View source for Tenkasi

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
<!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities]] for details -->
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Tenkasi
| other_name               = <!-- Please do not add any Indic script in this infobox, per WP:INDICSCRIPT policy. -->
| nickname                 = 
| settlement_type          = Municipality 
| pushpin_map              = India Tamil Nadu#India
| pushpin_label_position   = right
| pushpin_map_alt          = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = Tenkasi (Tamil Nadu)
| coordinates              = {{coord|8.956400|N|77.315200|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[Region]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Pandya Nadu]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[District]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Tenkasi district|Tenkasi]]
| established_title        = <!-- Established -->
| established_date         = 
| founder                  = Parakirama Pandian (12th Century AD)
| named_for                = 
| government_type          = Selection Grade Municipality
| governing_body           = Tenkasi Municipality
| unit_pref                = Metric
| area_footnotes           = 
| area_rank                = 20
| area_total_km2           = 26
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 184
| population_total         = 70,545
| population_as_of         = 2011
| population_rank          = 
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_demonym       = 
| population_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=699471|title=2011 Census Data : Search Results|website=Censusindia.gov.in|access-date=26 December 2017}}</ref>
| demographics_type1       = Languages
| demographics1_title1     = Official
| demographics1_info1      = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| demographics3 type3      = 
| timezone1                = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1              = +5:30
| postal_code_type         = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code              = 627811.
| registration_plate       = TN-76 
| website                  = 
| footnotes                = 
| official_name            = Tenkashi
| image_skyline            = Kasi Viswanathar temple, Tenkasi 2014 (13).jpg
| image_caption            = [[Kasi Viswanathar temple, Tenkasi|Kasi Viswanathar Temple]], the most prominent landmark in the city
}}

'''Tenkasi''' ({{IPA|ta|t̪eŋɡaːsi|lang|}}) is a [[Municipality]] and headquarters of the [[Tenkasi district]] in [[India]]n [[States and union territories of India|state]] of [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} Tenkasi District, Government of Tamil Nadu {{!}} India |url=https://tenkasi.nic.in/history/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |language=en-US}}</ref>Tenkasi is the third largest city in Tenkasi district after [[Kadayanallur]] and [[Sankarankovil]].

Being one of the most significant spiritual and cultural places in South Tamilnadu, Tenkasi houses The Kutraleeshwarar temple (Chitra Sabha), one of the five sabhas of Lord [[Nataraja]], an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Tamil poet Thirikooda Rasappa Kavirayar describes this temple in his poem as “Kutrala Kuravanji” which means 'beauty of Kutralam'. the city also houses the famous [[Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Tenkasi|TenKasi Viswanathar temple]], Sankarankoil temple and Ilangi Kumarar temple.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About District {{!}} Tenkasi District, Government of Tamil Nadu {{!}} India |url=https://tenkasi.nic.in/about-district/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
Tenkasi in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] means south [[Varanasi|Kashi]](''Thenk+Kashi''). As name goes, Tenkasi is situated in the Southern India and home to [[Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Tenkasi|Tenkasi Viswanathar Temple]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} Tenkasi District, Government of Tamil Nadu {{!}} India |url=https://tenkasi.nic.in/history/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tenkasi Kasi Viswanathar Temple : Tenkasi Kasi Viswanathar Temple Details {{!}} Tenkasi Kasi Viswanathar - Tenkasi {{!}} Tamilnadu Temple {{!}} காசி விஸ்வநாதர் |url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=826 |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=[[Dinamalar]]}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{bar box|title=Religious census|titlebar=#ddd|left1=Religion|right1=Percent(%)|float=left|bars={{bar percent|[[Hinduism|Hindu]]|Orange|63.99}}{{bar percent|[[Islam|Muslim]]|Green|34.19}}{{bar percent|[[Christianity|Christian]]|purple|1.7}}{{bar percent|[[Sikhism|Sikh]]|yellow|0.01}}{{bar percent|[[Buddhism|Buddhist]]|Gold|0.01}}{{bar percent|Other|grey|0.1}}}}

According to [[2011 census of India|2011 census]], Tenkasi had a population of 70,545 with a sex-ratio of 1,020 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.<ref name="dashboard">{{cite web|title=Census Info 2011 Final population totals|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/censusinfodashboard/index.html|publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|year=2013|access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref> A total of 7,413 were under the age of six, constituting 3,774 males and 3,639 females. [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]] accounted for 14.16% and 0.47% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 78.49%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.<ref name="dashboard"/> The town had a total of 17,887 households. There were a total of 27,885 workers, comprising 279 cultivators, 2,006 main agricultural labourers, 3,332 in house hold industries, 19,903 other workers, 2,365 marginal workers, 28 marginal cultivators, 90 marginal agricultural labourers, 494 marginal workers in household industries and 1,753 other marginal workers.<ref name="2011census">{{cite web|title=Census Info 2011 Final population totals - Tenkasi|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=699471|publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|year=2013|access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref>

As per the religious census of 2011, Tenkasi had 64% [[Hindus]], 34.18% [[Muslims]], 2.7% [[Christians]].<ref name="religion2011">{{cite web|title=Population By Religious Community - Tamil Nadu|year=2011|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|format=XLS|publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|access-date=13 September 2015}}</ref>

== History ==
The [[Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Tenkasi]] was built in 1467 AD by Parakirama Pandian, Tenkasi is the last capital of the [[Pandya dynasty]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=History {{!}} Tenkasi District, Government of Tamil Nadu {{!}} India|url=https://tenkasi.nic.in/history/|access-date=2021-01-23|language=en-US}}</ref> The iconic temple is situated in the banks of ''Seevalaperi Pond.''

