Karaikudi

Karaikudi
Capital of Chettinad
City Corporation
Clockwise from top: Alagappa University; Kunnakudi Murugan Temple; Vallal Dr. Alagappar Museum; Karaikudi Municipal Corporation; Karaikudi Junction; Tamil Thaai Temple; and Kanadukathan Palace
Nickname(s): 
Food City, City of Education, Heritage City of Tamil Nadu.
Karaikudi is located in Tamil Nadu
Karaikudi
Karaikudi
Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India.
Coordinates: 10°04′25″N 78°46′24″E / 10.073500°N 78.773200°E / 10.073500; 78.773200
Country India
State Tamil Nadu
DistrictSivaganga
RegionChettinad
Government
 • BodyKaraikudi City Municipal Corporation
 • MayorS. Muthudurai, DMK
Area
 • Total
94.31 km2 (36.41 sq mi)
 • Rank20th
Elevation
118 m (387 ft)
Population
 (2023)
 • Total
303,291
 • Rank28th
 • Density3,200/km2 (8,300/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialTamil, English[1]
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
630XXX
STD code04565
Vehicle registrationTN-63Z
Websitekaraikudilpa.com

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 area of Tamil Nadu based on 2011 census data. It is part of the area commonly referred to as Chettinad and has been declared a City Municipal Corporation by the Government of Tamil Nadu,[2][3] on account of the palatial houses built with limestone called Kaarai veedu. Karaikudi Municipal Corporation spreads about 94.31 km2 (36.41 sq mi) consists of 100 wards which undergoes major developments as part of Government Schemes.[4]

Karaikudi comes under the Karaikudi Assembly constituency, which elects a member to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly once every five years, and it is a part of the Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency, which elects its member of parliament (MP) once in five years. The town is administered by the greater Karaikudi Municipal corporation. This metropolitan city had a population of 303,291 in 2023. This metropolitan area consists of Karaikudi City Corporation which includes its neighbourhood towns of Kottaiyur, Koviloor, Kandanur, Puduvayal, and Sankarapuram (census town) and villages of Amaravathiputhur, Ariyakudi, Iluppakkudi, Managiri, Mathur, Peyampatti, Thiruvelangudi and Soorakudi.

This city is famous for Karaikudi Kandangi sarees a special type of sarees which come from and are woven in this area. The geographical indication presents the government of India of this Kandangi sarees.[5] 

The Chettinad cuisine originated in the areas around Karaikudi.

It is one of the few towns and cities in List of AMRUT Smart cities in Tamil Nadu selected for AMRUT Schemes [6] from central government and the developmental activities are taken care by the government of Tamil Nadu.[7]

  1. ^ "52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India" (PDF). nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Government Order on Heritage Towns" (PDF). Directorate of Town and Country Planning, Government of Tamil Nadu, India. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  3. ^ Service, Express News (16 March 2024). "CM Stalin announces creation of 4 new corporations in TN, total goes up to 25". The New Indian Express. Chennai. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  4. ^ [chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://karaikudilpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/VOL-2-FINAL-COPY-ADOBE-EDITEDorganized-KARAIKUDI.pdf "New updates from Government of Tamilnadu for Karaikudi LPA"] (PDF). {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  5. ^ Raman, Sruthi (12 November 2019). "TN's Kandangi sari gets GI tag. What does this mean for the state's handloom market?". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Tufidco".
  7. ^ "Directorate of Town and Country Planning, Government of Tamil Nadu". tcp.tn.gov.in.