Sivagangai City

About Sivagangai City

The Sivaganga palace, also called “Gowri Vilasam”, is situated in the Sivaganga district about 40 km from Madurai. It was once the seat of Marava kings. At present the palace is in dilapidated condition but the architectural beauty can still be appreciated. The architectural style of the palace reflects elements borrowed from the Thirumalai Nayak’s period and infused with Rajputana arts.

A vast majority of the workforce is dependent on agriculture (72.8%). The principal crop of Sivaganga district is paddy. A majority of the district has red soil. The other crops that are grown are sugarcane, groundnut, pulses, millets and cereals. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University plans to set up the State’s first Red Soil Dryland Research Centre in Sivaganga district soon.

The Spices Board will invest Rs.18 crore on a new spices park at Sivaganga. It would be immensely helpful to farmers of chilli, turmeric, medicinal plants and tamarind, as the focus would be to export their products. The proposed spices park would establish machinery for cleaning, sorting, grading, packaging, storing, sterilising and other work. The focus would be to encourage chilli, a leading crop in Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and nearby districts, and turmeric crops. Medicinal plants, being raised in and around Madurai district, would also get a boost, as it was planned to patronise farmers of medicinal plants.

History of Sivaganga City

Sivaganga District has been carved out from composite Ramnad District as per G.O. MS. No. 1122 Rev. Dept. Dated. 6.7.84 and the District was functioning from 15.3.85 as per G.O Ms.No. 346 Rev. dept. Dated: 8.3.85.The Kingdom of Ramnad originally comprised the territories of Ramnad, Sivaganga and Pudukottai of today. Regunatha Sethupathy alias Kilavan Sethupathy, the 7th King of Ramnad reigned between 1674 and 1710. Kilavan Sethupathy, came to know of the bravery and valour of Peria Oodaya Thevar of Nalukottai, 4 Kilometres from Sholapuram near Sivaganga.

The King assigned to Peria Oodaya Thevar of Nalukottai a portion of land sufficient to maintain 1000 armed men. Vijaya Regunatha Sethupathy became the 8th King of Ramnad in 1710 after the death of Kilavan Sethupathy. The King gave in marriage his daughter AKILANDESWARI NACHIAR, to Sasivarna Thevar, the son of Nalukottai Peria Oodaya Thevar. The King gave Sasivarna Thevar lands as dowry, free of taxation, sufficient to maintain 1,000 men. He placed him in charge of the fortresses of Piranmalai, Tiruppathur, Sholapuram and Tiruppuvanam as well as the harbour of Thondi. Meanwhile Bhavani Sankaran, the son of Kilavan Sethupathy conquered Ramnad territory and arrested Sundareswara Regunatha Sethupathy, the 9th King of Ramnad. Bhavani Sankaran proclaimed himself as the Rajah of Ramnad. He became the 10th king of Ramnad and he reigned from 1726 to 1729. He quarrelled with Sasivarna Peria Oodaya Thevar of Nalukottai and drove him out of his Nalukottai palayam.

Kattaya Thevan, the brother of the late Sundareswara Regunatha Sethupathy fled from Ramnad and sought refuge with the Rajah of Tanjore Tuljaji. While Sasivarna Thevar was passing through the jungles of Kalayarkoi, he met a gnani (sage) named Sattappiah, who was performing Thapas (meditation) under a jambool tree near a spring called `SIVAGANGA’ . The deposed king prostrated himself before him and narrated all the previous incidents of his life. The Gnani whispered a certain mantra in his ears (Mantra Opadesam) and advised him to go to Tanjore and kill a ferocious tiger which was kept by the Rajah especially to test the bravery of men.

Sasivarna Thevar went to Tanjore. There he became acquainted with Kattaya Thevan a refugee like himself. Satisfied with the good behaviour of Sasivarma Thevar and Kattaya Thevan, the Rajah of Tanjore wanted to help them to regain the States again, ordered his DALAVOY to go with a large army to invade Bhavani Sankaran. Sasivarna Thevar and Kattaya Thevan at once proceeded to Ramnad with a large army furnished by the king of Tanjore. They defeated Bhavani Sankaran at the battle of Uraiyur and captured Ramnad in 1730. Thus Kattaya Thevan became the 11th King of Ramnad.

