Kayamozhi () is a village situated 9 km west of Thiruchendur in Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, India. The village was established in the 16th century as the capital of the former Vadapattu region. It is located at an elevation of 15 metres (49 feet) above mean sea level.

Civics Administration Kayamozhi is administered as a village panchayat.https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3019d385eb67632a7e958e23f24bd07d7/uploads/2018/09/2018090685-1.pdf A list of revenue villages in the Thoothukudi district The administrative offices located in the village include the Kayamozhi Panchayat Office and the Village Administrative Officer (VAO) Office. The key administrative officials are the Village Administrative Officer, the Village Panchayat President, and the Panchayat Secretary.

Demographics As of 2022, Kayamozhi has a total population of 5,497, comprising 2,552 males and 2,945 females. The literacy rate of the village is 85%.

Religion According to available data, the majority of the population in Kayamozhi follows Hinduism, while smaller proportions adhere to Islam and Christianity:

Caste

The population of Kayamozhi includes various communities such as Other Backward Classes (OBCs; including Vellalars, Nadars, Devars, and Maruthuvars), Scheduled Castes (SCs; including Paraiyars and Arunthathiyars), and certain nomadic tribes. Scheduled Castes constitute an estimated 30–40 percent of the population.

Geography

Kayamozhi lies within the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.

Boundaries and landmarks Directions Landmarks South Mayandi Swamy Temple and Canal Bridge North RT Mani Nadar Wedding Hall East Canals and Muppudathi Amman Temple West Vanagamudi Ayyanar Temple Southeast Kayamozhi Pond Southwest Red Sand Dunes Northeast Oothangaraivilai Canal Northwest Temples

Economy The economy of Kayamozhi is primarily dependent on agriculture.

Government schemes Several government schemes are implemented in the village, including: Mahatma Gandhi Rural Empowerment Scheme Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission)

Facilities and utilities Educational institutions Kayamozhi has several educational institutions, including: S. B. Aditanar Government Higher Secondary School, Kayamozhi Govindammal Aditanar Girls Higher Secondary School, Kayamozhi Five primary schools and three Anganwadi centres

Electricity The Kayamozhi Electricity Board (EB) Office, located on Sadhukkai Street, provides electricity to Kayamozhi and nearby hamlets.

Finance and banking Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank, Kayamozhi Kayamozhi Primary Agricultural Co-operative Society

Post offices Kayamozhi Sub Office (S.O.) Subramaniyapuram Sub Office (S.O.)

Health and welfare Government Primary Healthcare Centre and Hospital, Kayamozhi (near S. B. Aditanar Government Higher Secondary School) Government Boys' Hostel, Kayamozhi (behind S. B. Aditanar Government Higher Secondary School) Government Girls' Hostel, Kayamozhi (near the hospital)

Library There are two public libraries, one located near S. B. Aditanar Government Higher Secondary School and another on Bazaar Street.

Ration shops Valluvar Nagar Ration Shop Kumarasamy Puram Ration Shop

Other services

Electronic governance services: Kayamozhi e-Sevai Centre and Kayamozhi Co-operative Society Veterinary care: Veterinary Hospital, Kayamozhi

Landmarks

Kayamozhi is bordered on the west by the Kayamozhi Red Sand Desert.

Temples and places of worship

Kayamozhi and its surrounding hamlets have several notable temples, mosques, and churches. Important religious sites include:

