Thoothukudi, TamilNadu

Tiruchendur

This is one of the Six Special Abodes [Arupadai Veedu] of Murugan called as Lord Subrahmaniyan. Here Lord Murugan offered prayers to Lord Siva after the Soora Samharam.Popular and great Skandha Sashti Festival is celebrated during November and lakhs of pilgrim worship the Lord here during the festival days. The temple has a 156ft tall nine stage temple tower that dates to 17th century. Bathing in the Tiruchendur Sea and the Nazhi Kinaru, visiting Valli cave are some important rituals practiced by the pilgrims visiting Tiruchendur. 

Kattabomman Memorial Fort

It is 3 kms from Ottapidaram and home of the 17th Century freedom fighter Veerapandia Kattabomman. The Memorial Fort built at Panchalankuruchi was built in the year 1974 by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The Fort Complex houses the temple of Devi Jakkamma, hereditary Goddess of Kattabomman Family. Cemetery of British soldiers is located near the fort. The Archaeological Department of Tamil Nadu maintains these sites.

Kalugumalai-JainAbode

There are many sculptures dating to the 8th-9th century A.D. in the area, including the rock cut image of Bhagawan Parshwanatha flanked by two Yaksha, as well as many other rock cut images of other tirthankaras.

Kalugumalai-Vettuvan Koil

Vettuvan Koil (English: a Sculptor's paradise) is a Hindu temple built between the 8th and 9th century. Kalugumalai is a priceless unfinished Pandyan monolith cave temple, part of the iconographic richness that helped chronicle the burgeoning richness of the Tamil culture, traditions, and sacred centres containing religious art. About 7.5 meter of the mountain is excavated in a rectangular fashion and in the middle the temple is sculpted from a single piece of rock. The carvings reflect the southern temple style of the Pandya era.

Kalugumalai-Kalugasalamoorthy temple  

The main deity of this temple is Murugan. The main deity hall and entrance hall is excavated inside the foot hills of kalugumalai in the south-western corner of the hill and with external structural additions. The temple has many aesthetic sculptures.The temple dates to 18th century.The main deity is Lord Murugan with his wife Deivanai. 

Ettaiyapuram Palace

Ettayapuram was originally Ilasanadu, which was ruled by the Pandya Kings. After the Pandyas, Ettappan was appointed as Zamindar by Madurai Nayak dynasty under the supervision of Vijayanagara empire. After 150 years of rule by the descendants of Ettappan, Ilasanadu became Ettayapuram in 1565.

Sri Vaikuntam Temple

The temple is one of the Navagraha temples in Vaishnavism, associated with Surya, the Sun god.

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and two of its three bodies of water. The rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower, is 110 ft (34 m) tall. The Vijayanagar and Nayak kings commissioned paintings on the walls of the shrine of temple, some of which are still present. Thiruvengadamudayan hall houses rare life size sculptures commissioned during the 16th century.

There are six inscriptions in the temple deciphered by the Archaeological Department. The inscription from a ruler named Konerimaikondan records a gift of five velis of land as a tax-free gift to the temple. The temple also obtained grant for building and maintenance of a garden from a ruler who defeated the Cheras. The Pandya ruler Jatavarman Kulasekaran I (1190–1216 CE) also offered a similar grant to the temple. Maravarman Sundara Pandyan (1216–1238) made offerings to perpetual lighting of the temple. An inscription from his reign also indicates the installation of the shrine of Vaikuntavalli. Vira Pandyan IV (1309–1345) offered land to the temple to perform special poojas in the temple during his birthday in the Tamil month of Vaikasi.

Tuticorin Port

Tuticorin has been a centre for maritime trade and pearl fishery for more than 2000 years. The natural harbour with a rich hinterland, activated the development of the Port, initially with wooden piers and iron screw pile pier and connections to the railways. Tuticorin was declared as a minor anchorage port in 1868. Since then there have been various developments over the years.

Ottapidaram 

It is the birth Place of Freedom Fighter Maveeran Sundaralinga Kudumbanar, the world's first Human Suicide Bomber, and also of the great freedom fighter V. O. Chidambaram Pillai called VOC. VOC is also called as "Kappalottiya Tamizhan" because he launched one of the first shipping companies, Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company which operated ship between Tuticorin and Colombo against the British during the British regime in India.