Mayiladuthurai

Mayiladuthurai (formerly known as Mayavaram or Mayuram) is a Special Grade Municipality and district headquarters of Mayiladuthurai district in Tamil Nadu, India. The town is located at a distance of from the state capital, Chennai.

Mayiladuthurai was ruled by Medieval Cholas and subsequently ruled by various dynasties, including the Vijayanagar Empire, Thanjavur Nayaks, Thanjavur Marathas and the British Empire. Mayiladuthurai was a part of the erstwhile Tanjore district until India's independence in 1947 and Thanjavur district until 1991 and subsequently a part of the newly formed Nagapattinam district. The town is known for agriculture and weaving. As Mayiladuthurai District is situated in East Coast, fishing plays a vital role on generating its revenue. In 2023, the district was declared as a protected agricultural zone.

Mayiladuthurai is administered by a town panchayat established in 1866. As of 2008, the Panchayat covered an area of . Mayiladuthurai comes under the Mayiladuthurai assembly constituency which elects a member to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly once every five years and it is a part of the Mayiladuthurai constituency which elects its Member of Parliament (MP) once in five years. It is well connected by road and rail transport. Mayiladuthurai serves as an important junction in main line connecting Chennai with Trichy. Roadways and Railways are the major mode of transportation to the town. The nearest airport, Pondicherry Airport, is located from the town.

Mayiladuthurai was carved out of Nagapattinam district and inaugurated as the 38th district of Tamil Nadu on December 28, 2020.

Etymology

Mayiladuthurai is due to the ancient lore in which the divine goddess Parvathi manifested herself as a peacock (''Mayil)'' to attract the attention of Lord Shiva through a miraculous dance.

Mayuranathaswami Temple dedicated to the Amman is one of the most important Hindu temples in the town. There is a statue depicting goddess Amman in a peahen form worshipping ''lingam'', an iconic symbol of Shiva. Ayyar 1920, p 271

History

Mayiladuthurai is of significant antiquity, its oldest extant temples dating to the time of the Medieval Cholas. The region, however, is known to have been inhabited since the 3rd millennium BC. Sherds of megalithic black and red ware have been found at Akkur, to the east of Mayiladuthurai. Archaeological Survey of India 1969, p. 23 In 2006, artifacts with Indus Valley signs dated between 2000 and 1500 BC were found at the nearby village of Sembiyankandiyur. There have been references to Mayiladuthurai in the works of the 7th century Saivite saint Sambandar. Swami 1939, p. 317 The Thanjavur Nayak king Raghunatha Nayak constructed ''mandapams'' in Mayiladuthurai. Aiyangar 1919, p. 324 During the 17th and 18th centuries AD, Mayiladuthurai was ruled by the Thanjavur Marathas. Trivedi 1971, p. 53 In 1799, Mayiladuthurai, was ceded to the British East India Company, along with the rest of the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom, by the Thanjavur Maratha ruler Serfoji II. S. S. 1996, p. 125 Mayiladuthurai prospered under British rule emerging as an important town in Tanjore district. Carnatic musicians Madurai Mani Iyer and Gopalakrishna Bharathi and Samuel Vedanayagam Pillai, who wrote the first Tamil novel '' Prathapa Mudaliar Charithram'' were connected with Mayiladuthurai while Tamil writer Kalki Krishnamurthy, M.S.Udhaya Moorthy studied at the Municipal High School in Mayiladuthurai. According to local folklore, Mayiladuthurai was associated with Hindu holy men called "Siddhars". To this day, a neighbourhood of Mayiladuthurai is called Siddharkaadu. When the Tanjore district was trifurcated in 1991, Mayiladuthurai was transferred to the newly formed Nagapattinam district.

Mayiladuthurai was inaugurated as the 38th district of Tamil Nadu on December 28, 2020. The district was carved out of the existing Nagapattinam district and inaugurated by the Tamil Nadu Former Chief Minister K Palaniswami. The declaration was made earlier on March 24, 2020.

Geography and climate

Mayliladuthurai is situated at a distance of from Chennai and from Tiruchirappalli. K. 1974 The town is located at . Situated at a distance of from the Bay of Bengal coast, the town is situated at an altitude of barely above mean sea level. The Kaveri River runs through the town bisecting it into Uttara Mayuram and Mayuram proper. Most of the town lies to the south of the river and the Mayuranathaswami Temple lies a mile to its south. The famous Parimala Ranganatha Perumal temple is situated at Tiruindalur, which lies North of Cauvery river. There is a bathing ghat on the Cauvery river. Agriculture is the most widely practised occupation.

