Nagercoil, natively spelt as Nāgarkovil (, "Temple of the

Nāga In various Asian religious traditions, the Nāgas () are a divine, or semi-divine, race of half-human, half-serpent beings that reside in the netherworld (Patala), and can occasionally take human or part-human form, or are so depicted in art. ...

s", or Nagaraja-Temple), is a Municipal Corporation city and the administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District in

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...

state, India. Situated close to the tip of the Indian peninsula, it lies on an undulating terrain between the Western Ghats and the

Arabian Sea The Arabian Sea () is a region of sea in the northern Indian Ocean, bounded on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, Gulf of Aden and Guardafui Channel, on the northwest by Gulf of Oman and Iran, on the north by Pakistan, on the east by India, and ...

Nagercoil is a centre for a range of economic activities in the small but densely-populated Kanyakumari District. Economic activities in and around the city include

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the Commerce, commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as ...

wind energy Wind power is the use of wind energy to generate useful work. Historically, wind power was used by sails, windmills and windpumps, but today it is mostly used to generate electricity. This article deals only with wind power for electricity ...

IT services Information technology service management (ITSM) are the activities performed by an organization to design, build, deliver, operate and control IT services offered to customers. Differing from more technology-oriented IT management approach ...

, marine fish production and exports, rubber and cloves plantations, agro-crops, floral production, manufacture of fishnets, rubber products among other activities. 'Nagercoil Cloves' is a distinct quality of dried cloves in the spices market, noted for its aroma and medicinal value.

Cloves Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, ''Syzygium aromaticum'' (). They are native to the Maluku Islands, or Moluccas, in Indonesia, and are commonly used as a spice, flavoring, or fragrance in consumer products, ...

, pepper and other spices are grown in estates in the Western Ghats, outside the town. Nagercoil is also the nearest city to the ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri and the

Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (or Kudankulam NPP or KKNPP) is the largest nuclear power station in India, situated in Kudankulam in the Tirunelveli district of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Construction on the plant began on 31 Ma ...

. The city, along with the district of Kanyakumari, stands at the top in many

Human Development Index The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistical composite index of life expectancy, Education Index, education (mean years of schooling completed and expected years of schooling upon entering the education system), and per capita income i ...

parameters in Tamil Nadu state, including education, per capita income, health indices, etc. The municipality of Nagercoil was upgraded as a Municipal corporation on the eve of its 100th year as a city on 14 February 2019.

Etymology

Nagercoil derives from the Tamil expression ''Nagaraja koyil'', meaning "temple of Nagas".

Demographics

According to the 2011 census, Nagercoil had a population of 289,916 with a female-male sex ratio of 1.05, well above the national average of 0.929 females/male. A total of 20,241 were under the age of six, constituting 10,119 males and 10,122 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 4.19% and 0.17% of the population respectively. The literacy rate of the city was 96.99%. The city had a total of 59,997 households. There were a total of 76,345 workers, comprising 244 cultivators, 1,155 main agricultural labourers, 2,271 in household industries, 67,050 other workers, 5,625 marginal workers, 110 marginal cultivators, 361 marginal agricultural labourers, 447 marginal workers in household industries and 4,707 other marginal workers.

Economy

The city is one among the 50 Indian cities to be ranked in the World Startup Index of 1,000 cities. The major software companies present in Nagercoil are CapeStart Inc.,

Hinduja Global Solutions Hinduja Group is an Indian conglomerate. The group is present in eleven sectors including automotive, oil and specialty chemicals, banking and finance, IT and ITeS, cyber security, healthcare, trading, infrastructure project development, media ...

Navigant Consulting Guidehouse, Inc. is an American consulting firm for businesses and government entities. It is the successor to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s public sector business and it was acquired in 2018 by Veritas. The head office is in Tysons, Virginia. ...

