Thootukudi, popularly known as Tuticorin (its English name), is one of the principal seaports in the country. Famous for pearl fishing, this ‘Pearl City of India’ has interesting historical facts yet to be explored, starting from its name Thootukudi itself. The name is a combination of two Tamil words ‘Thoothu’ meaning ‘Dig’ and ‘Kudi’ meaning ‘Drink’ referring to the time when the only source for drinking water was from wells as the place did not have any rivers. It was initially known as Thirumandhira Nagar and was ruled by not one but different rulers in different times such as Pandyas, Cholas during 5th or 6th century, followed by others and later in 16th, 17th and 18th century by Portuguese, Dutch and British. Due to which the city boasts of several reminiscences from the ancient civilisation in the form of temples, monuments and structures.

Best time to visit: October to March is the ideal to visit Tuticorin.

How to reach

By Air: Tuticorin airport is located 17km away from the city. IndiGo operates 21 non-stop weekly flights between Tuticorin and Chennai with seamless connections to many other cities in India.

By Train: Tuticorin railway station is well-connected to various parts of the country through multiple direct and regular trains.

Getting around: Buses, cabs and auto-rickshaws are the popular transportation modes to travel across the city.