Tirunelveli (Tamil: திருநெல்வேலி) is a city in Tamil Nadu, which has become a City Corporation in 1994, by merging three municipalities viz., Tirunelveli city, Palayamkottai, Melapalyam, and a few Panchayat areas. It is the district headquarters of Tirunelveli district.

Tirunelveli is the home of the first largest Shiva Temple in Tamil Nadu, Nellaiappar Temple. The city is considered to be one of the oldest in the Indian subcontinent, with a history that dates back to 1000 BC. This city is located on the west bank of the perennial river, Thamirabarani, whereas Palayamkottai is located on the right bank; for this reason, they are referred to as the “twin cities”. Tirunelveli is also often called the “Halwa City” for its very famous sweet Halwa.

History

Tirunelveli is an ancient city, as evidenced by the findings of archaeological excavations which have been going on since 1840s, in the outskirts of the city in Adichanallur (now under Tuticorin district). At this site, the archaeologists have unearthed an urn which could date back to 500 B.C, containing a complete human skeleton and clay vessels with some rudimentary Tamil Brahmi script inscribed on them. Other ancient urns in which the elderly were buried have also been found in the same district. Along with skeletal finds, husks, grains of rice, charred rice and celts have also been found.

More recent excavations at this site has led to the discovery of a habitation site of the Iron Age people. Archaeologists opine that it is about 3000-3800 years old, from the Neolithic period. This has assured us that Tirunelveli has been an abode for human habitation for 3000 years or more. Now, Adhichanallur has been announced as an archaeological site for further excavation and studies.

The history of Tirunelveli (English name Tinnevelly) was extensively researched by Bishop Robert Caldwell. (Christian missions in the 19th century in Tinnevelly played a significant part in the development of education as well as religious conversion.

The known history says that 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 from their anglicized names to their original names and grew together as twin cities.

The city’s historic heritage includes the Swamy Nellaiappar temple and the Sri Kandimathi Ambal temple, both of which are ancient Saivite temples. It is also the site of Asia’s second largest two-tiered bridge, the “Tiruvalluvur Bridge”,which connects Tirunelveli Town and Junction.

Palayamkottai

Tirunelveli’s twin city

The twin city of Tirunelveli is Palayamkottai, on the eastern bank of the perennial Thamirabarani river, while Tirunelveli is on the western bank.

Palayamkottai is known for its education and is referred to as “Oxford of South India” . The town has a rich heritage in education dating back to the pre-independence era.Some of the schools are STC, Rose Mary, Jeyandra Saraswathi, Chinmaya Vidhyalaya, St Johns, St.Xaviers, Cathedral and MDT Schools. It has colleges and institutions of higher education, some of them having been in existence for more than 150 years built & run by British. These are Tirunelveli Medical College, Government Siddha College, Government Engineering College, St. Xavier’s College, St. John’s College(125 years old) and Sarah Tucker College (the first women’s college of Tamil Nadu. The city has several Hindu temples: the Gopalaswamy temple, Siva Temple, Ramar Temple, Uchini Makali temple and few dedicated to the goddess Amman.

The city is also a main centre in South India for Christian missions and there are quite a few churches, the major church being Holy Trinity Cathedral, the cathedral church of a diocese of the Church of South India.This church has a big and strong historical background and completed more than 225 years. During Christmas times, the whole Palayamkottai town celebrates with colourful stars hanging throughout the city.

The Palayamkottai town has two sports grounds: Anna Stadium and the VOC Ground. The latter holds field hockey and kabbadi matches at both the district and state levels. Republic Day and Independence Day ceremonies are also held here.

There is a large market in Palayamkottai, along with the Ulavar Santhai where farmers sell their products directly.

Palayamkottai is also known for its Central Prison, which housed a lot of freedom fighters during the struggle for Indian independence. It is still notable for its capacity and security. Tamil poet Subramanya Bharathy spent a part of his life here.

from wikipedia