. The city also has small aerospace manufacturing plants and satellite fabricating firms serving the

Indian Space Research Organisation The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO ) is India's national List of government space agencies, space agency, headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It serves as the principal research and development arm of the Department of Space (DoS), ...

s facility in ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri. The Regional Academic Centre for Space by Indian Space Research Organisation, one among the only six incubation centres for Space Startups in India, is under construction in Nagercoil. The

Integral Coach Factory Integral Coach Factory (ICF) is an Indian manufacturer of rolling stock, and electrical multiple units. Established in 1955, it is located in Perambur in Chennai and is the largest rail coach manufacturer in the world. It is owned and operated ...

has a small scale windmill unit. Also, the District Industries Centre (DIC) in Konam, Nagercoil operates under the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, India (MSME). The export of 95 tons of fruits and vegetables to the Gulf Countries through the Thiruvananthapuram airports is a major source of revenue for the city, with food processing companies generating a daily revenue of ₹16.7

lakh A lakh (; abbreviated L; sometimes written lac) is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand (100,000; scientific notation: 105). In the Indian 2, 2, 3 convention of digit grouping, it is written as 1,00,000. F ...

and an annual revenue of ₹6.1 billion. The flower market of Thovalai exports 350 tons of Flowers to Kerala, Europe and Middle Eastern countries generating an annual revenue of ₹250

crore Crore (; abbreviated cr) denotes the quantity ten million (107) and is equal to 100 lakh in the Indian numbering system. In many international contexts, the decimal quantity is formatted as 10,000,000, but when used in the context of the India ...

. The major cottage industries like Fish-net manufacturing, Rubber industries, Jewellery manufacturing are industries serving the domestic and export markets. The minor

cottage industries The putting-out system is a means of subcontracting work, like a tailor. Historically, it was also known as the workshop system and the domestic system. In putting-out, work is contracted by a central agent to subcontractors who complete the p ...

include Surgical Gloves,

Coir Coir (), also called coconut fibre, is a natural fibre extracted from the outer husk of coconut, and used in products such as floor mats, doormats, brushes, and mattresses. Coir is the fibrous material found between the hard, internal shell ...

-making, floral trade, handloom-weaving, cashew nut, spices, food-processing units, and lace-making (export-oriented). Nagercoil has the highest

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

of ₹2,76,454 (US$3,800), making it among the richest small cities in India.

Energy

The city has an installed windmill capacity of 1500 MW catering to 20% of the state's renewable electricity needs. Muppandhal has emerged as the wind power hub, with plant owners eager to cash in on the ₹2.90 per unit purchase price being offered by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.

Architecture

The architecture of Nagercoil consists of an eclectic combination of architectural styles, ranging from those that predate the creation of the town, from the early

Dravidian architecture Dravidian architecture, or the Southern Indian temple style, is an architectural idiom in Hindu temple architecture that emerged from Southern India, reaching its final form by the sixteenth century. In contrast with North Indian temple styl ...

and Kerala Architecture, to English

Gothic Revival Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an Architectural style, architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half ...

, to the 21st century contemporary. Although there are prehistoric and classical structures in the city, the architectural history of Nagercoil effectively begins with the first small settlements from 3 AD. The Roman naturalist and writer

Pliny the Elder Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/24 79), known in English as Pliny the Elder ( ), was a Roman Empire, Roman author, Natural history, naturalist, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the Roman emperor, emperor Vesp ...

mentions Nagercoil as a commercial metropolis, having trade links with his contemporaneous Roman merchants, who traded and stayed in unique rock-walled, clay-roofed structures. This legacy can be found in some of the town's old heritage structures like the

Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple is an early large temple found in the city of Nagercoil (''Nagarkōyil'') near the southern tip of Tamil Nadu, India. Its dating is uncertain but likely pre-12th-century. The main sanctum is dedicated to the Nagaraja – the ki ...

. The temple has two main deities, Krishna (revered as Ananda Krishna) and Nagaraja. The upadevathas are Shiva, Subrahmanya Swami, Ganesha, Devi, and Dwarapalaka. As an ancient tradition, the priests are Namboothiri Brahmins who are referred by the Pambumekkat mana in Thrissur, Kerala. Later on, Dravidian and Kerala architectural styles began to appear in the area. This can be attributed to the construction of the Thanumalayan Temple in the 16th century. The 14th century St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar serves as a testimony to the mix of Roman and native architecture. While Saint Xavier was doing missionary work at Kottar and its neighbourhood, he averted an invasion of Padagas and thus protected the people of the Venad kingdom from that attack which was appreciated by the king, Unni Kerala Varma. In recognition of Xavier's services, the king allotted him a piece of land to construct a Catholic church, as a gesture of goodwill, as per the church records. There was already a small church, in the same place where St. Xavier's church stands at present, dedicated to Mary the Mother of God, since AD 1544. The artistic influence of Kerala and British architecture marvels are seen in the Nagercoil Palace,

Nagercoil Clock Tower The Nagercoil Clock Tower, also known as also known as Nagercoil Tower Junction, is situated in the heart of the city of Nagercoil, India. The clock in the tower was presented to the Maharajah of Travancore by the European missionary, Rev. Duthi ...

