Kulasekarapattinam

Kulasekarapattinam Kulasekharapatnam, Kulasekarapatnam, Kulasai
Town
Kulasekarapattinam Location in Tamil Nadu, India Kulasekarapattinam Kulasekarapattinam (India)
Coordinates: 8°24′0″N 78°3′0″E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Thoothukudi
Area
• Total	12.5 km2 (4.8 sq mi)
Population  (2001)
• Total	12,010
• Density	961/km2 (2,490/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	628206
Telephone code	4639
Vehicle registration	TN 92
Nearest city	Thoothukudi
Sex ratio	1000:1177 ♂/♀
Literacy	85.91%
Lok Sabha constituency	Thoothukudi Formerly with Tiruchendur
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Tiruchendur
Civic agency	Kulasekharapatnam Panchayat Board
Climate	Humid (Köppen)
Website	www.kulasaikukieaks.com

Kulasekarapattinam (Tamil: குலசேகரப்பட்டினம்; also spelled Kulasekharapatnam and Kulasekarapatnam), commonly known as Kulasai, is a historic coastal town in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, India. Situated on the Gulf of Mannar along the historic Pearl Fishery Coast, the town was an important maritime center of the Pandya Kingdom and later a notable port during the medieval and colonial periods. Historically, it was an important port on the Coromandel Coast, alongside Kaveripumpattinam (Poompuhar) and Arikamedu (near Pondicherry). It houses the currently under-construction SSLV Launch Complex, one of the two satellite launch centres in India (the other being Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota). After the construction work is completed, ISRO and private aerospace companies will launch satellites using multistage rockets such as the SSLV from Kulasekarapattinam.

From at least the 1st century CE, Kulasekarapatnam functioned as a trading hub for Pandya Dynasty. While Kollam served as a major port on the west coast, Kulasekarapatnam connected the Pandyas to Ceylon and the pearl fisheries of the Gulf of Mannar. It was part of a network of ancient coastal settlements that included Kodungallur in Kerala and Barugachha (Broach) in Gujarat.

During the colonial era, as Tuticorin emerged as a dominant port, the prominence of Kulasekarapatnam declined. The town's name is derived from the Pandyan ruler Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I. Kulasekarapatnam is home to the 300-year-old Mutharamman Temple and the Dharmasamvardhini Temple, which lies north of the village. The town is particularly known for its Dussehra celebrations.

During British rule, a sugar factory operated in the town. The British also introduced the Kulasekarapatnam Light Railway, which, as of 1933, had stations including Kulasekarapatnam Central, Kulasekarapatnam Port, and KPM Sugar Factory.

ISRO is developing a spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam, positioning it as a key location for India's space missions.

Etymology

The town derives its name from the Pandyan ruler Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I (r. 1268–1308 CE), under whose reign the Pandya kingdom reached the height of its maritime and commercial influence. The suffix pattinam (பட்டினம்) is a Tamil term traditionally used for port towns and maritime trading centers. The town is popularly referred to as Kulasai in contemporary Tamil usage.

Geography

Kulasekarapattinam is located on the southeastern coast of India facing the Gulf of Mannar. It lies approximately 15 km south of Tiruchendur, 55 km south of Thoothukudi, and north of Manapad. The town forms part of the historic maritime corridor of the Pearl Fishery Coast.

History

Ancient and Medieval Period

Kulasekarapattinam was one of the important ports of the Pandya kingdom. Its location on the Gulf of Mannar provided access to the pearl fisheries, maritime trade routes, and commercial networks linking South India with Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, Arabia, and the Mediterranean world. Archaeological and literary evidence indicates that the Pandyan coast maintained active maritime trade from at least the early centuries CE. Along with ports such as Korkai, Kayalpattinam, and Poompuhar, Kulasekarapattinam formed part of a wider network of Tamil trading centers.

During the reign of the Pandyas, Kulasekharapatnam was also known as the Rowthers Palayam, a section of Muslims that had military cavalry, followed traditional customs, and were horse traders. Kulasekharapatnam was an important trade center before the arrival of Islam. The current Muslim population of Kulasekharapatnam is known as the Marakkar or Marakkayars, who engaged in maritime trade. They had come from Kerala, and it is said that Kunjali Marakkar's family members came from Kerala. Typical of most port towns, Kulasekharapatnam has a lighthouse, located near Manapad. The city has been inhabited by Hindus since the 8th century CE.

Kulasekarapatnam Perumal Temple

Marco Polo's Account

The Venetian traveler Marco Polo, who visited the Pandyan kingdom in the late thirteenth century, described a prosperous port on the Fishery Coast where ships from Arabia and the Persian Gulf arrived carrying horses and luxury goods. His account records that vessels from Hormuz, Kish, Aden, and Arabia frequented the Pandyan ports, contributing to extensive commercial activity and regional prosperity. Historians have associated portions of this description with the maritime centers of the southern Pandyan coast, including Kulasekarapattinam.

Pearl Fishery Coast

Kulasekarapattinam formed part of the historic Pearl Fishery Coast (Costa da Pescaria), one of the world's most productive pearl-fishing regions. The fisheries were traditionally operated by the Paravar community, whose expertise in pearl diving and maritime navigation made the region a major economic center for centuries. The town served as an outlet for the trade of:

• Pearls
• Chanks (conch shells)
• Salt
• Spices
• Textiles
• Horses imported from Arabia

Its strategic location enabled it to function as an intermediary port between inland Tamil kingdoms and overseas commercial networks.

Muslim Maritime Communities

From the medieval period onward, Muslim merchant communities established themselves in Kulasekarapattinam and neighboring ports. Maritime trading families known as Marakkayars played a significant role in commercial activities throughout the Gulf of Mannar and Indian Ocean. Historical traditions associate the settlement with horse traders, naval commanders, and merchant groups who maintained commercial ties with Kerala, Sri Lanka, Arabia, and Southeast Asia.

