Thoothukudi, also known by its British name Tuticorin, is a port city and a municipal corporation and an industrial city in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The city lies in the Coromandel Coast of Bay of Bengal. Thoothukudi is the headquarters of Thoothukudi district. It has a total population of 237,830.
The highest employment in the district is in Food and Food products, Textile, Jute, Chemical, Wood based, Leather and Rubber industries. The district has 33% of the workforce employed in the Agricultural Sector, 64% in the Industrial Sector and the remaining 3% are Household workers.
Traditionally known as “Pearl City” on account of the prevailing Pearl fish in the past in the area, Thoothukkudi has a fascinating history. Forming part of the Pandian kingdom between 7th and 9th Century A.D., Thoothukkudi remained in the hands of the Cholas during the period. Emergence of the minor port of the Thoothukkudi as a maritime port attracted travelers, adventures, and eventually colonizers. The Portuguese were the first to arrive in Thoothukkudi in 1932 A.D., followed by the Dutch in 1658 A.D. The English Captured Thoothukkudi from the Dutch in 1782 and the East India Company established their control over Thoothukkudi in the same year. Thoothukkudi district lies in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. For revenue administration, the district is divided into 3 Revenue Divisions as Thoothukkudi, Tiruchendur and Kovilpatti.
The district is roughly triangular in shape and is bounded by Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram districts in the north, Gulf of Mannar in the east and Tirunelveli District in south and west. The total geographical area of the district is 4621 sq. kms and Constituting about 3.5 percent of the state. It has coastal line of 121 kms. The total geographical area of the district is 4, 63,601 Ha. River Thamirabarani passes through the district. The major basin is Thamirabarani.
