Kovilpatti is an industrial city and special grade municipality in Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, India.

Geography

Kovilpatti is located at 9.17°N, 77.87°W. It has an average elevation of 101 metres (334 feet).

Climate

The climate of Kovilpatti town is hot and dry. Temperatures range between a maximum of 37 °C and a minimum of 22 °C. April to June are the hottest months, and December and January are coldest, with temperatures rising towards the end of February. Rainfall occurs mostly during the northeast monsoon in October to December. However, the town receives little rainfall, averaging 840 mm compared to the district average. Annual rainfall has ranged from 964 mm to 228 mm during past decades.

Demographics

Population

In the 2011 census, Kovilpatti had a population of 95,057. The sex ratio of 1,065 females to 1,000 males exceeded the national average of 929. A total of 8,325 residents were under the age of six, constituting 4,158 males and 4,167 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 10.32% and 0.84% of the population, respectively. The city's literacy rate was 81.27%, compared to the national average of 72.99%. The city had 25099 households in 2011. There were a total of 41,006 workers, comprising 85 cultivators, 165 main agricultural labourers, 932 in household industries, 36,989 other workers, 2,835 marginal workers, 26 marginal cultivators, 26 marginal agricultural labourers, 262 marginal workers in household industries, and 2,521 other marginal workers.

Religion

In the religious census of 2011, Kovilpatti was reported to comprise 92.29% Hindus, 2.48% Muslims, 5.12% Christians, 0.01% Sikhs, 0.01% Buddhists and 0.08% followers of other religions.

Government and politics

The Kovilpatti Assembly constituency is part of the Thoothukkudi Lok Sabha constituency.

Economy

Being industrially well developed, Kovilpatti boasts of diversified Micro, Small, and Medium Industries. Apart from Handmade Match Boxes, which the city is known for, Kovilpatti is home to two giant textile mills, The Loyal Mills of Madura Coats, and The Lakshmi Mills of Lakshmi Mills group, Coimbatore. Other than these, two more medium size textile mills, Ginning Factories, Ready-made Garment manufacturing units, Edible Oil producing companies, Cattle,Poultry feed manufacturing units, Chemical Industries, and many more ancillary units are doing business here. Kovilpatti is known for its unique candy "Kadalai Mittai"(Peanut Candy). Manthithoppu Transgenders' Milk Producers' Cooperative Society (MTMPCS) – the first cooperative society in the country to be run by trans people – was set up at Manthithoppu by the former Thoothukudi district collector Sandeep Nanduri IAS.

Culture/Cityscape

Landmarks

Kalugumalai is a dome of rock 300 ft high on the road connecting Kovilpatti and Sankarankoil. It is famous for a rock cut temple called "Vettuvankoil". Another rock cut temple is dedicated to Subramaniya Swamy at Kalugumalai's base. Sankarankoil is situated west of Kovilpatti.