Ottapidaram

Ottapidaram
—  taluk  —
Coordinates
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District(s)	Thoothukudi
Nearest city	Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi
Parliamentary constituency	Tirunelveli
Assembly constituency	Ottapidaram
Population	3,000 (2006[update])
Sex ratio	500 ♂/♀
Literacy	90%
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Codes • Pincode • 628401 • Telephone • +0461 • Vehicle • TN 69

Ottapidaram (ஓட்டப்பிடாரம் in Tamil) is the biggest taluk in Tamil Nadu state, India. It is a small town in Tuticorin District. Ottapidaram continues to be a tourism centre, but has accessibility with many places from Tamil Nadu. One can reach Tirunelveli or Tuticorin easily from anywhere and Ottapidaram is very close to these two places (45 km from Tirunelveli and 22 km from Tuticorin). It is the birth Place of Freedom Fighter Maveeran Sundaralinga Kudumbanar,World first Human Suicide Bomber and the great freedom fighter V.O.Chidambaram pillai, fondly called as VOC. VOC is also called as "Kappalottiya Tamizhan" (கப்பலோட்டிய தமிழன் in Tamil) because he launched the first shipping company which operated ship between Tuticorin & Colombo against the British during the British regime in India.

'kollankinar' amongst the panchayats in ottapidaram taluk., famous in the taluk for its agriculture activities. the surround areas are vanchimaniyachi south east about 1.2 km, the railway junction connecting Tirunelveli and Tuticorin. The railways will connect in 45 minutes of journey to each of the corporation cities. (Tirunelveli and Tuticorin) Southern railways is planning to lay double line for smooth to and fro movement of trains from vilupuram to tuticorin and the other phase from "vanchi maniyachchi" to kanyakumari, since long years....

The main attractions in Ottapidaram are

1. The house of V.O.C converted to a Library which houses some rare photographs of Sh.VOC
2. Ulagamman(Goddess) temple
3. Panchalankurichi is one other main attraction which is just 3 km from Ottapidaram. It houses a fort constructed by the Tamil Nadu government in the place of ruined fort constructed by Veerapandiya Kattobomman, the famous king who ruled from this place in the 17th century and fought against the British colonial rule.Even the portions of ruined fort can be seen.
4. Jakkammal temple in Panchalankurichi, dates back to the 17th century. This is the temple in which Veerapandiya Kattabomman has worshipped regularly.

The main agricultural plantations includes

1. Bananas
2. Rice
3. Sugar cane
4. Greengram (pachchai payaru or paasi payaru or payirtham .payaru (Tamil)
5. Blackgram "ulundhu" (உளுந்து) in Tamil,
6. Cotton,
7. Sesame, are the major cultivation... and there are more than 9 type of plantations are practiced along with those major crops.

The people here are mostly farmers and allied business people, as well sizable Govt employees are also living here. The people here known for their bravery and courage in Tamil Nadu.

P.Mohan is the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) since 2006 and he is one of the youngest MLA in Tamil Nadu.

Ottapidaram has Two Schools: VOC Government Higher Secondary School McVoice High School

References

• [1]