Nagapatnam

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Nagapatnam | type = city | latd = 10.77 | longd = 79.83
state_name = Tamil Nadu
district = Nagapattinam
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude =
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 92,525| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone = 914365
postal_code = 611001
vehicle_code_range = TN 51
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Nagapattinam (Tamil:நாகப்பட்டினம்) (previously spelt Nagapatnam) is a coastal city and a municipality in Nagapattinam District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District, it was carved out by bifurcating the composite Thanjavur district on October 18, 1991. Other names of the town are Naganadu, Cholakula Vallippatinam and Shiva Rajadhani. Nagapattinam is the major port for Cholas dynasity.

History

Ptolemy refers to Nagapattinam as Nikam and mentions it as one of the most important trade centres of the ancient Tamil country. Nagapattinam was a Buddhist centre from 8th century CE. In 11th century CE, Chudamani Vihara, a Buddhist vihara (monastery) was built by Javanese king Sri Vijaya Soolamanivarman with the patronage of Raja Raja Chola.http://www.nio.org/past_events/archaeology/sridhar.pdf] Buddhism flourished until 15th century CE and the buildings of the vihara survived until 18th century. In Chola's Empire, Nagapattinam was the prominent port of Cholas and Cholas used this port not only for trade but also as conquering gateway to the east. This town still has traces of Saiva temples that were built by Cholas.

Nagapattinam was referred to by early writers and the Portuguese as "the city of Coromandel".Imperial Gazetteer of India, XIX, 3] In early 16th century the Portuguese start commercial contacts with the town; in 1554 they establish a commercial centre. In 1657 the Dutch occupied the town, taking it from the Portuguese to become their chief possession in India. In 1676, when the Maratha prince Venkaji had established himself at Tanjore, the grant of Negapatam to the Dutch was confirmed. It was taken by the British in 1781, and from 1799 to 1845 it was the headquarters of Tanjore district.

Nagapattinam was one of the regions severely affected by the tsunami which followed the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, [GR|India] Nagapattinam had a population of 92,525. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Nagapattinam has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 69%. In Nagapattinam, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. The major language spoken in the Nagapattinam District is Tamil spoken as a mother tongue by Hindus, Christians and Muslims alike. The vast majority of the population are Hindu by religion, with a Muslim minority of about 8% and much smaller groups of Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains.

Economy

The main occupation of Nagapattinam is fishing in the waters of Bay of Bengal and selling them in the town's fish market. There are a large number of ice factories for preserving the fish caught. Its fishing Industry was severely damaged by the tsunamis that struck its coast on 26th December 2004.OccupationThe town brings a daily income of 2crRs.

Away from the coast of Nagapattinam, agriculture, education, food packing etc... are practised, with agriculture being the most important occupation in the villages surrounding the town. It has vast farmlands where rice is cultivated. These farmlands are irrigated through an extensive network of canals from the distributaries of the river Cauvery. The produce is transported by rail to other parts of the country

Places of interest

Nagore durgah shariff of Badhusha Shahul Hameed Syed Abdul Qadir Kanzasawaii (Rali...) is located at just 7 km from the Dist. Head quarters. Nagapattinam is located close to many temples, hosting the Kayarohanam - Neelayadhakshi Amman Koil, the Soundararajan Perumal Koil, Krishnar Koil, Nellukadai Maraimman Koil and close to the church at Velankanni. Of historical importance, Lord Murugan temple is situated in Sikkal, which is 5 km away from Nagapattinam.

Fyrish Monument is a supposed replica of the gates of the Nagapattinam near the village of Evanton in the Highlands of Scotland.

Andanapettai 2 KM from Nagapattinam. Big temple Annamalai Nathar and Goddess Unnamulai and a Pillayar Kovil (Appathukatta Vinayagar Temple)Manjakkollai 2 KM from Nagapattinam. Murugan temple

Educational Institutions

# E.G.S.P.Engineering College with Master degree Facilities
# E.G.S.P Dental College
# E.G.S.P Pharmaceutical College
# E.G.S.P Arts and Science College] [http://www.egspcolleges.com]
# SIR ISAAC NEWTON COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
# SIR ISAAC NEWTON CATERING COLLEGE
# SIR ISAAC NEWTON TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTE
# SIR ISAAC NEWTON POLYTECHNIC
# A.D.J Women's Arts College
# A.D.J Polytechnic college
# Valivalam Desikar Polytechnic
# Government I.T.I
# Tiny Tots Nursery and Primary School, Manjakkollai, Andanapettai - Post, Nagapattinam - 611 102. Phone : [phone]
# St. Antony's Higher Secondary School
# National Higher Secondary School
# CSI higher secondary school
# R.V Plytechnic College Sembodai
# Natarajan Dhamayanthi Higher Secondary School
# Nehru matriculation HSS
# CSI HSS

Notable Persons from Nagai

Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Dr. M.Karunanidhi Birth Place
The Great Techie Mr.Yuvaraj
COS king Albert Arun Kumar

Politics

Nagapattinam assembly constituency is part of Nagapattinam (Lok Sabha constituency). [cite web
url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S22/TN_ACPC.pdf
title = List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies
accessdate = 2008-10-12
work = Tamil Nadu
publisher = Election Commission of India ]

References

External links

* [http://www.nagapattinam.nic.in Nagapattinam District website]
* http://www.mayiladuthuraionline.com
* [http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/naga.htm Nagapattinam tourism]
* [http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/NAN_NEW/NEGAPATAM.html Detailed info on NEGAPATAM.]

See also

* Chudamani Vihara
* Battle of Negapatam (1758)
* Battle of Negapatam (1782)
* Nagapattinam (Lok Sabha constituency)