Southern Tamil Nadu
Tenkasi
Headquarters: Tenkasi
Overview
Tenkasi is a district in southern Tamil Nadu, formed on 22 November 2019 by separating the northern part of the former Tirunelveli district; its creation was announced on 18 July 2019. Covering about 2,802.93 sq km, it is bounded by the Western Ghats and the Kerala districts of Kollam and Pathanamthitta to the west, with headquarters at Tenkasi town, whose name means 'Kasi of the South' (a southern Varanasi). The 2011-era population within its present boundaries was around 1.42 million, then counted under Tirunelveli. Famed as the 'Land of Waterfalls' for the Courtallam cascades, the district blends hill scenery, temples and a strong handloom tradition.
Economy
More than 60% of Tenkasi's population depends on agriculture and allied activities, with paddy, banana, rubber and plantation crops grown using water from the Chittar and Anumanadhi rivers, four major dams and over 800 irrigation tanks. The towns of Kadayanallur, Puliyankudi, Surandai and Sankarankovil form a strong handloom-weaving and cotton-spinning belt, and the district also has agro-based, coir, sawmill and dairy units. Courtallam's waterfalls-based tourism is an important seasonal contributor to the local economy.
Tourism
Courtallam (Kutralam), on the Chittar river in the Western Ghats, is the district's signature attraction - a cluster of waterfalls including the Main Falls, Five Falls, Old Falls and Tiger Falls, whose mineral-rich waters have earned it the tag 'Spa of South India'. The falls draw huge crowds during the south-west monsoon 'season'. Nearby lie hill viewpoints and the temple town of Tenkasi itself, making the district a favourite short-break destination for southern Tamil Nadu.
Temples & heritage
The Kutralanathar temple at Courtallam, dedicated to Siva, is one of the region's great shrines and houses the Chitra Sabha - one of the five sacred 'sabhas' (dance halls) associated with Nataraja. The towering Kasi Viswanathar temple in Tenkasi town, with one of the tallest gopurams in the south, and the Sankara Narayanar temple at Sankarankovil, famous for its 'sand' prasadam, are other major pilgrimage centres.
Infrastructure
Tenkasi is connected by rail through Tenkasi Junction and the Shencottai line, which climbs the Western Ghats via the Shencottai pass to link Tamil Nadu with Kollam in Kerala. National highways connect the district to Tirunelveli, Madurai and Kerala, and the nearest airports are at Tuticorin and Madurai. Irrigation infrastructure rests on the Chittar and Anumanadhi rivers, four dams and over 800 tanks.
Education & healthcare
Education in Tenkasi is served by a spread of arts-and-science, engineering and teacher-training colleges and a large network of government and aided schools across its eight taluks. Kadayanallur and Tenkasi town are established educational centres for the surrounding region. As a post-2011 district carved from Tirunelveli, Tenkasi shares the southern districts' broadly high schooling levels, though a separate Census 2011 literacy figure is not available for its current boundaries.
Gallery
Videos
Courtallam (Kutralam) Main Falls, Tenkasi
Sources & references
- 🏛️ Tenkasi District Administration (official portal)
- 🏛️ About District - Tenkasi District portal
- 📖 Tenkasi district - Wikipedia
- 📊 Tirunelveli (parent district) - Census 2011
- 🧭 Tamil Nadu Tourism (official)
- 📖 Courtallam (Kutralam) - Wikipedia
Source: Not applicable — district did not exist separately in Census 2011; Data note