Rajapalayam (Tamil: [ɾaːdʑabaːɭaɪjam]) is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the largest municipality in the Virudhunagar district[citation needed]. Rajapalayam is located on the Madurai to Quilon National Highway at a distance of 562 km south of the state capital Chennai. The economy is primarily industrial with several mills for spinning and weaving. The town is known for its mango and the Rajapalayam breed of dogs.

Rajapalayam
Town
Rajapalayam from the southeast
Rajapalayam from the southeast
Nickname: 
Cotton City
Rajapalayam is located in Tamil Nadu
Rajapalayam
Rajapalayam
Rajapalayam (Tamil Nadu)
Rajapalayam is located in India
Rajapalayam
Rajapalayam
Rajapalayam (India)
Coordinates: 09°27′05.4″N 77°33′15.5″E / 9.451500°N 77.554306°E / 9.451500; 77.554306
Country India
StateTamil Nadu
DistrictVirudhunagar district
Revenue DivisionSivakasi
TalukRajapalayam
Government
 • TypeSpecial Grade Municipality
 • BodyRajapalayam Special grade municipality
 • MLAThangappandian.S (2016–Current)
Area
 • Total
11.36 km2 (4.39 sq mi)
 • Rank1 in district
Elevation
187 m (614 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
130,442
 • Rank34
 • Density11,000/km2 (30,000/sq mi)
DemonymRajapalayathaan
Languages
 • OfficialTamil
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Pincode(s)
626117,626108,626110
Area code+91-4563
Vehicle registrationTN 67, TN 84

Climate

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The climate of the region is of the semi-arid tropical monsoon type. The average temperature range is 20 °C to 37 °C.

Demographics

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Religious census
Religion Percent(%)
Hindu
94.53%
Muslim
3.48%
Christian
1.75%
Sikh
0.02%
Other
0.21%

According to the 2011 census, Rajapalayam had a population of 130,442 with 1,014 females for every 1,000 males, far above the national average of 929.[1] A total of 11,604 individuals (5,927 males and 5,677 females) were under the age of six. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 13.51% and 0.09% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 77.87%; the national average was 72.99%.[1] The town has a total of 37,797 households. There are 53,913 workers, comprising 380 cultivators, 3,676 main agricultural labourers, 1,375 in household industries, 45,223 other workers, 3,259 marginal workers, 34 marginal cultivators, 326 marginal agricultural labourers, 286 marginal workers in household industries and 2,613 other marginal workers.[2] According to the religious census of 2011, the population is 94.53% Hindu, 3.48% Muslim, 1.75% Christian, 0.02% Sikh and 0.21% other.[3]

Geography

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The mountains of the Western ghats are to the west of the town (12 km from the town), and the Sanjeevi hills are to the east. These moderate the climate, and several water catchment areas in the hills provide water for the town. Water is stored in the 6th mile water reservoir. There are several major lakes around the town, including Kondaneri, Karungulam, Pirandaikulam, and Sengulam. The soil in the area is classified by the government as red loam.[4] The area of the municipality[5] is about 11.36 sq.kms which makes the town the biggest municipality in Virudunagar district.[6]

Industries

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The principal industry was initially agriculture. In 1936, Thiru P. A. C. Ramasamy Raja started the first cotton spinning mill, called Rajapalayam Mills Ltd. Later, more textile mills were started. Today, Rajapalayam is a major hub of the textile industry, famous for bandages, woven fabric, nightwear, and other products. The neighboring town of Chatrapatti (Virudhunagar Dist.) is a large player in producing surgical cotton gauze, and nearby Dhalavaipuram and Muhavoor manufacture women's nightwear.

Transportation

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By Land

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Road

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The National Highway NH-744 from Madurai to Kollam passes through the town. State highway SH-41 (Rajapalayam-Sankarankovil-Tirunelveli) links the major parts of the extreme south of Tamil Nadu, including Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari. The road also offers good freight connectivity to Tamil Nadu's second largest seaport, Tuticorin. State highway SH-186 (Rajapalayam-Vembakottai) connects the town to the east part of Virudhunagar district and passes through the fast-growing industrial towns of Chatrapatti and Alangulam.