, Home Church, Scott Christian College, Scott School, Carmel Higher Secondary School, St. Joseph Convent, Sethu Lakshmi Bai School, Nagercoil Court, The Concordia Seminary, Filter House, The Salvation Army Catherine Booth Hospital and many more heritage structures in and around the town. The Nagercoil Clock Tower is the most visible to the outside world, situated in the heart of the town, which was built to commemorate the visit of Sri Moolam Thirunal, the ruler of

Travancore The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvanan ...

, in 1893, and was designed by Hogeorf and S. Horesly of England. The Maharajah himself inaugurated it on 15 February of that year. The pendulum of the clock was made in Derbyshire by Smith of Derby Group,

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. The clock is attached to a 60-foot-long chain with a weight, operated with pulleys through gravitational force. The clock in the Nagercoil Clock Tower was presented to the Maharajah by Rev. James Duthie. of the London Missionary Society. The total cost for constructing the Nagercoil Clock Tower was ₹ 3,258, 9 Chakrams and 12 Kasu. The Maharajah of Travancore donated ₹ 1017, and the balance was donated by the public.

Politics

Law and Order

Kanniyakumari District Police Department

The Kanniyakumari District Police Department operates under the leadership of the Superintendent of Police (India),

Tamil Nadu Police Tamil Nadu Police is the primary law enforcement agency of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is over 150 years old and is the fifth largest state police force in India.

and is supported by two

Additional Superintendent of Police Additional Superintendent of Police (abbreviated as Addl. SP or Addl. DCP) or Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, is a rank in Indian police forces. The officer holding this rank can be from the Indian Police Service (IPS) or from respec ...

(Addl. SPs). Organizational Structure Superintendent of Police (India) (SP) – Overall in charge of the district police.

(2) – Assist the SP in administrative and operational functions. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy. SPs)

Four Dy. SPs overseeing the four police sub-divisions (Kanniyakumari Sub Division, Nagercoil Sub Division, Thuckalay Sub Division & Colachel Sub Division).

One Dy. SP for Armed Reserve.

One Dy. SP for District Crime Record Bureau (DCRB).

One Dy. SP for District Crime Branch (DCB).

One Dy. SP for Prohibition Enforcement Wing.

One Dy. SP for Economic Offences Wing – II (Nagercoil).

Police Personnel Strength

Inspectors of Police: 39 (35 + 4)

Sub-Inspectors of Police: 134 (94 + 40)

Police Personnel: 1,686 (1,586 + 100)

Nagercoil Sub-Division Police Stations

Kottar Kottar is a locality and a bazaar area of Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu state, in the southernmost part of Peninsular India; though a part of Nagercoil today, it is the original town around which the city of Nagercoil grew. It was an ancient trade cent ...
Police Station
Vadasery Vadasery is an area/village of Nagercoil city in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. It is also famous for its Christopher (mofussil) bus stand, one of the two bus termini in Nagercoil is located here. Long route (mofussil) buses to other distric ...
Police Station
Aralvaimozhy Police Station
Bhoothapandy Police Station
Nesamony Nager Police Station
Asaripallam Police Station(under the control of Nesamonynager Circle)
Central Crime Station, Nagercoil
All Women Police Station (AWPS), Nagercoil,
Traffic Investigation Police Station
Traffic Regulation Wing, Nagercoil.

Specialized Wings and Units In addition to the Police Stations, the following specialized wings and units operate under the control of the Superintendent of Police (India), Kanniyakumari District:

District Crime Records Bureau (DCRB) – Maintains crime records and assists in investigations.

District Crime Branch (DCB) – Handles serious crimes and special investigations.

Economic Offences Wing – II (Nagercoil) – Investigates financial frauds and economic offenses.

Prohibition Enforcement Wing – Monitors and prevents illegal liquor trade.

