Thuckalay

Thuckalay -தக்கலை- is a town in Kanayakumari District of Tamil Nadu, India. It is pronounced as THAKKALAI .It is well connected by road from both (51 km)Thiruvananthapuram and (17 km)Nagercoil. Thuckalay comes under Padmanabhapuram municipality.

History

There is very little known about history of Thuckalay, apart from the fact that it is a part of Padmanaphapuram, which was once the capital of erstwhile Travancore.

Land Marks

Mettukadai, Bus Stand, Anna Statue, Old Bus Stand, Post Office, Amala Convent Jn., BSNL Telephone Exchange,Market Road,Peerappa Palli

urroundings

Padmanabhapuram, Keralapuram, Moolachel, Charode, Saralvilai, Muttakadu, Kumarapuram, Neyyoor, Thiruvithancode, Mekkamandapam, Appattuvilai

Climate

Hot and Humid

Culture and Religion

All three major religions are equally represented

Popular Religious places

Thuckalay is known for the famous Muslim Dharga which is visited by people from all faiths. Muslim Saint Peer Mohamed Sahib Appa / Yakheem Mohamed Sahib Appa Dharga & Kochhu Bava Thangal Durga/Mackaipalayam Muslim Masjid and situated near Mettukadai. The annual festival of Peer Muhammad Appa Dargah is celebrated on the Muslim month of Rajab 14th. The Government of Tamil Nadu has declared District local Holiday for this function.

Near by KeralaPuram (Kovil Vattam) has a famous Hindu Temple. It is in this land of historic importance that you would find the temple of Mahadeva, famous for the idol of Ganesha, which changes its colour every six months. From Aani-ஆனி-(Chingam) colour will be white and from Maasi-மாசி-(Kumbham) it becomes black. The change is gradual and one can see intermediary colour of grey during transition. Keralapuram is located 1 km northwest of Thuckalay. Once the capital of Venad.

There is also a famous Murugan Temple at Kumaracoil.

There is a great looking Catholic Church on the NH47 connecting Nagercoil and Trivandrum. Someone knowledgeable can add more details here.

There is a CSI church on the way to Monday Market from Mettukadai, Thuckalay.

Sree Perumal Kovil is a temple down south of Market Road, Thuckalay. The main deity of the temple is Lord Perumaal (Vishnu). The temple proceedings are governed by Hindu Brothers Movement.

Accessibility

Thuckalay is well connected by rail and road. The nearest railway station is located in Eraniel which is around 5 km away from Thuckalay. The nearest airport is the Trivandrum International Airport, which is around 51 km from Thuckalay.

Demographics

As per last census, Thuckalay had a population of 162,019. Males constitute 50.5% of the population and females 49.5%. Thuckalay has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Of these male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 69%.

Local Populace

Education

Thuckalay has many educational institutions from primary schools to Engineering Colleges. The Thuckalay Government Higher Secondary School is the largest Government Educational institution in the region. There are also institituions like Amala Convent which are run by local Church and Hindu Vidyalaya which provides better education than the government school.

Noorul Islam College of Engineering is the nearest Engineering College and it is located at Kumarakoil, about four kilo meters from Thuckalay.This college is best college in kanyakumari district

Hospital

Kanyakumari district's head quarter hospital is located near Mettukadai. There are also many privately run hospitals and clinics.

Tourism

The historical Padmanabhapuram Palace is located just 1 km from Thuckalay Town. The palace is built in the Travancore architectural style. This palace is famous for its 17th and 18th century murals, carved mahogany ceiling, colored mica windows, secret underground passages, inner courtyards, durbar hall, museum, four poster medicinal bed, Belgian mirror, pictures of Lord Krishna, granite dance halls and special black shiny floors which are made from a unique combination of egg white, jaggery, lime, burnt coconut, charcoal and river sand.

The French commander Dilanoy was buried in a near by place called Udayagiri Fort. It attracts many tourists from many parts of the world.

great genious AROMAL says there is one more place called malai palli