Shenkottai

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Shenkottai | type = city | latd = 8.97| longd = 77.27
state_name = Tamil Nadu
district = Tirunelveli
leader_title_1 = Municipal Chairman
leader_name_1 = Mohamed Rahim.S
altitude =
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 26,838| population_density =
area_magnitude= km²
area_total =
area_telephone = 04633
postal_code = 627809
vehicle_code_range = TN-76
sex_ratio = 1003
unlocode =
website = www.municipality.tn.gov.in/Sengottai/

Shenkottai (Tamil: செங்கோட்டை, literally "Red Fort", also spelt Shencottah,Chengottai, Chenkottai, Sengottai, Senkottai. ) is a town in Tamil Nadu, India, in the foothills of the Western Ghats. It is located roughly 5 km from the Kutrallam Waterfall, near the border with Kerala. The Harihara and Kuntaaru rivers flow through the village.

History

Before state Reorganization Shenkottai was a part of the Travancore Samasthanam. In December 1851, the boundary between Tinnevelly and Travancore on the Shenkottai side was clearly defined as proposed by General Cullen as early as 1846, and finally sanctioned by the Madras Government.Sengottai Municipality was constituted in 1921. The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 came into effect from the 1st November 1956 and consequently the Tamil speaking area of Kerala (the present Kanniyakumari District) and Shenkottai taluk of Quilon district were added to Madras State. Shencottai was revised from III grade to II grade as per G.O. No.85 dated 22.5.98

Geography

Sengottai is surrounded by mountains on two sides, and as a result possesses fertile soil. Spread over an area of 2.68 sq. km. The flow of Kutrallam Waterfall is highly seasonal and is dependent on rain in Kerala; the normal rainy season lasts from July through September. Starting in November up until January, the weather becomes colder.Shencottah Gap (1500ft) in the Western Ghats gives access to Kerala.

Civic Administration

Municipal Chairman : Mohamed Rahim.S
Vice Chairman : C.Athimoolam Panchayat Union Chairman : Chattanathan .P
Vice Chairman : Arumuga Muthaliar .M

Economy

The economy of Shenkottai is chiefly agrarian in nature and people are engaged in the cultivation of rice, groundnut, ginger, coconut. Terra cotta and Pottery industry, Cane furniture are the important economic activities. Large number of Saw mills are present in Shenkottai Piranoor.

Demography

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Shenkottai had a population of 26,838. Males constitute 49.9% of the population and females 50.1%. Shenkottai has an average literacy rate of 84.3%, higher than the national average of 64.8%: male literacy is 82.1%, and female literacy is 68.36%. In Shenkottai, 10.49% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Culture

During the Tamil month of "Maargazhi" (corresponding to December through January), people in Sengottai sing "bhajan" before sunrise and put special "rangoli" outside their houses every day.

Transport

Sengottai is connected by road to most places in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The nearest airport is in Madurai, roughly four hours by road or train.There is a railway station and mixed gauge line between Shencottah and Tenkasi.

Trains available at Shenkottai:
Shenkottai – Madurai Passenger
Shenkottai – Chennai Egmore Pothigai Express
Punalur-Shenkottai Passenger
Punalur-Tenkasi JN Passenger
Tirunelveli Town-Shenkottai Passenger
Tirunelveli Town-Punalur Passenger.

Transport Corporation of Tamilnadu, Madurai Branch Depot and Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation Express Service Depot are available in Sengottai.

These two depot operates Buses from Sengottai to various Cities of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, the main cities are Chennai, Tirupur, Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai, Tiruchendur,Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu and Trivandram, Pathanam Thetta, Kottarakara, Kottaiyam, Gurvayur,Punallur and Quilon in Kerala and Puducherry in Pondicherry UT.

Educational Institution

* S.M.S.S. Boys Higher Secondary School
* S.R.M. Girls Higher Secondary School
* Govt.High School

* Ariyanallur Primary School
* Vanchinathan Primary School
* Catchchery Compound Primary School
* A.G Primary School

Bank and ATM

*Canara Bank and ATM

*State Bank of Travancore and ATM

*Tamilnad Mercantile Bank and ATM

*Indian Overseas Bank

*Tirunelveli Co-operative Central Bank

Tourist Places

*Kundaru Dam and Mottai Dam (3 km from Shencottah)
*Paalaru Falls (15 km from Shencottah)
*Manalar and Kumbaratty Falls in Kerala (13 km from Shencottah)
*Courtallam water falls (7 km from shengottai)

Movie Theatres

There are three movie theatres here. All new movies will be released in Kaleeswari theatre.

Temples

A famous Murugan temple called as "Thirumalai Kovil" is situated at Panpoli which is about 5 kilometer away from Sengottai.There are other temples situated in shengottai itself such as - Arultharum Aramvalarthanayagi Amman temple , Perumal Temple , Nithya Kalyani Amman Temple and Vandimalachi Amman Temple.

Famous Personalities

Veera Vanchinathan
Scientist S.S. Pillai
"Isaiyulaga Mannan" S.G.Kittappa
Moulana Moulavi Haji M. Abdul Wahhab M.A. B. Th
S. H. Kalayana Sundaram
K.H.Krishnan

References

External links