Virudhunagar

     Virudhunagar was formerly part of Ramanathapuram district and now a new district and its headquarters.  It is a small town located at a distance of 45 km South – West of Madurai.   It was under the Pandyas and passed into the Paligars know as ‘Palayakararkal’ in Tamil.  They showed stiff opposition to the colonial supremacy and finally were subdued by the british.  In 1985, the erstwhile Ramanathapuram District was bifurcated to create the districts of Ramanathapuram, Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar Thirumagan (later renamed Sivaganga) and Kamarajar District (later renamed Virudhunagar district).  It is divided into 8 taluks, namely Aruppukkottai,  Kariapatti, Rajapalayam, Sattur, Sivakasi, Sirvilliputur, Tiruchuli and Virudhunagar.  Now Virudhunagar is a very big grocery center in Tamil Nadu and plays a vital role in edible oil business too and a number of cement factories are also located here.  It is the birthplace of Kamarajar, popularly known as Kala Gandhi (kala-black), who played a vital role in freedom struggle and at one time became the king-maker of India.  The house where he lived is preserved as a monument and memorial.   The great saint Ramana Maharishi was born in Tiruchuli, a place near virudhunagar.  A part from business, Virudhunagar is famous for its hotels & food delicacy, especially Parotta. There are many Hotels which serve delicious food.  “Burma kadai” is one of the best hotels.  Lunch and the evening parotta are very famous in hotels of Virudhunagar.  You must see the way how “Virudhunagar parotta” is prepared.  It is quite different and it tastes the best.  Nowadays health conscious people are avoiding frequent visit to these shops to prevent heart related ailments attacking young people.  “Mariammam Kovil”, Veghilugandha amman kovil are famous temples in Virudhunagar.  It can be reached by rail or by bus from Chennai and other important towns. The nearest airport is at Madurai which connects to Coimbatore, Trichy and Chennai.  Sivakasi, a town famous for fireworks and printing press, match boxes is about 27 kilometers from Virudhunagar. 

Rajapalayam

     It is close to the temple town of Srivilliputhur and the coolest place in the district located almost on the Western Ghats.  It is derived from the word Raja’s Tamil synonyms for Raja and palayam in Tamil a fort.  There are spinning mills, power loom factories, waste cotton plant, wood screw factory, surgical cotton, plaster of paris, bolt and nail, insulated electrical goods, cycle spare parts, sugar-cane crusher rolls, saw mills, electrical motor manufacturing and etc. .  Rajapalayam dogs are known for their ferocity.  The Gandhi Kalai Mandram and Library are very popular here.  They are the gift of the late Chief Minister of madras and the Governor of Orissa Mr. P.K.Kumaraswamy Raja.

Sivakasi

     Sivakasi  is a town of cottage industries engaged in the manufacture of safety matches and fireworks.  It is famous for Lithographic and Offset Printing, Match and Fireworks industries.  Next to Sivakasi lithographic and offset printing is done only in Bombay. Out of 3932 match factories more than 80% are located here.  There are about 120 litho printing presses located here. It is 25 km from Virudhunagar.

Tiruthangal

      Tiruthangal is located on the road from Virudhunagar to Sivakasi.  Three Sangam age poets – Mudakkorranar, porkollan Vennahanar and Athireyan Sengannanar were said to have lived at Tiruthangal.