Origin of Marakkars

Marakkar are distinctive Tamil and Malayalam-speaking Muslim people of the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in India. The name Marakkar is different from Marakkayar (Marikkar & Maricar are other spellings used in history books). According to numerous historians, Moppila or Moplah is Maha Pillai (great son) and Marakkar means (Marakkalam is a wooden boat) 'boatmen'. Thurston, in his work 'Tribes of South India', states the following - The word Marakkar is usually derived from the Tamil marakalam, meaning 'boat'.

It was also a titular name for maritime traders. Marakkar was a prized title given by the Zamorin of Calicut. Derived from Marakka Rayar, it signifies the captain of a ship ('Rayar' meaning 'king' or, here, 'captain' and 'Marakkalam' meaning 'ship'). They are also called marakala rayars, from marakalam ('wooden boat') and rayar ('king') in the Tamil language. The captains of the vessels are called malimars, coming from the Tamil words malumi ('captain') and yar, and crew members are called sherangs.

Traditionally, the Marakkars engaged in mercantile commerce. They are primarily located along the coasts of the southernmost states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in India.

The Marakala, also known as the Mogela or Mogaveera, community is an influential fishing community in coastal Karnataka. They are traditionally fishermen, and their caste profession is fishing in rivers and the sea. The Barkoor Bennekudru Kulamahasthry temple, Uchila Mahalaxmi temple, and Bagvadi Mahishamardini temples are major Mogaveera kuladevata (relating to ancestral tutelary deities) temples in coastal Karnataka.

Portuguese Period

The arrival of the Portuguese in the sixteenth century transformed maritime trade along the Fishery Coast. While nearby settlements such as Punnaikayal, Tuticorin, and Manapad became important missionary centers, Kulasekarapattinam continued to function as a trading port connected to the pearl fisheries and coastal commerce. The town remained an important node in the Portuguese-controlled maritime network of southern India.

Dutch and British Periods

During the seventeenth century, Dutch influence expanded along the Fishery Coast, replacing Portuguese dominance in many settlements. Under British administration, Kulasekarapattinam remained a regional port and commercial center. The British established a sugar factory in the town and developed the Kulasekarapattinam Light Railway, which connected the port, sugar mill, and inland areas. The railway system served as an important component of the local economy until its eventual closure.

Decline of the Port

The rise of Tuticorin Port during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries led to the gradual decline of Kulasekarapattinam's importance as a maritime center. Improvements in harbor infrastructure at Tuticorin diverted much of the commercial traffic that had previously passed through smaller coastal ports. Nevertheless, Kulasekarapattinam retained its cultural and religious significance.

Religion and Culture

1. Mutharamman Temple: The town is best known for the Arulmigu Mutharamman Temple, one of the most important folk Hindu shrines in Tamil Nadu. The temple is believed to be over three centuries old and attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees annually.
2. Navaratri and Dussehra Festival: Kulasekarapattinam hosts one of the largest Navaratri and Dussehra celebrations in South India. During the festival, devotees undertake vows and appear in elaborate costumes representing deities, mythological characters, saints, and historical figures. The celebrations attract pilgrims from across Tamil Nadu and neighboring states and have become a major cultural attraction.
3. Dharmasamvardhini Temple: Located north of the town, the Dharmasamvardhini Temple is another important religious site associated with local traditions and pilgrimage activities.

Economy

Historically, the economy of Kulasekarapattinam was based on:

1. Maritime trade
2. Pearl fishing
3. Chank fisheries
4. Salt production
5. Agriculture
6. Coastal commerce

Today, fishing remains an important occupation, while religious tourism associated with the Mutharamman Temple contributes significantly to the local economy.

Spaceport Development

Kulasekarapattinam has gained national prominence as the site of the proposed Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport, being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The facility is intended primarily for launches of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) and future commercial launch systems. Its location near the southern tip of India allows rockets to launch directly over the Indian Ocean, reducing fuel requirements and increasing payload efficiency. Once operational, it will become India's second orbital launch center after the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.

Transportation

Historically, the town was served by the Kulasekarapattinam Light Railway, which linked the port and industrial facilities with neighboring settlements. Today, the town is connected by road to Tiruchendur, Thoothukudi, and other coastal settlements of the Fishery Coast.

Notable Landmarks

Mutharamman Temple Dharmasamvardhini Temple Kulasekarapattinam Lighthouse Historic Port Area Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport Site Gulf of Mannar Coastline

See Also

• Pearl Fishery Coast
• Pandya Kingdom
• Gulf of Mannar
• Manapad
• Punnaikayal
• Vaippar
• Tuticorin
• Mutharamman Temple
• Indian Space Research Organisation

Bibliography

• Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (1972). The Pandyan Kingdom: From the Earliest Times to the Sixteenth Century. Madras: Swathi Publications.

• Bayly, Susan (1989). Saints, Goddesses and Kings: Muslims and Christians in South Indian Society, 1700–1900. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521372015.

• Mathew, K. S. (1987). Portuguese and the Pearl Fishery Coast. Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Council for Historical Research.

• Frykenberg, Robert Eric (2008). Christianity in India: From Beginnings to the Present. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0198263777.

• Malekandathil, Pius (2010). Maritime India: Trade, Religion and Polity in the Indian Ocean. New Delhi: Primus Books. ISBN 978-9380607016.

• Marco Polo (1903). Henry Yule (ed.). The Travels of Marco Polo. London: John Murray.

See also

• ISRO
• Sriharikota

External links

• https://web.archive.org/web/20111015080841/http://indianmuslims.in/kunjali-marakkar/
• Kudi Maraikayar of eastern Sri Lanka