Virudhunagar District is an administrative district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The headquarters of this district is Virudhunagar. Virudhunagar district was formed from parts of Tirunelveli and Madurai districts. This district was earlier known as Karmavirer Kamarajar District. The district covers an area of 3445.73. It has a population of 25,39,196 as of 2009. Majority of the population was involved in Industries and agriculture. The Parliamentary Constituency number of Virudhunagar District is 34. The district comprises eight taluks: Aruppukkottai, Kariapatti, Rajapalayam, Sattur, Sivakasi, Srivilliputhur, Tiruchuli and Virudhunagar. Totally there are 600 revenue villages in this district.
The district is bounded by Sivagangai district and Madurai district on the north, Tirunelveli district to the southwest, Kerala state to the west and Theni district to the northwest. The district is divided into 2 revenue divisions - Sivakasi and Aruppukottai.
This district has 9 Town Panchayats - Seithur, Vathirairuppu, Chettiarpatti, Kariapatti, Mamsapuram, Sundarapandiam, Mallankinaru, S.Kodikulam and V.Pudupatti
Virudhunagar is famous for oil and cotton industry. Sivakasi, 20 km from Virudhunagar, is famous for its fireworks and printing presses. Srivilliputtur is very famous for Temples and Palkova.
Demography of Virudhunagar District
According to the 2011 census Virudhunagar district has a population of 1,943,309. The district has a population density of 454 inhabitants per square kilometre. Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 10.96 %. Virudhunagar has a sex ratio of 1009 females for every 1000 males and a literacy rate of 80.75 %.
Tourist places in Virudhunagar District
There are many tourist places in Virudhunagar District that are visited by many people from different places. Important tourist spots in Virudhunagar District are Memorial house of Kamarajar at Virudhunagar, Pilavakkal Dam near Watrap Andal Koil at Srivilliputhur, Boominatharkoil and birth place of Ramana Maharishi at Thiruchuli.
The Ayyanar falls is located 15 km from Rajapalayam. Shenbagathoppu and Sastha Koil are also visited by many tourists.
Shenbaga Thoppua forest area about 8 km west from srivilliputtur is a very good option for trekking. The forests are found on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. A variety of flora and fauna are found along the mountain slopes. This sanctuary spreads over 480 square kilometres was established in 1989 at Shenbagathopu in Srivilliputtur taluk. The sanctuary is home to the endangered, arboreal grizzled giantsquirrel Ratufa macrora. There are some waterfalls on the way where people can take bath and enjoy.
Festivals of Virudhunagar District
Pongal, Adiperukku, Karthigai Deepam, Temple Car festival, Chithirai and Brahmostsavam are the chief festivals celebrated in the district. Brahmostsavam is celebrated during the Tamil month of Adi. The temple has a massive car (Ther) with a decorated height of 75 feet. The temple car is the second largest in Tamilnadu next only to the car at Tiruvarur.
Mariamman and Sachi Innachiar koil festivals in Sattur taluk and Vaikasi Visakham in Srivilliputur are the famous festivals of this district. The other important festivals organised in different parts of the district are Iyanar koil festival, vailukanthamman koil festival, perumal koil festival, weekly fair, Panguni Pongal, Kalangada Kanniamman festival, Kannicheri Pudur fair, Koil Pongal, Muthalamman festival, Sundara Mahalingafestival, Purattasi Pongal festival, Peria Mariamman Koil Tookkuzhi, ThaiPongal `Adi Thiru` and Mullai Kottai Mariamman Koil festival.