Social Justice and Human Rights Unit – Ensures the protection of human rights and social justice cases.

Finger Print Bureau – Assists in forensic investigations using fingerprint analysis.

Short Hand Bureau – Records and documents police proceedings and legal matters.

Police Photographic Section – Provides photographic evidence and documentation for investigations.

Mobile Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) – A mobile unit assisting in crime scene analysis and forensic investigations.

Education

Tamil is the official language in Nagercoil and is spoken by the majority of the population here. In addition to Tamil, English and Malayalam are widely spoken. There are many schools and colleges in Nagercoil that are known for their national reputation and were established more than 150 years ago; colleges such as Scott Christian College (est. 1809), South Travancore Hindu College (est. 1952), Holy Cross College (est. 1965), Women Christian College and schools such as Scott Christian Higher Secondary School (est. 1819), Duthie Girls School (est. 1819), St. Joseph's Convent Higher Secondary School (est. 1910), Carmel Higher Secondary School (est. 1922), S.L.B. Government Higher Secondary School (est. 1924), S.M.R.V. Higher Secondary School (est. 1919). Also, there are several private primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools,

Central Board of Secondary Education The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is a national-level board of education in India for public and private schools, controlled and managed by the Government of India. Established in 1929 by a resolution of the government, the Board ...

(CBSE), and

Indian Certificate of Secondary Education The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) is an academic qualification awarded by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, a private, non-governmental board of education in India. The CISCE conducts these examinati ...

(ICSE) schools in the city that provide learning diversity to the local & surrounding students. There are various approved higher education and skill development institutions in and around the city, including

autonomous In developmental psychology and moral, political, and bioethical philosophy, autonomy is the capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision. Autonomous organizations or institutions are independent or self-governing. Autonomy can also be defi ...

colleges, aided colleges, and self-financing colleges serving diverse fields like

Science Science is a systematic discipline that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable hypotheses and predictions about the universe. Modern science is typically divided into twoor threemajor branches: the natural sciences, which stu ...

and

Technology Technology is the application of Conceptual model, conceptual knowledge to achieve practical goals, especially in a reproducible way. The word ''technology'' can also mean the products resulting from such efforts, including both tangible too ...

Commerce Commerce is the organized Complex system, system of activities, functions, procedures and institutions that directly or indirectly contribute to the smooth, unhindered large-scale exchange (distribution through Financial transaction, transactiona ...

Economics Economics () is a behavioral science that studies the Production (economics), production, distribution (economics), distribution, and Consumption (economics), consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interac ...

Arts The arts or creative arts are a vast range of human practices involving creativity, creative expression, storytelling, and cultural participation. The arts encompass diverse and plural modes of thought, deeds, and existence in an extensive ...

Humanities Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture, including Philosophy, certain fundamental questions asked by humans. During the Renaissance, the term "humanities" referred to the study of classical literature a ...

Medical Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...

Engineering Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...

, and

Management studies Management (or managing) is the administration of organizations, whether businesses, nonprofit organizations, or a government bodies through business administration, nonprofit management, or the political science sub-field of public administr ...

. There is a Government ITI, Government Polytechnic, University College of Engineering, Nagercoil, and Government Arts And Science College which are all situated in Konam, Nagercoil. There are two Government Medical Institutes in Nagercoil, Kanyakumari Government Medical College, Acharipallam, and Government Ayurvedic College,

Kottar Kottar is a locality and a bazaar area of Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu state, in the southernmost part of Peninsular India; though a part of Nagercoil today, it is the original town around which the city of Nagercoil grew. It was an ancient trade cent ...

. The literacy rate is at 96.99% higher than the national average of 74.04% and state average of 80.09%.

Culture

Vadasery Vadasery is an area/village of Nagercoil city in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. It is also famous for its Christopher (mofussil) bus stand, one of the two bus termini in Nagercoil is located here. Long route (mofussil) buses to other distric ...

, a locality in Nagercoil, unique Temple jewellery is made. The Vadasery Temple jewellery has

Geographical Indication A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g., a town or region). The use of a geographical indication, as an indication of the product's source, is inten ...

s (GI) registry of the Government of India. These jewels are used by classical dancers in India.