The climate of Mayiladuthurai is generally Tropical which features fairly hot temperatures over the year except during monsoon seasons.The average maximum temperature is 39.4 degrees Celsius while the average minimum temperature is 32.8 degrees Celsius. The average annual rainfall is 1,125 mm.

Administration and politics

It is the headquarters of the newly formed Mayiladuthurai district. The town of Mayiladuthurai is administered by a municipal council which was created in 1866 as per the Town Improvements Act 1865. The council initially had eleven members. This was increased to 18 in 1883.Hemingway, p. 213

As of 2025, the municipality covered an area of and had a total of 36 members. The functions of the municipality is devolved into six departments: General, Engineering, Revenue, Public Health, Town planning and the Computer Wing. All these departments are under the control of a Municipal Commissioner who is the supreme executive head. The legislative powers are vested in a body of 36 members, one each from the 36 wards. The legislative body is headed by an elected Chairperson assisted by a Deputy Chairperson. Economic and political weekly 1995, p. 2396 There are a total of four revenue villages with Mayiladuthurai - Thiruvilandur, Dharmapuram, Nanchilnadu and Kornad. The municipality has allocated a budget of 2,183,350,000 for the year 2010–11. In 2023, Mayiladuthurai's selection grade municipality upgraded to special grade municipality.

Mayiladuthurai is represented in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly by the Mayiladuthurai state assembly constituency seat.

Mayiladuthurai is a part of the Mayiladuthurai (Lok Sabha constituency). The current Member of Parliament from the constituency is S. Ramalingam of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party.

Utility services

Potable water is provided by the municipality. Mayiladuthurai's main source of water in the Kollidam River. A total of 7.50 MLD are pumped out every day from five water tanks located in various parts of the town. About 104 metric tonnes of solid waste is generated everyday, while 85 metric tonnes are collected from the town every day by door-to-door collection and subsequently the source segregation and dumping is carried out by the sanitary department of the municipality.

There is limited underground drainage system in the town and the major sewerage system for disposal of sullage is through septic tanks, open drains and public conveniences. Urban Infrastructure Report 2008, pp. 8-9 The municipality maintains a total of of surfaced storm water drains and kutcha drains in Mayiladuthurai.

The Mayiladuthurai Municipality, under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme, has launched an ₹83 crore project to improve the city's underground drainage system. The initiative involves replacing 6 km of the existing backbone sewer, setting up a 36 km sewage collection network with over 6,000 household connections, and constructing two sewage treatment plants(STPs) with capacities of 9.05 MLD and 0.44 MLD. The project is scheduled to come live by early 2026.

There are five government hospitals that include a maternity and a veterinary hospital and twenty five private hospitals and clinics that take care of the health care needs of the citizens. Periyar Government District Head Quarters Hospital at Mayiladuthurai provides a wide range of medical services, including emergency care, Accident emergency care, surgery, maternity services, and outpatient consultations, serving as a primary healthcare provider for numerous villages and towns around Mayiladuthurai. A new block is being constructed to address the hospital's space constraints, with the project started in March 2023, and aiming for completion by March 2025. This new block development is expected to enhance the hospital's capacity, adding specialized medical services.

Demographics

According to 2011 census, Mayiladuthurai had a population of 85,632 with a sex-ratio of 1,045 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929. A total of 7,720 were under the age of six, constituting 3,883 males and 3,837 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 5.87% and .57% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 83.55%, compared to the national average of 72.99%. The town had a total of 21929 households. There were a total of 29,855 workers, comprising 321 cultivators, 707 main agricultural labourers, 734 in house hold industries, 23,004 other workers, 5,089 marginal workers, 74 marginal cultivators, 485 marginal agricultural labourers, 246 marginal workers in household industries and 4,284 other marginal workers. As of 2001, there are 26 slums in Mayiladuthurai with a total population of 32,381.

