Aruppukkotai is 45 kms south of Madurai and 18 Kms west of Virudunagar. The meaning of the word Arumbu in Tamil means buds of garden plant bearing fragrant flowers and kottai means fort. Therefore the meaning of the place Aruppukotai means fort of fragrant flowers. The place was abundant in jasmine buds and hence it was called Arumbukottai.

Economy of Aruppukkotai
Aruppukkottai is inhabited by weavers and this place is famous for handloom textiles. There are small-scale industries such as dying factories oil mills, rice mills straw boards manufacturing factory, Ginning factory, etc. It is noted for its cotton industries mainly spinning mills and limestone industries Occupation of the people here range from the labours working for the Spinning mills,Weaving sectors, Rice Mills , Building contract labours ,Government Employees and Professionals.

Education of Aruppukkottai
Aruppukkottai is an educational as well as a commercial hub for the area situated near to it. There are two arts and science colleges namely Devanga Arts College & SBK Arts College and an engineering college, Sree Sowdambiga College of Engineering. There are more than five Schools of Higher Secondary level at Aruppukkottai.

Transport of Aruppukkottai
Aruppukottai has good transportation 24 hrs a day and 7 days a week to major cities and in and around Aruppukottai. The nearest airport is Chennai, which is further well connected to the cities of the state. Aruppukkottai is well connected to major citied by means of rails and roads also. There are good-tarred roads connecting Aruppukkottai to major cities. NH 45-B an important freight-route, connecting Madurai and Thoothukkudi[4 way road] runs through Aruppukkottai. There are governemnt busses, jeva vilas transport, mini buses etc for the people to travel.

Demographics of Aruppukottai

As per 2001 census, Aruppukkottai had a population of 83,999. Males and females constitute 59% of the the population. Aruppukkottai has an average literacy rate of 79%, which is higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 54% of the males and 46% of females literate.

Culture of Aruppukottai
Aruppukottai is a city inhabited by weavers. The only other occupation of the people is working in sugar mills. The city is surrounded by both handlooms and powerlooms. The people of Aruppukottai mainly shows interest in the field of Agriculture, Weaving, Growing Honey-bees and Poultry.

Music and dance are the essence of Tamil Nadu. Rowing bands travel from village to village singing ballads and rendering entertainment to the people of Aruppukkotai. The people interested in Carnatic Music.

The people inhabiting in Aruppukottai are Tamilians who belong to different sects as Nadar, Devanga,Naidu and Mudaliars.