Onam Onam () is an annual harvest and Hindus, Hindu cultural festival celebrated mostly by the people of Kerala. A major annual event for Malayalis, Keralites, it is the official festival of the state and includes a spectrum of cultural events. H ...

is a festival which is widely celebrated among the

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...

-speaking population by drawing the 'athapoo' on the floor.

Navaratri Navaratri () is an annual Hindu festival observed in honor of the goddess Durga, an aspect of Adi Parashakti, the supreme goddess. It spans over nine nights, first in the month of Chaitra (March/April of the Gregorian calendar), and aga ...

is uniquely celebrated here with an inter-state tradition in which the idols of Goddess Munuthithanankai Amman from Suchindrum, Goddess Saraswati from

Padmanabhapuram Palace Padmanabhapuram Palace, also known as Kalkulam Palace, is a Travancore-era palace located in Padmanabhapuram in the Kanyakumari district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The palace is owned, controlled and maintained by the Kerala Governme ...

and Lord Kumaraswamy from Kumarakovil travel to

Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram ( ), also known as Trivandrum, is the Capital city, capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 sq. km, making it the ...

. A ceremonial welcome is given to the idols of the Gods by the officials and representatives of the Government of

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

. After the ten days of

Navratri Navaratri () is an annual Hindu festival observed in honor of the goddess Durga, an aspect of Adi Parashakti, the supreme goddess. It spans over nine nights, first in the month of Chaitra (March/April of the Gregorian calendar), and aga ...

festival, they return to the respective temples with great celebrations.

Cuisine

Nanjil Nadu Cuisine, hailing from the Southern coastal region of

, especially Nagercoil, is a blend of Tamil and Kerala culinary traditions. Known for its abundant use of coconut and coconut oil, this cuisine stands out with its distinct and rich flavours. The dishes are often infused with aromatic spices, tangy tamarind, and the freshness of coastal ingredients. Below is an overview of the listed dishes:

Nanjil Fish Curry A signature dish of the region, this

curry Curry is a dish with a sauce or gravy seasoned with spices, mainly derived from the interchange of Indian cuisine with European taste in food, starting with the Portuguese, followed by the Dutch and British, and then thoroughly internatio ...

is made with freshly caught fish, tamarind, and coconut-based spices, delivering a tangy and spicy flavour.

Avial A classic South Indian dish, Avial is a medley of vegetables cooked with grated coconut and yoghurt, tempered with curry leaves and coconut oil.

Nendran Chips These crispy banana chips, made from ripe or raw Nendran banana, are fried to perfection in coconut oil, making them a popular snack.

Venthaya Curry A unique

fenugreek Fenugreek (; ''Trigonella foenum-graecum'') is an annual plant in the family Fabaceae, with leaves consisting of three small Glossary_of_leaf_morphology#Leaf_and_leaflet_shapes, obovate to oblong leaflets. It is cultivated worldwide as a semiar ...

based curry with a slightly bitter yet aromatic taste, often prepared with tamarind and coconut milk.

Munthiri Kothu A traditional sweet made of rice flour, jaggery, and roasted mung beans, deep-fried in small clusters, resembling grape bunches.

Karupatti Mittai A wholesome candy made using palm jaggery ( karupatti) and nuts, offering a delightful natural sweetness.

Kottar Rice Murukku A crunchy snack made of rice flour, this spiral-shaped savoury is a local speciality of

, a locality in Nagercoil.

Nungu Sarbath A refreshing summer drink made with ice apple (nungu,

Borassus flabellifer ''Borassus flabellifer'', commonly known as doub palm, palmyra palm, tala or tal palm, toddy palm, lontar palm, wine palm, or ice apple, is a fan palm native to South Asia (especially in Bangladesh, East India, and South India) and Southeast As ...

), flavoured syrups, and sometimes basil seeds, providing a cooling effect.

Pazha Bajji Deep-fried banana fritters are a sweet and crispy snack made with ripe bananas coated in a spiced batter.

Thenkuzhal Mittai is a delicious sweet which is a deep-fried, sugar-coated version of Thenkuzhal Murukku, similar to Manoharam Mittai, where crispy rice flour tubes are coated in jaggery or sugar syrup, giving them a crunchy yet sweet taste.

Parrota A flaky, layered flatbread, often served with spicy curries or meat dishes, making it a favourite street food in Nagercoil.