The density of population is higher in the core areas along the banks of river Cauvery compared to the peripheral areas.
As of 1996, a total (44.27%) of the land was used for residential, (6.11%) for commercial, (0.56%) for industrial, (1.98%) for educational, (2.16%) for public & semi public purposes and (44.92%) of agricultural area. Urban Infrastructure Report 2007, p. 5 As of 2008, there were a total of 26 notified slums, with 16,434 comprising 13% of the total population residing in those. The municipal data, however, pointed out an increase in population in slum areas. Urban Infrastructure Report 2007, p. 3

Hinduism is the major religion followed in Mayiladuthurai and Tamil is the major language spoken. A vast majority of the populace is engaged in agriculture. About 15 percent of the total working population is engaged in trade while 25 percent is engaged in other commercial activities. As per the religious census of 2011, Mayiladuthurai had 88.69% Hindus, 6.38% Muslims, 4.19% Christians, 0.04% Sikhs, 0.03% Buddhists, 0.32% Jains and 0.35% following other religions.

Economy

Agriculture

The economy of Mayiladuthurai is primarily agro-based. Mayiladuthurai is known for its fertile lands due to its location in the Kaveri Delta. Paddy is the main crop, which is being cultivated in more than 90% of the net agriculture area, Apart from paddy, crops such as coconuts, groundnuts, various pulses, gingelly (sesame), sugarcane, and cotton are also cultivated in the region. These agricultural products contribute significantly to the local economy and are integral to the farming practices in the area. South Indian Railway Co. Ltd. 1926, p. 52

Industries

The SIDCO Industrial Estate in Mayiladuthurai, established in 2009 on 12.56 acres, located in Kulichar, Mayiladuthurai, supports small-scale industries. It hosts 31 operational units as of 2024. It fosters local entrepreneurship with subsidies like 25% on capital and 20% on electricity for five years. Industries include biofuel, cement products, and food processing, boosting employment. Its growth reflects rising interest in agro-based ventures.

Confectioneries, printing presses, vehicle manufacturing units and rice mills are the major industries in Mayiladuthurai. Industrial workers form barely 27.14 percent of the town's population.

Weaving

Mayiladuthurai is known for its traditional weaving industry, contributing to the local economy. The heritage sari ''koorai pattu paduvai'' or ''Koorainadu saris'' has originated from Koorainadu or Kornad, a suburb of Mayiladuthurai. These saris are made from a blend of silk, cotton and dyed in bright colours, featuring unique chequered patterns, and are deeply rooted in Tamil culture, especially during weddings and religious ceremonies. W., p. 160

Dry fish market

Mayiladuthurai's Karuvattu Santhai (dry fish market) is one of India's oldest markets, established over a century ago. Located along the Coromandel Coast, it has been a central hub for dry fish trade, reflecting the region's rich fishing heritage. The market offers a variety of dried seafood, including shrimp, sardines, mackerel, and anchovies, contributing significantly to the local economy and culture. Despite modern challenges, Karuvattu Santhai continues to thrive, attracting buyers from across the region.

Others

The municipality operates four markets, namely a vegetable market, weekly market, farmer's market (''uzhavar santhai'') and fish market that cater to the needs of the town and the rural areas around it.

There are many departmental stores in Mayiladuthurai. The only shopping complex is the Kittappa commercial complex which is maintained by the municipality.

The Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, State Bank of India, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, City Union Bank, Vijaya Bank, Lakshmi Vilas Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, HDFC Bank, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, ICICI Bank, Punjab National Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank, Mayuram co-operative bank have their branches located in municipal town. also the other regional banks like Kumbakonam Central Cooperative Bank and the Kumbakonam Mutual Benefit Fund have their branches in Mayiladuthurai.

Education

The first schools in Mayiladuthurai were founded by Christian missionaries in April 1819. Church Missionary Society 1825, p. 79 The Municipal High School constructed by the municipality between 1885 and 1893, was considered to be one of the premium educational institutions in the erstwhile Tanjore district.

As of 2025, Mayiladuthurai is home to over 30 educational institutions, primarily offering curricula based on the Tamil Nadu State Board and CBSE. The town hosts a mix of government and private schools, including five government schools. The town also has one specialized school offering education for students with both blindness and deafness, providing tailored support to meet their unique needs.

The Notable colleges in the area include A. V. C. College, A. V. C. College of Engineering, A.V. C. Polytechnic College, A. R. C. Vishwanathan College, C.I.I.T. Community College,(TNOU), Dharmapuram Adhinam Arts College, D. G. Government Arts College for Women, are some of the important colleges in Mayiladuthurai. Commonwealth universities yearbook 2003, p. 737 Gupta 2006, p. 123

Transport

By air

The closest is Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ), approximately 136 km (85 mi) away, offering domestic and international flights. Next is Pondicherry Airport (PNY), about 114 km (71 mi) from Mayiladuthurai, mainly serving domestic routes. For a major international hub, Chennai International Airport (MAA) lies 250 km (155 mi) away, connecting globally. Lastly, Madurai Airport (IXM), around 275 km (171 mi) distant, provides domestic and some international options. These airports provide convenient access to Mayiladuthurai and surrounding areas, ensuring smooth connectivity for both tourists and business travelers.

