed that food grains collected for worship at the temple were protected from the floods by the fence, hence the name Nel Veli came. |
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| The famous Courtallam Waterfalls are located in Tirunelveli District . Tirunelveli is famous for Tirunelveli halwa . |
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| Kanthimathi - Nellaiyapper Temple |
| This temple is situated in the heart of the city. This is a twin temple dedicated to Parvathi and Siva. Rare Jewels, the Golden Lily Tank, Musical Pillars, the hall of thousand pillars are worth seeing |
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| Papanasam (42 Kms) |
| This holy place is on the western ghat of Pothigai Hills. It is close to the Papanasam Falls, on the banks of the Thamiraparani river where Siva and Parvathi appeared before the great saint Agasthiya.Hence the falls is popularly called the "Agasthiya Falls". To commemorate the visit of the divine couple, the Agasthiya temple was built there |
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| Kazhugumalai |
| It was one of the important centres of the Jains. The bas-relief found here are the contribution of Jains and are among the earliest of such works.The Vettuvan Koil (Siva Temple) the rock-cut cave temple is worth visiting |
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| Krishnapuram sculptures |
| The Venkatachalapathy temple at Krishnapuram village on the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur main road about 12 km from Tirunelveli is one of the few specimens depicting the architectural marvel and grandeur. It is indeed a treasure house of stone sculptures. Many rare intricately carved sculptures made of granite stone are fine exhibits of architectural skill. This temple is dedicated to Lord Venkatachalapathy with his consorts Sri Devi and Bhu Devi on either side. The temple is complete in itself, since it is following the temple agamas |
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| It is said that Krishnappa Nayakkar of Nayak dynasty had commissioned some famous sculptors from Vijayanagaram and they have left behind a wonderful collection of sculptures that tell us tales of heroic love and tragedy |
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| Pulithevan Palace |
| Nelkattumsevval or Avudaiyapuram, situated in Sankarankoil taluk is to be written red letters in the history of the Freedom Movement of India for it was the headquarters of Pulithevar, the first chieftain in Tamil Nadu to resist the British. The author of the Tirunelveli District Gazetter, H.R.Pate, observes as follows |
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| Pottalpudur Dargha |
| The centre of attraction of this place is the oldest dargha built around the year 1674. This dargha attracts not only the Muslims but Hindus and Christians also in equal numbers. This has been built adopting Hindu temple pattern. If the prayers of the pilgrims are answered, they pay their offerings, through the dargha in large numbers during Kanthuri festival with great reverence. In this dargha where the lebbais act as priest, customs almost similar to that of Hindus are followed in the rituals. Here holy ashes obtained from tamarind bark, ghee, and flowers called nerchai are distributed to the devotees |
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| For this Andavar, sheep and fowls are brought by all the classes of people and sacrificed before him as they do before the local Amman deities. Now refined people offer fruits for their worship rather than fowls and sheep. Sandal paste is prepared in a pot on a large scale during the time of the kanthuri and is sent to the Hindu village of Ravanasamudram, from where it is brought back to this dargha with great pomp. This is offered to the Andavar. Afterwards this sandal paste is distributed to the eagerly awaiting crowd without discrimination as to caste, creed or religion. This stands as an example of communal harmony and secularism. This Dargah is considered as a pious and a sacred one equal to the Nagore dargha and only next to Baghdad by the people of this place. |
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| Manjolai - Hill Station |
| Manjolai is 57 km away from Tirunelveli and is at an elevation of 1162 sq. metre. There are many tea plantations in and around this place. Bombay Burma Tea estate is famous one in this area. About 4000 people are working in these tea plantations. Manjolai is noteworthy for the climate, scenery and calm atmosphere. This place can easily be compared with Udhagamandalam, the queen of Hill stations as far as the pleasing climate and peaceful natural atmosphere are concerned. Just above Manjolai, there are places like Kakkachi and Nalumukka which are real gifts of the nature |
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| Birds Sanctuary at Koonthankulam |
| A tiny village in the far south, Koonthankulam in Nanguneri Taluk of Tirunelveli District is emerging as a new favourite of the migratory birds. It is just 38 Kms. away from Tirunelveli and is in the nearby Nanguneri Taluk. It may soon be catapulted into the list of popular water bird sanctuaries in the country. This village is sparsely populated. Migratory birds start coming by December end and fly away to their northern homes by June or July after they lay eggs, hatch them and the young ones grow old enough to fly with the older ones. About 35 species of birds visit this calm but congenial village for breeding |
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| The birds called Painted strokes are coming from North India and East European Countries to this place. Similarly the flamingoes which flew in mainly from the Rann of Kutch have hatched and reared their young ones in the village |