Kothu Parrota is another popular dish that consists of flaky parotta (layered flatbread) that is shredded and stir-fried with eggs, spices, onions, tomatoes, and sometimes chicken, meat, or vegetables. It is cooked on a hot griddle with a rhythmic chopping motion using metal spatulas, giving it a signature texture and flavor.

Maravazhi Kilangu (

Tapioca Tapioca (; ) is a starch extracted from the tubers of the cassava plant (''Manihot esculenta,'' also known as manioc), a species native to the North Region, Brazil, North and Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast regions of Brazil, but which has ...

Cassava ''Manihot esculenta'', common name, commonly called cassava, manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America, from Brazil, Paraguay and parts of the Andes. Although ...

) with Fish Curry is another classic dish, which satisfies the appetite of the people in this region. It combines soft, boiled tapioca with a spicy, flavorful fish curry, creating a delicious and comforting meal.

Nagercoil's culinary offerings reflect its rich cultural heritage and coastal bounty, making it a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts.

Transport

Bus transport

There are three main bus stands in the city. * Nagercoil Municipal Corporation Christopher Bus Stand (

): The terminus, spread over an area of 9.49 acres, serves as a hub for transportation and commercial activities in the region. It features 52 bus bays, which accommodate a variety of buses including Mofussil buses and long-distance buses. These buses connect Nagercoil with major cities across

and

, facilitating both local commuting and intercity travel. In addition to the bus bays, the terminus houses essential facilities such as a reservation counter for ticketing services. It also includes numerous commercial and refreshment outlets, providing amenities to travellers and visitors alike. Overall, the terminus plays a crucial role in Nagercoil's transportation infrastructure, offering convenience and connectivity for passengers travelling within the state and to neighbouring

. Frequent bus services to Marthandam,

, Valliyur,

Tirunelveli Tirunelveli (), also known as Nellai and historically (during British rule) as Tinnevelly, is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of the Tirunelveli District. It is the fourth-largest munici ...

Kovilpatti Kovilpatti is an industrial city and special grade municipality in Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, India. It is located 65 km (40 mi) from Thoothukudi, 102 km (63 mi) from Madurai and 565 km (351 mi) from Chennai. It is the headquarters of t ...

Virudhunagar Virudhunagar is a city and the administrative headquarter of the Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located southwest of the state capital Chennai and south of Madurai. Virudhunagar emerged as an important trade c ...

Madurai Madurai ( , , ), formerly known as Madura, is a major city in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District, which is ...

Karaikudi Karaikudi is the largest city of Sivaganga district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the centre of the Karaikudi Metropolitan Area, the 21st largest urban Agglomeration of Tamil Nadu based on 2011 census data. It is part of the area ...

, Dindigul,

Thoothukudi Thoothukudi (formerly called Tuticorin) is a port city, port industrial city in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It lies on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. The city is capital and headquarters of the di ...

, Tiruchendur available from here. Also scheduled long distances buses to

Chennai Chennai, also known as Madras (List of renamed places in India#Tamil Nadu, its official name until 1996), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Tamil Nadu by population, largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and ...

, Salem,

Krishnagiri Krishnagiri () is a city in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, and it serves as the administrative headquarters of Krishnagiri District formed in 2004. It is located at the bottom of Krishnadevaraya Hills, and the town is fully surrounded by hill r ...

Hosur Hosur is an industrial city located in the Tamil Nadu state of India. Hosur is one of the 21 municipal corporations in Tamil Nadu. It is located on the bank of the river River Ponnaiyar, southeast of Bengaluru and west of Chennai, the state ...

Bengaluru Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore (List of renamed places in India#Karnataka, its official name until 1 November 2014), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the southern States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kar ...

, Palani,

Pollachi Pollachi is a town and municipality in Coimbatore district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Pollachi taluk. It is situated near the center of the South Indian Peninsula, surrounded by Western Gha ...

, Tiruppur,

Ooty Ooty (; officially Udagamandalam (), Anglicisation, anglicized: Ootacamund , abbreviated as Udagai, ) is a town and municipality in the Nilgiris district of the Indian States and territories of India, state of Tamil Nadu. It is located north ...

Thanjavur Thanjavur (), also known as Thanjai, previously known as Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the 12th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of southern Indian religion, art ...