Name Location Festival(s) Notes Arulmigu Muppudathi Amman Temple (அருள்மிகு முப்புடாதி அம்மன் கோவில்) Ammankovil Street, south of Kayamozhi Aadi Temple Festival (mid-August) Mahakumbabishekam was performed in 2013. Karkuvel Ayyanar Temple (கற்குவேல் அய்யனார் கோவில்) Therikudieruppu, west of Kayamozhi Kallar Vettu Festival (Karthigai 30 / Margazhi 1) — Vanangamudi Ayyanar and Ariyanachi Amman Temple (வணங்காமுடி அய்யனார் அரியணாச்சி அம்மன் கோவில்) Therikudieruppu, west of Kayamozhi Annual temple festival — Sri Thirumal Ayyanar Sri Muthu Mariamman Thirukovil (திருமால் அய்யனார் முத்து மாரியம்மன் திருக்கோவில்) Therikudieruppu, west of Kayamozhi Mahashivaratri (special pooja) — Karayadi Sudalai Madasamy Temple (காரையாடி சுடலைமாடசாமி கோவில்) West of Kayamozhi Festival on the first Tuesday of Purattasi (September) — Shri Mayandi Swamy Temple (மாயாண்டிசுவாமி கோவில்) South of Kayamozhi Festival on the first Friday of Aavani (August) Believed to be about 100 years old. Shri Oor Katha Perumal Swamy Temple (ஊர்காத்த பெருமாள் சுவாமி கோவில்) Subramaniyapuram, northeast of Kayamozhi Festival on the first Friday of Purattasi (September) Temple is about 100 years old. Sri Narayana Swamy Temple (நாராயண சாமி கோவில்) Subramaniyapuram, northeast of Kayamozhi Guru Pooja (May) Temple is about 100 years old. Manthira Moorthy Swamy Temple (மந்திர மூர்த்தி சுவாமி கோவில்) Kumarasamy Puram, north of Kayamozhi Festival on the first Tuesday of Thai (January) Believed to be about 165 years old. Sri Narayana Swamy Temple and Sri Aananda Parameshwarar Temple (நாராயண சாமி & ஆனந்த பரமேஸ்வரர் கோவில்) Kumarasamy Puram, north of Kayamozhi Guru Pooja (May), Maha Shivaratri, Paal Kudam A brass Nataraja idol was reportedly discovered in 2012. Arulmigu Sivananaindha Perumal Temple (சிவனனைந்த பெருமாள் கோவில்) Kandasamy Puram, north of Kayamozhi Temple festival — Arulmigu Narayanaswamy Temple (நாராயண சுவாமி கோவில்) Kandasamy Puram, north of Kayamozhi Guru Pooja — Jaria Masjid – Muhaideen Aandavar Masjid (ஜாரியா முகைதீன் ஆண்டவர் பள்ளிவாசல்) Muslim Street, south of Kayamozhi Kandhuri, Ramzan — Churches (திருச்சபை) Therikudieruppu and Aarumugapuram Christmas, Asanam festival —Shri Sudalaimadan Essaki Amman Temple avani 1st Tuesday festival

Tourist spots

The following are some of the notable tourist attractions located in and around Kayamozhi:

S. No. Nearest tourist spot Location / Distance 1 Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple 1 2 Tiruchendur (12 km from Kayamozhi) 2 Tiruchendur Seashore Tiruchendur (12 km from Kayamozhi) 3 Sri Mutharamman Temple 1 2 Kulasekharapatnam (15 km from Kayamozhi) 4 Kulasekharapatnam Beach Kulasekharapatnam (15 km from Kayamozhi) 5 Karkuvel Ayyanar Temple 1 2 Therikudieruppu (2 km from Kayamozhi) 6 Arunchunai Kaatha Ayyanar Temple 1 Melaputhukudi (6 km from Kayamozhi) 7 Vanathirupathi Sri Nivasa Perumal Temple Punnaiyadi / Punnai Nagar, Katchanavilai (9 km from Kayamozhi) 8 Manapad Church and Seashore Manapad (18 km from Kayamozhi) 9 Kayalpatnam Mosque and Beach Kayalpatnam (18 km from Kayamozhi) 10 Nava Thirupathi Temples Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts 11 Nava Kailasam Temples Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts

Indicates presence of a pond or beach.

Notabilities

Notable persons

S. B. Aditanar Sivanthi Aditanar – Founder of the Daily Thanthi newspaper

Notable events

Scenes from Surya's Singam (2010) and Vijay's Villu (2009) were filmed in Kayamozhi. Scenes from Dhanush's Asuran (2019) and Vishal's Thaambirabharani (2007) were also shot here. Inauguration of the S. B. Aditanar statue and the P. Ramachandra Aditanar Memorial Hall.

References