==Geography==

{| style="float:right; margin:0 0 0 0;"
|
{{Geographic Location
|title = '''Neighbouring cities & towns'''
|Northwest = [[Panpoli]] 
|North     = [[Rajapalayam]]
|Northeast = [[Sankarankovil]]
|West      = [[Sengottai]]
|Centre    = Tenkasi
|East      = [[Tirunelveli]]
|Southwest = [[Courtallam]]
|South     = [[Melagaram]]
|Southeast = [[Ambasamudram]]
}}
|}

Tenkasi is located at {{Coord|8.97|N|77.3|E|}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/25/Tenkasi.html|title=Maps, Weather, and Airports for Tenkasi, India|website=Fallingrain.com|access-date=26 December 2017}}</ref> It has an average elevation of 143&nbsp;metres (469&nbsp;ft). The town is surrounded by the Western Ghats in three sides and lies on the [[Tirunelveli]] to [[Kollam]] and [[Madurai]] to [[Kollam]] highways. The Chittar river flows through the city. 
{{Weather box/concise_C
| location=Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu
| source=Climate-Data.org<ref name="Climate-Data.org">{{cite web | url=https://en.climate-data.org/asia/india/tamil-nadu/tenkasi-23983/ | title=Climate Tenkasi | publisher=Climate-Data.org | access-date=6 March 2019 }}</ref>
| 29.7|31.3|33.0|33.2|33.4|31.7|30.9|31.3|31.6|30.8|29.3|29.2<!--highs-->
| 21.6|22.3|23.8|25.0|25.5|24.6|24.2|24.3|24.0|23.7|22.8|21.9<!--lows-->
| 48|37|67|97|76|120|105|47|57|214|221|105<!--rain-->
}}

==Politics==
[[Tenkasi (state assembly constituency)]] is part of [[Tenkasi (Lok Sabha constituency)|Tenkasi Lok Sabha constituency]].
<ref>"List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies" (PDF). Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-10-13</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S22/TN_ACPC.pdf| title = List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies| access-date = 2008-10-13| work = Tamil Nadu| publisher = Election Commission of India| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060504185928/http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S22/TN_ACPC.pdf| archive-date = 2006-05-04}}</ref>
 
* [[S. Palani Nadar]] from [[Indian National Congress|INC]] is the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Tenkasi, post the [[2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election]] as a part of [[Secular Progressive Alliance]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Commission of India|url=https://results.eci.gov.in/Result2021/ConstituencywiseS22222.htm?ac=222|access-date=2021-05-06|website=results.eci.gov.in}}</ref>
* [[Rani Srikumar]] from [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] is the Member of Parliament (MP) as a part of the [[United Progressive Alliance]], post the [[2024 Indian general election]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://results.eci.gov.in/PcResultGenJune2024/ConstituencywiseS2237.htm | title=General Election to Parliamentary Constituencies: Trends & Result | website=results.eci.gov.in}}</ref>

==Transportation==
===Rail connectivity===

[[Tenkasi Junction railway station|Tenkasi Town is served by Junction Railway station. Tenkasi Junction railway]] station [[Tenkasi Junction railway station|for Express and Passenger trains.]]Trains are available to [[Chennai Egmore railway station|Chennai]], [[Madurai Junction railway station|Madurai]], [[Kollam Junction railway station|Kollam]], [[Punalur railway station|Punalur]], [[Sengottai railway station|Shenkottai]], [[Tirunelveli Junction railway station|Tirunelveli]] and [[Palakkad Junction railway station|Palakkad]] from here daily.

Three Broad Gauge, Single - Electric railway line, originate from this station.

* [[Tenkasi Junction railway station|Tenkasi Junction]] - [[Kollam Junction railway station|Kollam Junction]]  line
*[[Tenkasi Junction railway station|Tenkasi Junction]] - [[Tirunelveli Junction railway station|Tirunelveli Junction]] line
*[[Tenkasi Junction railway station|Tenkasi Junction]] - [[Virudhunagar Junction railway station|Virudunagar Junction]] line

===Air connectivity===
The nearest airports are as follows:-
# [[Tuticorin Airport|Thoothukudi Airport]] ({{convert|91|km|disp=or}})
# [[Trivandrum International Airport]] ({{convert|114|km|disp=or}})
# [[Madurai International Airport]] ({{convert|158|km|disp=or}})
#[[Tiruchirappalli International Airport]] (297 kilometres or 185 miles)

==Villages==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a location to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦--->
*[[Kurumbalapperi]]
*[[Keelapavoor]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category}}
{{Municipalities of Tamil Nadu}}
{{Tenkasi district}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Tenkasi district]]