Nagapattinam Nagapattinam (''nākappaṭṭinam'', previously spelt Nagapatnam or Negapatam) is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam district. The town came to prominence during the period of Medieval ...

Velankanni Velankanni (''Vēḷāṅkaṇṇi''), is a Special Grade Panchayat Town in Nagapattinam district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It lies on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, 350 km south of Chennai (Madras), 12 km south of ...

Kodaikanal Kodaikanal () (English: ) is a municipality and hill station in Dindigul district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated at an altitude of in the Palani hills of the Western Ghats. Kodaikanal was established in 1845 to serve as a r ...

Trichy Tiruchirappalli (), also known as Trichy, is a major tier II city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli district. The city is credited with being the best livable and the cleanest city of T ...

Ariyalur Ariyalur () is a town and district headquarters of Ariyalur district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu and is rich in limestone, surrounded with seven cement factories and two sugar factories. The town is located at a distance of from ...

, Virudhachalam,

Kumbakonam Kumbakonam (formerly spelt as Coombaconum or Combaconum), or Kudanthai, is a city municipal corporation in the Thanjavur district in the States of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located from Thanjavur and from Chennai and is the hea ...

Chidambaram Chidambaram is a major town and municipality in Cuddalore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, on the banks of the Vellar River where it meets the Bay of Bengal. It is the headquarters of the Chidambaram taluk. The town is believed to b ...

Cuddalore Cuddalore, also spelt as Kadalur (), is a heavy industries hub and a port city, and headquarters of the Cuddalore District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Situated south of Chennai, Cuddalore was an important city and port during the Britis ...

, Puducherry,

Pudukkottai Pudukkottai Municipal Corporation is the administrative headquarters of Pudukkottai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the oldest Heritage city located on the banks of the Vellar River. It has been ruled, at different t ...

Vellore Vellore ( ), also spelled Velur, is a sprawling city and the administrative headquarters of Vellore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the Palar River and surrounded by the Javadi Hills in the northeastern ...

Chittoor Chittoor is a city and district headquarters in Chittoor district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is also the mandal and divisional headquarters of Chittoor mandal and Chittoor revenue division respectively. The city has a popul ...

, Tirupathi operated from here. The terminus is well utilized by buses belonging to the

Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Ltd. - (TNSTC) is a government owned public transport bus operator in Tamil Nadu, India. It operates Intercity bus services to cities within Tamil Nadu, and from Tamil Nadu to its neighbouring states. It al ...

(TNSTC), State Express Transport Corporation (SETC), and

Kerala State Road Transport Corporation Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is a state-owned road transport corporation in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the country's oldest state-run public bus transport services. The corporation is divided into three zones ( ...

. * Anna Bus Stand ( Meenakshipuram, Nagercoil): The terminus, spanning 2.31 acres, is a pivotal hub for local bus services within Kanyakumari district and to Tirunelveli district. It features 25 bus bays, facilitating the operation and organization of various bus routes connecting different parts of these districts. Local buses primarily serve the commuting needs of residents within the

Kanyakumari Kanyakumari (Tamil; / kəɳjɑkʊmɑɾiː/; referring to Devi Kanya Kumari, officially known as Kanniyakumari, formerly known as Cape Comorin) is a town and a municipality in Kanyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the ...

district, offering reliable transportation options for daily travel and commuting purposes. Additionally, buses to Tirunelveli district provide connectivity for inter-district travel, enabling passengers to reach destinations across both districts efficiently. As a central point for bus operations, the terminus enhances accessibility and convenience for travelers, ensuring smooth connectivity between different areas within

and to the neighbouring

district. The town bus routes to surrounding localities are to

, Parvathipuram, Vetturnimadam, Asaripallam, Chunkankadai, Villukuri, Thuckalay, Karungal, Thingalnagar, Mulagumoodu, Chettikulam,

, Ramanputhur, Konam, Eathamozhi, Rajakkamangalam, Manavalakurichi, Colachal, Midalam, Enayam, Parakkai, Thengamputhur, Puthalam, Manakudy, Kovalam, Thovalai, Suchindram, Vazhukkamparai, Thamaraikulam, Mylaudy, Kottaram, etc. * Vadasery Omni Bus Stand: Intrastate and Interstate private buses are operated from here.

