Sherry6361 at 19:11, 2 March 2026

2026-03-02T19:11:47Z

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{{Short description|Town in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kulasekarapattinam
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = Tamil
| other_name = Kulasekharapatnam, Kulasekarapatnam, Kulasai
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Tamil Nadu#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu, India
| coordinates = {{coord|8|24|0|N|78|3|0|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[India]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Thoothukudi district|Thoothukudi]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 12.5
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 12010
| population_as_of = 2001
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 628206
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 4639
| registration_plate = TN 92
| blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Thoothukudi]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| blank2_info_sec1 = 1000:1177 [[male|♂]]/[[female|♀]]
| blank3_name_sec1 = Literacy
| blank3_info_sec1 = 85.91%
| blank4_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank4_info_sec1 = [[Thoothukudi (Lok Sabha constituency)|Thoothukudi]]<br /> Formerly with [[Tiruchendur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Tiruchendur]]
| blank5_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
| blank5_info_sec1 = [[Tiruchendur (State Assembly Constituency)|Tiruchendur]]
| blank6_name_sec1 = Civic agency
| blank6_info_sec1 = Kulasekharapatnam Panchayat Board
| blank1_name_sec2 = [[Climate of India|Climate]]
| blank1_info_sec2 = [[Climatic regions of India|Humid]] <small>([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]])</small>
| website = {{URL|www.kulasaikukieaks.com}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Kulasekarapattinam''' (also spelled '''Kulasekharapatnam''' and '''Kulasekarapatnam''') is a town in the [[Thoothukudi district]] of [[Tamil Nadu]], India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commencement of the construction of SSLV Launch Complex at Kulasekarapattinam, Tamil Nadu |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/SSLVLaunchComplexKulasekarapattinam.html |access-date=2025-11-11 |website=www.isro.gov.in}}</ref> Historically, it was an important port on the [[Coromandel Coast]], alongside [[Poombuhar|Kaveripumpattinam]] (Poompuhar) and [[Arikamedu]] (near [[Pondicherry]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shivam |date=2025-09-06 |title=ISRO’s Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport to Be Ready by Dec 2026 |url=https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/isros-kulasekarapattinam-spaceport-to-be-ready-by-dec-2026/ |access-date=2025-11-11 |website=adda247 |language=en-IN}}</ref> 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]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=PTI |title=Kulasekarapattinam launch complex expected to be ready by Dec'26 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/dhie/news-and-trends/2025/08/28/kulasekarapattinam-launch-complex-expected-to-be-ready-by-dec26 |access-date=2025-11-11 |website=DHIE |language=en}}</ref> After the construction work is completed, [[ISRO]] and private [[Aerospace manufacturer|aerospace companies]] will launch satellites using multistage rockets such as the [[Small Satellite Launch Vehicle|SSLV]] from Kulasekarapattinam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foundation Stone Laid for Launch Pad at SSLV Launch Complex (SLC), Kulasekarapattinam |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/Foundation_Stone_Laid_for_Launch_Pad_at_SSLV_Launch_Complex.html |access-date=2025-11-11 |website=www.isro.gov.in}}</ref>

From at least the [[1st century|1st century CE]], Kulasekarapatnam functioned as a trading hub for [[Pandya dynasty|Pandya Dynasty]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-12 |title=Scores of devotees witness Soorasamharam at Kulasekarapattinam near Tiruchendur |url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/tamilnadu/scores-of-devotees-witness-soorasamharam-at-kulasekarapattinam-near-tiruchendur-807242 |access-date=2025-11-11 |website=www.dtnext.in |language=en}}</ref> While [[Kollam]] served as a major port on the west coast, Kulasekarapatnam connected the Pandyas to [[Sri Lanka|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]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=ISRO’s second satellite launch pad to come up in Tamil Nadu |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/isro-s-second-satellite-launch-pad-to-come-up-in-tamil-nadu-1135604.html |access-date=2025-11-11 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

During the colonial era, as Tuticorin emerged as a dominant port, the prominence of Kulasekarapatnam declined.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 October 2005 |title=Picnic on the beach |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/10/15/stories/2005101501360300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051029090143/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/10/15/stories/2005101501360300.htm |archive-date=29 October 2005 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

The town's name is derived from the Pandyan ruler [[Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}

Kulasekarapatnam is home to the 300-year-old [[Mutharamman Temple, Kulasekarapatnam|Mutharamman Temple]] and the Dharmasamvardhini Temple, which lies north of the village. The town is particularly known for its [[Vijayadashami|Dussehra]] celebrations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-10-12 |title=Dasara celebrations at Kulasekarapattinam draw thousands of devotees |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/dasara-celebrations-at-kulasekarapattinam-draw-thousands-of-devotees/article68746434.ece |access-date=2025-07-30 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

During [[British Raj|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kulasekarapatnam Tissainvillai Light Railway - FIBIwiki |url=https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Kulasekharapatnam_Tissainvillai_Light_Railway |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=wiki.fibis.org}}</ref>

ISRO is developing a [[spaceport]] at Kulasekarapattinam, positioning it as a key location for India's [[Spaceflight#Terminology|space missions]].<ref>{{cite web |title=New launch pad in Tamil Nadu to help Isro |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/new-tn-launch-pad-to-help-isro-save-fuel/articleshow/76668427.cms |access-date=28 June 2020 |website=Times of India}}</ref>

== History ==
During the reign of the Pandyas, Kulasekharapatnam was also known as the '''[[Rowther]]s [[Polygar|Palayam]]''', a section of Muslims that had [[Cavalry|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 BC|8th century CE]].{{cn|date=September 2025}}

[[File:Kulasekarapatinam Perumal Temple.preview.jpg|thumbnail|Kulasekarapatnam Perumal Temple]]

=== Origin of Marakkars ===
[[Marakkar]] are distinctive [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Malayalam]]-speaking [[Muslims|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'.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Search Results Web results The Marakkar's and their origins|url=https://historicalleys.blogspot.com/2009/04/marakkars-and-their-origins.html|author=Maddy}}</ref>

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').<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":0" />

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.

== Old Harbour mentioned by Marco Polo ==
[[Marco Polo]] describes the [[Pandya dynasty|Pandyan]] port city of Kulasekharapatnam which even now we can see in the seashore of Kulasekharapatnam that Some Pillars which were used to give the right direction for ships as it is at this city that all the ships touch that come from the west, as from Hormos and Kis and Aden, and all [[Arabian Peninsula|Arabia]], laden with horses and with other things for sale. And this brings a great concourse of people from the country round about, and so there is great business done in this city.

== See also ==
{{Portal|India}}
* [[ISRO]]
* [[Sriharikota]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Kulasekharapatnam}}
* https://web.archive.org/web/20111015080841/http://indianmuslims.in/kunjali-marakkar/
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~lkawgw/kmaraikayar.html Kudi Maraikayar of eastern Sri Lanka]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Space programme of India]]
[[Category:ISRO]]
[[Category:Villages in Thoothukudi district]]

Kulasekarapattinam - Revision history

Sherry6361 at 19:11, 2 March 2026