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Theni
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Theni Location of Theni in Tamil Nadu and India
Coordinates	10°00′32″N 77°28′12″E / 10.009°N 77.47°E / 10.009; 77.47Coordinates: 10°00′32″N 77°28′12″E / 10.009°N 77.47°E / 10.009; 77.47
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District(s)	Theni
Population • Density	1,034,724 (2001[update]) • 358 /km2 (927 /sq mi)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	2,889 square kilometres (1,115 sq mi) • 100 metres (330 ft)
Climate • Precipitation Temperature • Summer • Winter	Average and moderate cool at winter (Köppen) •      658 mm (25.9 in) •      39.5 °C (103.1 °F) •      25.8 °C (78.4 °F)
Distance(s) • From Chennai • 498 kilometres (309 mi) southwest • From • 76 kilometres (47 mi) west
Codes • Telephone • +04546 • Vehicle • TN 60
Website	http://www.theni.tn.nic.in/

Theni pronunciation (help·info) is a town in the Western Tamil Nadu state of South India. It is the headquarters of Theni District. It is known for the large-scale trading of Cardamom, Cotton, Grapes, Chilli and Textiles. It hosts the second largest weekly market in Tamil Nadu and the fourth largest in South India. It is well-connected by rail and road to Madurai and by road to all the important cities in Tamil Nadu. The nearest airport is at Madurai.^[1]

NH 49 connects Theni to Munnar in Kerala

Geography[link]

Theni district is surrounded by the Western Ghats. The main occupation of people of Theni is agriculture. The Vaigai River flows through this district. Other important rivers include the Mullaiperiyar, Suruliyaru, Varaganadi, Kottakkudiyaru, and Manjalaru rivers.

History[link]

Theni has a historic background during the 19th century. There were many antagonists against British rule like Marutha Nayagam.

The famous Saneeswaran (God of Saturn) temple is located in the Kucchanur Village.It is a Suyambhu statue and Pathirakaliyamman Temple, Pathirakalipuram.

Tourist Attractions[link]

Theni district is rich in flora and fauna. Many dams have been constructed on the rivers, including Vaigai Dam, Sothupparai Dam, Manjalaru Dam, and Meghamalai Dam. Several famous waterfalls are here: Suruli Falls, Kumbakarai Falls and Meghamalai Falls. Theni is surrounded by many tourist attractions like Kodaikannal, Thekkady, Meghamalai, Munnar, Kumbakkarai, Sothuppaarai and Vaigai dam. Because Theni's scenic environment, it is one of the most favoured shooting spots of the Tamil film industry. Thekkady wildlife sanctuary is a nearby attraction which lays in the border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. There is a temple where Kannaki (historic character) was believed to be turned statue.

Festivals[link]

Every year in the first or second week of May, people in the Theni district celebrate the Veerapandi Goumari Ammam temple Festival. Goumari Amman temple festival goes for eight days and its very grand around Theni district. Theni has many industries like ATK Mills, Menaka Mills, L.S mills, Renuga mills,and farms like Kodai Valley orchards etc.

Education[link]

Horticultural College & Research Institute, Periyakulam

Horticultural College & Research Institute (HC & RI), one of the constituent colleges of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, is located at Periyakulam, on the Theni Dindigul high way in Tamil Nadu State. The famous upper Pulney hill ranges featuring nearby offers natural beauty and scenic frontage to this unique Institute. Geographically, the College campus is situated at 10oN latitude with an elevation of 300m MSL. The climatic conditions are quite congenial for the cultivation of a wide array of horticultural crops. This Institute provides both teaching and rich research opportunities of high order in an exceptionally pleasant environment. The College Campus encompasses over 100 hectares of farm lands to cater the needs of teaching, research, training, seed production and plant propagation activities. This is the only full-fledged Institute providing horticulture education in Southern Peninsular India.

Genesis and Growth A Fruit Research Station was set up in 1957 at Periyakulam, with a view to meet the needs and aspirations of the fruit crops growing farmers of the erstwhile Madurai district. In the year 1971, Horticultural Research Station (HRS), Periyakulam, was developed which marked the expansion of the research mandate to all major horticultural crops. This Institute has made a commendable progress in fruits and vegetable research consequently the centre was upgraded in 1990 as a full-fledged teaching and research institute. This formed the basis for the blossoming of the present multi-faceted renowned campus.

The Government Theni Medical College was opened to cater the needs of the people of the district. It has a capacity of 100 students. A large number of patients from neighboring districts of Kerala are treated here due to the better and cost-effective facilities. It also has schools run by the government and other organisations. CPA College is an arts and science college in Bodinayakanur town, which is near Theni.