Rail transport

There are two railway stations in the city # Nagercoil Junction Railway station (NCJ): The main railway station (Also called Kottar Railway Station) of the city and one of the most important railway stations in Tamil Nadu coming under NSG–3 category. It consists of 6PF (02 under progress) and 12 tracks. The railway station is located on Kanyakumari- Trivandrum BG Line and Nagercoil- Tirunelveli BG Line. Direct trains to many parts of the state like

, Rameshwaram,

Coimbatore Coimbatore (Tamil: kōyamputtūr, ), also known as Kovai (), is one of the major Metropolitan cities of India, metropolitan cities in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the Noyy ...

Tiruchirappalli Tiruchirappalli (), also known as Trichy, is a major tier II city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli district. The city is credited with being the best livable and the cleanest city of T ...

, and long-distance trains to other state cities like

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

Pune Pune ( ; , ISO 15919, ISO: ), previously spelled in English as Poona (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name until 1978), is a city in the state of Maharashtra in the Deccan Plateau, Deccan plateau in Western ...

Mangalore Mangaluru (), formerly called Mangalore ( ), is a major industrial port city in the Indian state of Karnataka and on the west coast of India. It is located between the Laccadive Sea and the Western Ghats about west of Bengaluru, the st ...

Jammu Jammu () is a city in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute ...

Varanasi Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ) or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.* * * * The city has a syncretic tradition of I ...

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...

, Shalimar,

Dibrugarh Dibrugarh () is a city in the Indian state of Assam, located 435 kms east of the state capital Dispur. It serves as the headquarters of the Dibrugarh district in Upper Assam. Dibrugarh also serves as the headquarters of the Sonowal Kach ...

Bangalore Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore (List of renamed places in India#Karnataka, its official name until 1 November 2014), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the southern States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kar ...

, Katra, Kacheguda,

Howrah Howrah (; ; alternatively spelled as Haora) is a city in the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal. Howrah is located on the western bank of the Hooghly River, opposite to its twin city of Kolkata. Administratively ...

, are also operated from here/passing through this station. # Nagercoil Town Railway station (NJT): The station lies on Kanyakumari- Trivandrum BG Line. Many important express trains and local trains to Trivandrum halt here. Also, some trains skip the main station due to loco rake reversal halt here.

Air transport

The nearest airport is

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is an international airport that serves Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India. Established in 1932, it is the first airport in the state of Kerala and the fifth international airport of ...

, which is around 70 km from the city centre. It has two Terminals, Domestic (Terminal 1) and International (Terminal 2).

Notable Personalities

List of people from Nagercoil

Entertainment and Study Centres

The Nagercoil Corporation Knowledge and study centre, situated in Konam, Nagercoil, was an initiative by the Government of Tamil Nadu, where reference books and study materials are available for students aspiring to take various entrance exams. District Central Library is another library situated in the city. PVP Multiplex, Sri Karthikai Theatre, Rajesh Cinema Hall, and AVM Valli Theatre are the cinema theaters in the city that serve movie entertainment.

Utility Services

A regional passport office was opened on 18 February 2018 to cater to the needs of the people of

district.

Sports

Nagercoil has the distinction of housing one of the two

Sports Authority of India The Sports Authority of India, SAI, was set up in 1984 to carry forward the legacy of the 1982 Asian Games held in New Delhi under the Department of Sports. SAl has been entrusted with promoting sport in India and achieving sporting excellen ...

Centers in the state, the other being in

. There are plans to make the city hub for sports in

South India South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...

by merging it with the

and

Kochi Kochi ( , ), List of renamed Indian cities and states#Kerala, formerly known as Cochin ( ), is a major port city along the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea. It is part of the Ernakulam district, district of Ernakulam in the ...

Centers with headquarters in

. Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) maintains Aringar Anna Outdoor Stadium in

and SDAT indoor Stadium in Konam, Nagercoil. It also has a swimming pool. Nagercoil also has various sports clubs that promote various sports activities. Nagercoil Fencing Club promotes fencing sports in Nagercoil. Also, there are various Non-govt sports clubs like The District Club, The Nagercoil Club, Ramavarmapuram Club, etc.web, url=http://www.districtclubnagercoil.com/

References

External links

Official website of Kanyakumari district
{{Authority control Cities and towns in Kanyakumari district