By road

The town is strategically positioned with several significant roads passing through it, including State Highways SH-22, SH-23, SH-64, SH-147, SH-149, and SH-150. These highways connect Mayiladuthurai to key neighbourhoods towns such as Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Kumbakonam, Sirkali, Chidambaram, Poompuhar, Nagapattinam and Karaikal, respectively.

In addition to the state highways, Mayiladuthurai is strategically connected to various parts of Tamil Nadu through key national highways. National Highway 32 (NH-32) also known as the East Coast Road, which begins in Chennai and terminates at Thoothukudi, provides vital connectivity to the region. Similarly, National Highway 36 (NH-36), extending from Vikravandi to Manamadurai, further enhances the transportation network in the area. Notably, NH-32 and NH-36 are interconnected by National Highway 136B, which passes through Mayiladuthurai, serving as a crucial link between these two highways. This integration significantly improves the accessibility of Mayiladuthurai, facilitating smooth travel across the state and contributing to the region's economic and infrastructural development.

As of 2007, Mayiladuthurai municipality accommodated of roads: of cement roads, of bituminous roads, of WBM roads and of earthen roads. Additionally, there were of highways in the town. Urban Infrastructure Report 2007, p. 9 There are 2 bus stands currently one serving Karaikkal, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur routes and the other principal bus stand is located on the Kumbakonam-Sirkazhi SH-64 State Highway. It has a total of 12 bus bays and rated class B as it has basic restaurant, toilet and lighting facilities.New bustand construction work started. Urban Infrastructure Report 2007, p. 10 There are regular bus services to important cities in Tamil Nadu. There are also regular services to other South Indian cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Bengaluru and Pondicherry. Mayiladuthurai forms a part of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation which is headquartered at Kumbakonam.

By rail

Mayiladuthurai Junction, a crucial railway station in Tamil Nadu, India, under the Southern Railway's Tiruchirappalli division, located on the Main line connecting the state capital Chennai with Tiruchirappali. With 5 platforms, it connects major cities like Chennai, Thanjavur, and Karaikudi, handling both passenger and freight traffic, including services to Karaikal port.The station currently manages 79 trains, with 12 originating and 12 terminating, and hosts long-distance trains like the Rameswaram Ayodhya Cantt. Express, Mannargudi Bhagat Ki Kothi SF Express, Banaras Rameswaram Weekly SF Express, Mysuru - Mayiladuthurai Mail Express, Cholan Super Fast Express, Padmini Express and Mayiladuthurai–Coimbatore Jan Shatabdi Express. There are regular express trains that connect the city with major cities in the state like Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli. There are passenger trains that connects Mayiladuthurai with Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli, Thiruvarur, Karaikkal, Nagapattinam Chidambaram, Cuddalore and Viluppuram.

The junction's position in the fertile Cauvery Delta region also supports agricultural transport, enhancing its relevance to the local economy. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme beautification, renovation, and additional infrastructure development works are currently in progress. These initiatives are planned to be completed by the end of 2025, ensuring enhanced facilities and improved passenger experiences across the junction.

On April 6, 2025, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Pamban Rail Bridge and launched the Tambaram-Rameswaram Express (16103/16104), a daily train enhancing connectivity via Mayiladuthurai Junction.

Culture

Mayiladuthurai has several ancient temples such as Mayuranathaswami Temple, a prominent Shaivite shrine and Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple, a Vaishnavite shrine which are located in the city.

The Mayuranathaswami Temple complex was built during the time of the Medieval Cholas. The annual chariot festival at the Mayuranathaswami Temple is a major event, drawing thousands of devotees. Other important festivals celebrated at the temple are Navarathri, Adi Pooram, Avani Moolam, Karthigai Deepam and Vaikashi Brahmavotsavam A yearly dance festival called the Mayura Natyanjali is conducted within the precincts of the Mayuranathaswami Temple by the Saptasvarangal Trust during Maha Shivaratri on the pattern of the Chidambaram Natyanjali festival.