Educational Institutions of Sivaganga City

Arts & Science:
Govt. College for Women, Sivagangai
Raja Duraisingam Govt. Arts College, Sivagangai
V.S. Sivalingam Govt. Arts College, Sivagangai
Alagappa Govt. Arts College, Karaikudi
Ananda College, Devakottai
Arumugam Pillai Seethai Ammal College, Sivagangai
Dr. Umayal Ramanathan College for Women, Karaikudi
Dr. Zakir Hussain College, Sivagangai
Ganapathi Seethai Ammal College, Manamadurai
Idhaya Women’s College, Sivagangai
Madurai Sivakasi Nadars College for Women, Sivagangai
Matha College of Arts and Sciences, Manamadurai
Ramasamy Tamil College, Karaikudi
Seethalakshmi Achi College for Women, Sivagangai
Sree Sevugan Annamalai College, Devakottai
Sri Saradha Niketan College for Women, Sivagangai

Hotel Management:
National Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, KaraiKudi

Engineering:
St. Michael College of Engineering and Technology, Kalayarkoil
A.C. College of Engineering and Technology, Karaikudi
Central Electro Chemical Research Institute, Karaikudi
Madurai Institute of Tehcnology, Manamadurai
Pandiyan Saraswathi Yadav Engineering College, Sivagangai Taluk
Seethai Ammal Engineering College, Sivagangai

Nursing:
Matha College of Nursing, Sivagangai
Rass Academy College of Nursing, Poovanthi

Management:
Ganapathi Seethai Ammal College, Manamadurai
St. Michael College of Engineering and Technology, Kalayarkoil
A.C. College of Engineering and Technology, Karaikudi
Alagappa University, Karaikudi

Polytechnic:
Alagappa Polytechnic College, Karaikudi
Seethai Ammal Polytechnic College, Sivagangai
Seikalathur Kamatchi Amman Polytechnic College, Manamadurai

Physiotherapy:
Matha College of Physiotherapy, Manamadurai

TTI:
Alagappa University College of Education, Karaikudi
Aathavan Teacher Training Institute, Sivagangai
Aathityaa Teacher Training Institute, Sivagangai
Annai Terasa College of Education, Karaikudi
Arumugam Pillai Seethai Ammal College of Education, Tiruppattur
Arumugam Pillai Seethai Ammal Teacher Training Institute, Tiruppattur
Kalvithanthai A.K.R. Sourashtra T.T.I., Sivagangai
Koviloor Andavar College of Physical Education and Sports Science, Karaikudi
Lakshmi Teacher Training Institute, Sivagangai
Matha College of Teacher Education, Manamadurai
Roseline Teacher Training Institute, Sivagangai
S. Preethi Teachers Training College, Sivagangai Taluk
Sahaya Matha Teacher Training Institute, Kalayarkoil
Sri Raaja College of Education, Karaikudi
Sri Raaja Rajjan Teachers Training Institute, Karaikudi
Thavathiru Kundrakudi Adigalar College of Education for Women, Thiruppathur Taluk
Thevika Thirumagan Pasumpon Thevar Teacher Training Institute, Devakottai
Vivekananda College of Education, Sivangangai

Culture

The culture is a mixture of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Christianity, Hinduism and Islam are the main religions practiced, with Christians accounting to nearly half of the populace. Some of the communities in the district are Nadars, Nanjil Nadu Vellalars, Paravas, Mukthavas, Vilakki Thalanayar, Kammalar or Asari, Chackarevars, Kerala Mudalis etc.

Fairs And Festivals:

The festivals of Nagapattinam are varied and add an extra spark of life to the town’s daily lives. Notable among these are:

• Pongal

  Pongal is definitely one of the main festivals of Nagapattinam, being regarded as one of the most important festivals in the entirety of Tamil Nadu.

• Kandhoori

  Kandhoori is one of the most important festivals of this port-city being celebrated in the month of December each year.

Pongal is definitely one of the main festivals of Nagapattinam, being regarded as one of the most important festivals in the entirety of Tamil Nadu.

Kandhoori is one of the most important festivals of this port-city being celebrated in the month of December each year.

Tourist Attraction of Sivaganga City

Rameswaram:
The Holy abode of the Hindu God, Shri Ram (addressed so with all respect & humility) is a virtual paradise for the devout. No Hindu’s journey is complete without a pilgrimage to both Varanasi and Rameswaram for the culmination of his quest for salvation and is hallowed by the epic ‘Ramayana’. Folklore mentions about God Ram’s presence in this land, after his 14-year exile.

Seaworldaquarium:
Just opposite the Rameswaram Bus stand one can catch a quick glimpse of an assortment of under water creatures in their near natural habitat in the‘Sea World Aquarium’ the only one of its kind in the state and probably in the country too filled with such varied marine life forms including exotic species like octopus, sea lizard, cow fish, lobsters, star fish etc.

Uthirakosamangai:
The deity in the temple is carved in Emerald. Annual Arudhra’ festival in December attracts a large number of devotees.

