Tuticorin also known by the name of Thoothukudi, this city is a capital and administrative headquarters of Thoothukudi district, located in the Coromandel Coast of Bay of Bengal. The city has area of 90.66 km sq with the elevation of 4 meters. Thoothukudi is a commercial seaport also known by the name of “Pearl City” and the majority of the population here is employed in salt pans, sea-borne trading, fishing (mainly pearl fishing) and tourism. There are 21 islands between Tuticorin and Rameswaram shores in the Gulf of Mannar which are mentioned as the first Marine Biosphere Reserve of India, and this protected area is called Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park. The city comes under the fastest growing major ports of India and hence often called as Emerging Energy and Industrial Hub of South India.
When to visit?
The city experiences a hot semi-arid climate and is a coastal region, characterized with hot summer, high humidity & cozy winter. Being a coastal place, it is best enjoyed in the winters between Novembers to March, at winters, the weather is cozy, comfortable and favorable for roaming in and around the city.
Tourist Attractions:
- Tuticorin Port
- Kalakkad Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kalugumalai
- Thiruchendur Murugan Temple
- Snows Basilica
- Tiruchendur Sri Subrahmanya Swami Devasthanam
- Holy Trinity Church
- St James Church
- Manapad
- Sri Vaikuntam Temple
- Ottapidaram
- Kattabomman Memorial Fort
- Ettaiyapuram Palace
How to reach?
By Road:
The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) has established regional headquarters there. From Tuticorin new bus stand almost 700 buses operates on weekly basis connecting with Bangalore, Chennai, Vellore and Kanyakumari. This is an industrial-labor city so it has a lot of truck transport.
By Railways:
The city has its own station called as Thoothukudi railway station, lies between the line Madurai and Thoothukudi and the station has direct daily rail connectivity to Chennai, Mysore, Coimbatore, Okha and Tirunelveli. The distance b/w the station and the city is less than 10kms which can easily be covered by taxi or cab.
By Airways :
The city’s airport is located at Vagaikulam distanced at approx 14kms away from the city. It has daily flights to Chennai & Bangalore. On weekly basis it has flights from New Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Indore and more. The nearest international airport is Madurai airport and has international connectivity to Colombo and Dubai. The cheapest flight charge to Tuticorin is Rs. 2365 per head. Initially, Tuticorin railway station was used for only loading trains not the passenger trains.