Muzhukku every year in October (from the first day of Aippasi month to the first day of Karthigai month) Mudavan Muzhukku / Kadai Muzhuku/ Thula Snana is the most celebrated festival on the Cauvery River at the Thula Gattam. It is believed by the devotees that taking a dip in Cavery during the Thulam Snanam period is like taking a dip in the River Ganges and other holy rivers.

The town is also known for religious festivals like "Cauvery Pushkaram" or " Kaveri Pushkaram" (Thula festival), a celebration similar to the kumbha melas of Northern India. During the month of '' Aippasi'' ( ''Ashvina''), holy rivers such as the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati bathe in the Cauvery River at the ''Thula Kattam'' ( Tula Ghat) in Mayiladuthurai to cleanse themselves of their sins.

The Vadaranyeswarar temple and Kailasanathar temple in utthara mayuram, the Tulagattam Kashivishwanathar Temple, the Padithurai Vishwanathar temple, the Aiyaarappar Temple, and the Punukeeswarar Temple at Koranad, Mayiladuthurai are another important ancient Shiva temples in Mayiladuthurai.

The prominent Vaishnava temples in the town are Parimala Rangnathar Vishnu temple of lord Vishnu at Thiruvilandur on the northern banks of the Cauvery, a Divya desam and a Pancha rangam, Ayyar 1920, p 281 Adhi Ranganathar temple and Kolikutti Vanamutti Perumal temple.

Tourist attractions

The Navagraha temples, Poompuhar, Tranquebar or Tharangambadi, the mangroves of Pichavaram, Tirumullaivasal, Pazhaiyar near Sirkali, not to be confused with the Palaiyar and Karaikal are the most prominent tourist attractions located around the town.

The Navagraha temples are among the most popular pilgrimage sites and attractions of the town. Six out of nine (6/9) temples are closely located within a 30 km radius from Mayiladuthurai.

Notable people

The following people are associated with Mayiladuthurai:

* Viswanathan Anand - An Indian chess grandmaster, five-time World Chess Champion, a two-time World Rapid Chess Champion and a two-time Chess World Cup Champion. He became the first grandmaster from India. He has been awarded with Padma Vibhushan – Second highest civilian award awarded by Government of India in 2008
* Kambar - A great poet and the aurther of Ramayana in Tamil Language popularly known as '' Kambaramayanam.''
* Mayuram Vedhanaygam Pillai - An Indian civil servant, Tamil poet, novelist and social worker. He is remembered for the authorship of Prathapa Mudaliar Charithram, recognized as the "1st modern Tamil novel".
* Kalki Krishnamoorthy - An author who wrote some of the most popular historical romances in Tamil. Historical romance novels such as Ponniyin Selvan, Sivagamiyin Sabatham written by Kalki are some of the most beloved classics of popular Tamil fiction. Kalki was the founder of Kalki magazine.
* M.S. Udhayamoorthy - A Tamil writer and social activist. Author of several books on self-improvement, Udayamurthy's prominent works include Ennangal (thoughts), Unnal Mudiyum Thambi (You can, brother), née than thambi mudhal amaichar (you are the chief minister).
* Nadaswaram Vidwan T.N. Rajarathinam - An Indian Carnatic musician, nadaswaram ''maestro'', vocalist and film actor. He was popularly known as "Nadaswara Chakravarthi" (literally, the Emperor of Nadaswaram).
* G. N. Balasubramaniam – A prominent Carnatic vocalist, known for his contribution to classical music.
* M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar – A legendary Indian actor, singer, and composer, famous for his roles in Tamil cinema and his contributions to music.
* Sa. Kandasamy – Likely notable in literature or arts, given the context of the district's cultural history.
* P. Govindasamy Pillai – Might be recognized for contributions in arts, culture, or politics.
* R. D. Rajasekhar – Known in cultural or political spheres within the district.
* T. Rajendar – A Tamil filmmaker, actor, and lyricist with significant influence in the Tamil film industry.
* S. R. D. Vaidyanathan – Might be known for contributions in medicine, arts, or another field.
* T. R. Venkatarama Sastri – Recognized for contributions in traditional arts or literature.
* Raghavan Seetharaman - former CEO of Doha Bank is one of the largest commercial banks in Qatar.

Notes

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External links

Mayiladuthurai Travel Guide

Mayiladuthurai District Official Website

Mayiladuthurai Municipality Official Website

See also

Kaveri Pushkaram

{{Authority control
Ancient Indian cities
Cities and towns in Mayiladuthurai district

Hindu pilgrimage sites in India