 
Rajapalayam Old Bus Stand

Rajapalayam's long-distance bus station, located on Sankarankovil Road, is served by buses from the government of Tamil Nadu's TNSTC (Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation) and private transport companies. Several private and government operated services connect to Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Hosur, Pondicherry, Salem, Tiruppur, Trichy and other major cities.

Rajapalayam old bus station is the boarding point for buses connecting nearby villages. It is also called Old bus stand or Town bus stand. Sankarankovil Mukku road connects the new bus stand.[citation needed]

Rail

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The Rajapalayam railway station is in the Southern Railways zone/Madurai division of Indian Railways and falls on the Virudhunagar to Kollam line. The station code is RJPM.[7]

Passenger Trains running daily via Rajapalayam:

Train No/Name Origin Destination Rajapalayam Arrival Time
16848/Sengottai - Mayiladuthurai Express (Unreserved) Sengottai Madurai 08:21am
06504/Madurai - Sengottai Express Special (Unreserved) Madurai Sengottai 08:38am
06664/Sengottai - Madurai Express Special (Unreserved) Sengottai Madurai 01:10pm
06663/Madurai - Sengottai Express Special (Unreserved) Madurai Sengottai 01:13pm
06503/Sengottai - Madurai Express Special (Unreserved) Sengottai Madurai 04;58pm
16847/Mayiladuthurai - Sengottai Express (Unreserved) Madurai Sengottai 07:03pm

Below Mail/SF Express services are currently running through Rajapalayam Railway station.

Train No/Name Origin Destination Rajapalayam Arrival Time Services Coach Type
12661/Pothigai Superfast Express Chennai Egmore Sengottai 06:05am Daily LHB
12662/Pothigai Superfast Express Sengottai Chennai Egmore 07:40pm Daily LHB
16101/Chennai-Kollam Express Chennai Egmore Kollam 02:23am Daily ICF
16102/Kollam-Chennai Express Kollam Chennai Egmore 04:23pm Daily ICF
20681/Silambu Super Fast Express Chennai Egmore Sengottai 06:28am Wednesday, Friday, Saturday ICF
20682/Silambu Super Fast Express Sengottai Chennai Egmore 06:08pm Thursday, Saturday, Sunday ICF
06036/Velankanni - Ernakulam Special Fare Special (Via Pattukottai) Velankanni Ernakulam Jn 02:47am Sunday(From Velankanni) ICF
06035/Ernakulam - Velankanni Special Fare Special (Via Pattukottai) Ernakulam Jn Velankanni 09:25pm Saturday ICF
06029/Mettupalayam - Tirunelveli Special Fare Special (PT) Mettupalayam Tirunelveli 03:55am Friday(From Mettupalayam) LHB
06030/Tirunelveli - Mettupalayam Special Fare Special Tirunelveli Mettupalayam 09:43pm Thursday LHB
06003/Tambaram - Tirunelveli Special Fare Special Tambaram Tirunelveli 07:03am Monday(From Tambaram) LHB
06004/Tirunelveli - Tambaram Special Fare Special Tirunelveli Tambaram 10:18pm Sunday LHB

By Air

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The nearest international airport is Madurai Airport (~80 km).

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Census Info 2011 Final population totals". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Census Info 2011 Final population totals - Rajapalayam". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Population By Religious Community - Tamil Nadu" (XLS). Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Soil in Rajapalayam" (PDF). Virudhunagar district.
  5. ^ https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/linked-documents/49107-003-ieeab-04.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  6. ^ https://www.tnurbantree.tn.gov.in/rajapalayam/about-us/ [bare URL]
  7. ^ P, Arpit. "Rajapalayam Station - 16 Train Departures SR/Southern Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
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