Kayatharu
Encyclopedia
Kayatharu is a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district
Thoothukudi District
Thoothukudi District, also known as Tuticorin District, is a district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. Thoothukudi is the district headquarters. It is also known for Pearl cultivation with abundance of pearls found in the seas of Thoothukudi...

 in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...

 of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...

. It is situated along National Highway 7
National Highway 7 (India)
National Highway 7, commonly referred to as NH 7, is major North-South National Highway in India that runs through the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu....

 (NH7) between Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...

 and Kovilpatti
Kovilpatti
Kovilpatti , also known as Covilpatti, is a special grade municipality in Thoothukudi District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Belongs to Kovilpatti constituency...

.

Kayatharu, also referred to as Kayathar, is situated about 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) from Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...

 on the way to Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...

. Kattabomman, one of the earliest opponent of British rule in India, was hanged on a Tamarind
Tamarind
Tamarind is a tree in the family Fabaceae. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic .-Origin:...

 tree, by the British in 1799 in Kayathar. A memorial has been built here by the Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...

 government for Kattabomman.

Kayatharu means "bitter river", from Aaru (Tamil for river) and kayarpu/kasappu (Tamil for bitter). This name may refer to the river flowing through the town or was attributed to sri Godhandaramar who always wore a thulasi malai (in English "basil garland" which has a bitter taste) and whose temple is located on the banks of the river.

Historical events

The last Pandiya King Marthanda Varman fought and lost to the Nayakar Dynasty
Madurai Nayak Dynasty
The Madurai Nayaks or Nayak Dynasty of Madurai were rulers of a region comprising most of modern-day Tamil Nadu, India, with Madurai as their capital...

 at Kayathar.

King Veera Pandiya Kattabomman, whose fort was located near Kayathar (Panchalan kurichi), was hanged by the British in this place. The king's statue was built in Kayathar by Tamil cinema actor Sivaji Ganeshan.

The great poet Kalamega Kavi came to Kayathar and was hungry but didn't get any food in the Perumal temple. He was forced to carry Lord Perumal statue and was frustrated by his hunger. He sang poems to destroy the Perumal temple. After much decay it has been rebuilt in 2009.

The Patriotic and revolutionistic poet Mundasu Kavi Thiru Bharathiyaar was born near Kayathar (Ettayapuram).

Industry

Mat production is a huge industry. The area is famous for heavy winds so it has windmills and Indian central government also have an office which was inaugurated by ex prime minister Vajpayee.

Demographics

India census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

, Kayatharu had a population of 9497. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Kayatharu has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 57%. In Kayatharu, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Features

  • Market: The city has a weekly market, held every Thursday. There is an exclusive area for the functioning of this market. Several goods from cooking items to animals are sold here. Kayathar is the center for marketing many agricultural things for the farmers around ~50 villages.
  • School: Veera Pandia Kattabomman Govt. Hr. Sec. School. The school is named after the great king Veera Pandia Katta Bomman. He was remembered for his brave actions against the British. The school is located in a calm place amidst farm fields. The school has given several doctors, engineers, farmers and business men to the society.
  • Sports: Several cultural and sports events are arranged by the youngsters during the Pongal festival (Jan 14-20). The Kabadi game conducted is the most famous among those. More than 20 teams from nearby villages are participating every year.
  • Kutti Kulam: The water harvesting area. The rain water is saved in this pool for agricultural usage.
  • Religion: Hinduism, Christanity and Muslim. The city has temples, churches and mosque.
    • Temples: Akilanda Nayaki - Kothanda Rameshwarar Temple, Thirumalai nayaki - Thiruneelakandeshwarar Temple. They were built during Kings rule. A well known temple is the Kayathar Atthankarai Sudalai Madan Swamy temple where every year the Kodai festival is held.
    • Church: St. Loorthu Matha Church. A very ancient church for the Roman Catholic Christians. CSI and other groups of Christians also there.
    • Mosque: The famous mosque (Palli Vaasal) is situated in the west region of the city.
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