In 2010 a new government polytechnic college is to be started in Theni, at Kottur village. Madurai Kamarajar University Art and Science College will be started soon in Theni, at Kottur Village.

It has given many good scholars to the society and many famous cinema personalities like Vairamuthu from Vadugapatti, Director Bharathiraja from Allinagaram- Theni, actor Dhanush son of Director Kasthuriraja, director Bala, etc.and also the veteran south Indian music director Ilayaraja from Pannaipuram.

Schools[link]

• Government Higher Secondary School,G.Kalluppatti
• Government Higher Secondary School, Allinagaram
• Kalikadevi high school, Pathirakalipuram
• Mannar Pandithuraithevar School, Visuvasapuram
• The Little Kingdom School,Theni
• Theni Melapettai Hindu Nadar Uravinmurai Schools (Totally 6)
• Shemford Theni 10+2 School
• Amala Annai Higher Secondary School,T.Sindalacherry.
• Velammal Matriculation school
• Velammal Vidhyalaya
• Theni Kammavar Matriculation Higher Secondary School, NRT Nagar.
• Renuga Vidhyala Matriculation school, Lakshmipuram
• Aringar Anna Primary School.G.Kalluppatti
• SUM Primary & Higher Secondary Schools, Royappanpatti
• Sri Krishna Ayyar Higher Secondary School, Chinnamanur.
• Kamma Dharma High School,Govinthanagaram

Colleges[link]

• Jeyaraj Annabakiyam Women's College of Arts & Science.
• Nadar Saraswathi Women's College Of Arts & Science.
• Nadar Saraswathi College Of Engineering.
• VPV Engineering College, Devathanapatti,Theni Dt.
• Kalapandian Polytechnic College, Bodi-Sillamarathupatti.
• Odaiyappa College of Engineering and Technology.

Administration[link]

Theni houses the office of the (revenue) District Collector. Periyakulam has the (judicial) district court, which was built and operated in the British period. As the town of Theni is expanding, several local buses are run for commuting inside the town.

Economy[link]

Theni's economy is mostly agricultural. Utilisation of land area for cultivation in Theni district is 40.33%. The principal crop production (in tonnes) in 2005-2006 was: sugarcane 1,201,221, cotton 95,360 (561 bales of 170. kg lint each), rice (paddy) 66,093, millets and other cereals 57,081, pulses 6,677, groundnut 4,021 and gingelly 325. Silk, bananas, coconuts, tea, coffee, cardamom, grapes, and mangoes are other main produce of the district.

Surulipatti is a major centre for grape production, with 4,000 small farmers producing over 90,000 tonnes of Muscat grapes, known locally as panneer dhrakshai, and about 10,000 tonnes of Thomson seedless grapes. The unique feature here is that the grapes are harvested throughout the year, while in most grape-growing centres elsewhere the season ends with summer.

Cotton-spinning mills and sugar mills are the major industries in this district. In Andipatti Taluk handloom weaving and power looms are flourishing. In Uthamapalayam Taluk, the Highwavis Estate produces a significant amount of tea. Bodinayakanur is a major market place for cardamom, coffee, tea and black pepper. This city is also called "Cardamom City" because of the large quantity of cardamom trade in this area. It has an auction centre for cardamom.It is also the second biggest town in this district.

The Periyar and Surliar Hydro Power Stations and the Vaigai Micro Hydro Power Station have 181 MW installed capacity and actual power generation of 494 MW in 1996 in this District.

Theni is one of the active business hubs in the western side of Tamil Nadu, inviting more industries to its locality. The district currently has 41.09 km of metre-gauge track serving three railway stations that connect to Madurai.^[1]

Agriculture[link]

Theni district has Cumbum town in it, which is famously known behind the name "Cumbum Valley", the only valley in Asia that harvests grapes thrice in a year. Paddy, maize, cotton, sugarcane, grapes, mango, coconut are main agricultural products from Theni. Theni also acts as a distribution hub for Potato, Cabbage, and Cauliflower cultivated in hilly regions to foothill towns in Tamil Nadu. Also it is the hub for distributing Toor dal, Urud dal, Moong dal, Channa dal, Vegetable oils etc. to the hill regions and to Kerala.^[1]

Small-Scale industries[link]

Other than agriculture, Theni city has textiles mills, brick industries, iron oxide pigments and masala factories. People do business based on the agricultural commodities.^[1]

Sports[link]

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Travels[link]

Theni Rengha Travels

References[link]

Theni Tourism

2 www.fores.in