Paramakudi
—  city  —
Paramakudi Location of Paramakudi in Tamil Nadu and India
Coordinates	9°32′38″N 78°35′28″E / 9.544°N 78.591°E / 9.544; 78.591Coordinates: 9°32′38″N 78°35′28″E / 9.544°N 78.591°E / 9.544; 78.591
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District(s)	Ramanathapuram
Population • Density	82,239 (2001[update]) • 16,448 /km2 (42,600 /sq mi)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area	5 square kilometres (1.9 sq mi)
Codes • Pincode • 623701-623707 • Telephone • +04564 • Vehicle • TN 65
Website	http://municipality.tn.gov.in/paramakudi/

Paramakudi (Tamil: பரமக்குடி) is a town, a municipality in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The river Vaigai flows through Paramakudi on its way to the Bay of Bengal.

Demographics and location[link]

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[1] Paramakudi had a population of 82,239. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Paramakudi has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: Male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 68%. In Paramakudi, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. It is the highest populated town in the district and second largest town in the district of Ramanathapuram.^[2]

The nearest towns include Ilaiyangudi, Ramanathapuram, and Sivagangai. The town is at the junction of three districts: Ramnathapuram, Sivagangai and Virudunagar. Paramakudi is 69 km east of Madurai, on route to Rameswaram.

History[link]

Historically the area was ruled by the Pandyan Dynasty and later by King Sethupathi of Ramanathapuram. According to the ancient epic Ramayana, Lord Rama started his battle against Ravana at Sethu Canal, which is 45 minutes travel from here.

Paramakudi consists of two formerly separate settlements, Paramakudi and Emaneswaran, which merged to form the present municipal town in 1964.

Economy[link]

Paramakudi is an important commercial center. Cotton and chili peppers are the main cultivated crops in the villages surrounding the town. The price of chili in the state is decided by the commission agents in this town. Other agricultural pursuits include rice, bananas, and market gardening. Village people also raise cows, cattle and goats to earn their living. People of the Sourastras caste engage in weaving cotton, artsilk, pure silk sarees and cloths.

Political life[link]

This is the political capital of Ramanathapuram District where all the state political leaders usually host their political meetings.

Paramakudi Riots

Temples[link]

Paramakudi's famous temples in paramakudi muthlaamman kovil in panguni vizla in famous in paramakudi all., and Perumal Temple (which hosts a Chitra festival), Sri Chandrsekara Swamigal Temple (Eswaran Temple), Meenakshi Amman Temple and Muthalamman Temple. Other temples include Varadharaja Perumaal (Emaneswaram), Very Power Full God Arulmigu Sri Bathrakaliamman temple(Eamaneswaram)Sri Hanuman, Eswaran, Subramaniya Swami, Draupadi Amman, Panchamuga Anjaneyar, Machadi Karruppan, Siddhi Vinayagar, Murugan Ayappan swami temple and Sathuraga Nayaki Amman.

Education[link]

In the town, there is an arts college run by the government, which offers five UG and Two PG courses (MBA & M.Sc computer science), and an evening college(Alagappa University evening College)and the classes are being conducted in Sourashtra higher secondary school. Govt.Arts college, Paramakudi has one of the best colleges in Tamil nadu. Sri Muthalamman Polytechnic College offers diploma courses. For higher studies, the students are supposed to go to other towns and districts. Two government schools and four aided schools offer secondary and higher secondary education. The engineering college is Ganapathy Chettiar College of Engineering.voc matriculation school.

There are four matriculation schools and five secondary high schools. Don Bosco Matriculation school and Lions matriculation hr. sec. school are the leading schools in education.

• KJEM Higher Secondary School
• A.V.Higher Secondary School
• Govt Girls Higher Secondary School
• Govt Boys Higher Secondary School
• Sourashtra Higher Secondary School

Biggest schools of paramakudi, Morethan 10,000 students are studying in these schools.

Entertainment and culture[link]

The Chitra Festival is held annually in Paramakudi. The festival celebrates a visit by Thirumal to the Vaigai River on the full moon day of the month of Chithirai (around May). According to the tradition, on this day, Sri Sundara Raja Thirumal in the form of Kallalagar (a god who blessed the thieves) visited the Vaigai River in a golden chariot having 1000 wheels. Meenakshi is getting married to Shiva and Thirumal pays a visit to that function. On his way he blesses the thieves. This is the incident commemorated the festival. This celebration spans 10 days. Another important festival is, Panguni festival for Sri Muthalamman Temple in which the main deity is Goddess Sri Muthalamman during the Tamil month panguni(March & April). This temple is worshipped not only by Hindus but by all other religious people. The car procession will be held followed by paalkudam festival in which the devotees offer lakhs of liters of milk to the goddess. This festival will be celebrated for 12 days. This temple is maintained and governed by the chettiar community of Paramakudi.

And Kaman Pandigai is another festival which is mostly celebrated only by saurastrians.

Notable people[link]

• Kamal Haasan
• Vikram
• L.R.Eswari
• Chinmayi
• Suhasini
• Charuhasan
• Senthil
• Natarajan Subramaniam ,Cinematographer
• Contemporary Artist N.Ramachandran

References[link]

External links[link]

• Paramakudi Municipality

v t e  State of Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai Topics Cinema Cuisine Economy Government History Language Literature Music People Politics Temples Wildlife Tourism State symbols State bird: Emerald Dove State Animal: Nilgiri Tahr State Tree: Palm Tree State flower: Gloriosa Lily Districts Ariyalur Chennai Coimbatore Cuddalore Dharmapuri Dindigul Erode Kanchipuram Kanyakumari Karur Krishnagiri Madurai Nagapattinam Namakkal Perambalur Pudukkottai Ramanathapuram Salem Sivaganga Thanjavur The Nilgiris Theni Thoothukudi Tiruchirapalli Tirunelveli Tiruppur Tiruvallur Tiruvannamalai Tiruvarur Vellore Viluppuram Virudhunagar Major cities Chennai Coimbatore Erode Madurai Salem Thanjavur Tiruchirapalli Tirunelveli Tiruppur Tuticorin Vellore Protected areas Biosphere reserves Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve National parks Guindy National Park Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park Indira Gandhi National Park Mudumalai National Park Mukurthi National Park Palani Hills National Park Wildlife sanctuaries Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary Vallanadu Wildlife Sanctuary Bird sanctuaries Chitrangudi Kanjirankulam Karaivetti Karikili Koothankulam Melaselvanur - Kilaselvanur Pulicat Lake Udayamarthandapuram Vaduvur Vedanthangal Vellode Vettangudi Tiger reserves Anaimalai Tiger Reserve Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Conservation reserves Tiruvidaimarudur Conservation Reserve Portal: Tamil Nadu