Tiruvaikuntam, also referred to as Srivaikuntam is a panchayat towninThoothukudi district in the Indian stateofTamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the river Thamirabarani.
Tiruvaikuntam
Thiruvaikuntam
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|---|---|
Town
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| Thiruvaikuntam | |
| Nickname:
Tiruvai
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  Tiruvaikuntam Location in Tamil Nadu, India | |
| Coordinates: 8°37′N 77°56′E / 8.62°N 77.93°E / 8.62; 77.93 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Thoothukudi |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.3 km2 (3.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 17 m (56 ft) |
| Population
(2001)
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| • Total | 16,214 |
| • Density | 2,000/km2 (5,100/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Thiruvaikuntam has a temple dedicated to Vishnu, known as Tiruvaikuntapathi Swami, with a lofty gopuram. The Thiruvengada Mudaiyar Mandapam is rich with sculptures of Yallis, elephants and warriors. The Ekadasi Mandapam, which is opened on Vaikunta Ekadasi days, contains sculptures. During the period of conflict between the East India Company forces and Veera Pandiya Kattabomman, the temple served as a fort. The Kailasanathaswamy temple is another important temple and contains six inscriptions of the times of Kattabomman.[citation needed]
Tiruvaikuntam is located at 8°37′52″N 77°54′34″E / 8.63115°N 77.9095017°E / 8.63115; 77.9095017. It has an average elevation of 17 metres (55 feet). The town is located on the north bank of the Tamirabarani river. It is 30 km east of Tirunelveli , 30 km west of Tiruchendur and 39 km from Tuticorin.
As of 2001[update] India census,[1] Tiruvaikuntam had a population of 16,214. Males constituted 48% of the population and females 52%. Tiruvaikuntam had an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 81%, and female literacy was 72%. In Tiruvaikuntam, 11% of the population was under 6 years of age. Tiruvaikuntam has a considerable population of Appanad Maravars and Brahmins in that region
Bus services are conducted from Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tiruchendur and Thoothukudi through Tiruvaikuntam. There is a railway station at Tiruvaikuntam. Nearest air services are 24.6 km away at Thoothukudi.