Erwadi :
The tomb of Sultan Ibrahim Syed Aulia, who came from Arabia via Cannanore, is about 800 years old. Pilgrims from far off countries like Srilanka, Malaysia and Singapore are visiting this tomb. Santhanakoodu Festival is celebrated in February-March attracts thousands of pilgrims.

Oriyur :
Its one of the most revered pilgrim centers for Christians the world over.

Annai Indira Gandhi Bridge:
The 2.2 km. Length Bridge connecting the Rameswaram Island and the mainland is the longest bridge in India constructed over a bay. It is also called as Pamban Bridge. Similarly the railway bridge connecting the island is noted for its unique opening to pass the ships through the sea.

Other Places:

Location info

Sivaganga City, Sivaganga District,Tamil Nadu,India

Climate & weather

Temperature: The average maximum temperature for the district (from 1991 to 1996)as a whole is about 32.460 C and the average minimum temperature is 24.750C.

How to reach Sivagangai City

• Nearest Railway Station: Connected by rail to several destinations. Distance from Chennai is 535 kms.

• **Nearest Airport:**Madurai about 60 Km away from Sivaganga.

• **Road Transport:**Sivaganga is 45 Km East of Madurai. From Madurai, there are frequent Government and Private Bus services available.

Hotels & accommodation nearby

• **Chettinadu Mansion:**11 AR St, Kanadukathan, Sivaganga Dist, Tamil Nadu,Ph:04565 273080

Best time to visit Sivagangai City

November to February when the weather is pleasant with lower humidity. Evenings are ideal for exploring markets and food streets. Mornings are best for temple visits and sightseeing.

Timings & opening hours

The city is accessible 24/7. Major attractions within the city have their own visiting hours. Markets are typically open 10:00 AM–9:00 PM. Temples and religious sites open early morning to late evening.

Entry fee & tickets

Entry to the city is free. Specific attractions (temples, museums, parks) have separate entry fees ranging from INR 10–100 depending on the site.

Duration needed

1–2 days to explore the main attractions. A longer stay allows for deeper exploration of the city’s culture, cuisine, and nearby areas.

Safety tips

Standard city safety precautions apply. Keep valuables secure in crowded markets and public transport. Use registered taxis or app-based cab services. Avoid isolated areas after dark. Follow local customs and dress codes at religious sites.

Things to carry

1. Comfortable Walking Shoes: City sightseeing involves significant walking.
2. Water Bottle: Stay hydrated.
3. Sunscreen and Hat: Protect against the sun.
4. Camera: Document your tour.
5. Power Bank: Keep devices charged.
6. ID Proof: For hotel check-in.

Nearby visiting places

Other towns and cities in Tamil Nadu, historical sites, temples, and natural attractions within a 50–100 km radius.

Nearest airport, railway & bus

Nearest airport: the city’s own airport or the nearest regional airport. The city has a railway station with express train connectivity. Well-connected by state and private bus services to all major cities.

Mobile network coverage

Airtel, Jio, BSNL, and Vi all provide coverage across Tamil Nadu. 4G is reliable in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and along major highways. Coverage may be weaker in remote sections of the Western Ghats, deep forest reserves, and certain rural interior areas. Free Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels and cafes in urban areas.

Food & restaurants nearby

Sivagangai City offers traditional Tamil Nadu restaurants and multi-cuisine eateries.

Things to do at Sivagangai City

Explore the city’s historic temples and heritage buildings that showcase Tamil architecture. Visit local markets for traditional crafts, textiles, and local produce. Sample the diverse Tamil cuisine at local restaurants and street food stalls.

Things to visit & highlights

The city’s main temple or historic landmark, its bustling market areas, local parks, and cultural institutions. The surrounding residential and commercial areas reflect the city’s character and daily life.

Helpline & emergency contacts

Tourist Helpline: 1364. Police: 112. Ambulance: 108. City has government hospitals, private clinics, and 24-hour pharmacy services.

Nearest petrol pump

Multiple petrol pumps are available throughout the city. Major fuel stations (Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, HPCL, Reliance) operate in all parts of the city.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Sivagangai City? November to February offers the most pleasant weather. Evenings are ideal for exploring the city’s markets and food scene.

How can I get around Sivagangai City? Local buses, auto-rickshaws, and app-based cab services are widely available. Auto-rickshaws are the most convenient for short distances.

What are the must-try local foods in Sivagangai City? Traditional Tamil dishes like idli, dosa, vada, sambar, and filter coffee are must-tries. Local specialities vary by city — ask for regional specialities.

Quick facts

• Type: Destination
• State: Tamilnadu
• Category: City