Theni district



Theni District (:தேனி மாவட்டம்) is a district of state in southern. The city of is the district headquarters.

History
Theni District  has  been  formed  after   bifurcation  from erstwhile Madurai  District   as per  G.O.Ms.No.679 Revenue Department Dated:25.07.96. Consequent on the bifurcation, one new Revenue Division with headquarters at Uthamapalayam and two new Taluks at Theni and Bodinayakanur were also created with effect from 01.01.97. Theni Municipal town was only a firka headquarters till 31.12.96. Consequent on the formation of the new District, Theni Municipal Town has been upgraded as the Taluk and District head quarters from 01.01.97. 

Geography
The district is bounded by  to the north,  to the east,  to the southwest, and  district of the  State to the west. The district is home to, , , , , , , and several other small villages. The district lies at the foot of the and is diversified by several ranges and hills. A range of hills which runs parallel to Western Ghats from north to south separate it from the neighboring state of Kerala.

Climate
In the plains, the temperatures range from a minimum of 25 ° to a maximum of 39.5 °C. In the hills, however, the temperatures can range from as low as 4-5 °C to 25 °C.

The district is known for its salubrious climate, hills and lakes. , and  are charming towns in the district. Resounding cascades, silver-lined clouds resting a top billiard green hill tops, sheer rock faces and temples of antiquity are the stuff that distinguish these places from others. These unique places warm the soul and provide the much-needed balm to the mind.

Rivers
The rivers Suruli,, , and  flow through the district.

Economy
Its economy is mostly agricultural. ,, , , , , , and es are the main produce of the district. Cumbum Valley is a major centre for Grape production with 4,000 small farmers producing over 90,000 tonnes of, know locally as "paneer dhrakshai" and about 10,000 tonnes of. The unique feature here is that the grapes are harvested throughout the year, while in most grape growing centres elsewhere the season ends with summer.

Bodinayakanur is a major market place for Cardamom, Coffee, Tea, and. This city is also called as "Cardamom City" because of the large quantity of cardamom trade in this area. It has an auction centre for cardamom.

Administrative divisions
The district can be divided into two natural divisions. Hilly areas constituted by parts of all the three taluks viz. Periyakulam, and Andipatti with thick vegetation and perennial stream from the hills on the western side, and another one is Cumbum valley which lies in  taluks.

Demographics
It had a population of 1,093,950 as of 2001. It is 54.10% urbanised.

The district has a literacy of 68.01%, below the average for the state.

Religion
The district is famous, because of the celebration of Veerapandy festival at Veerapandy, Veerappa Ayyanar festival at Theni, Kamatchi Amman festival at Devadhanapatti and Saneeswaran Temple at Kuchanoor.

Places of interest

 * 1)  (~20 km from Theni)
 * 2)  (~50 km from Theni)
 * 3)  Hill (~67 km from Theni)
 * 4)  Wild Life Sanctuary (~70 km from Theni)
 * 5)  (~80 km from Theni)
 * 6)  (~100 km from Theni)
 * 7)  Forest (~70 km from theni)
 * 8)  Hill (~45 km from Theni)
 * 9)  (~24 km from Theni)
 * 10)  Dam (~24 km from Theni)
 * 11)  (~50 km from Theni)
 * 12)  (~70 km from Theni via Bodimettu)

Temples

 * 1)  Gowmariamman Temple (~8 km from Theni)
 * 2)  Saneeswarar Temple (~25 km from Theni)
 * 3)  Sivagamiamman Temple (~26 km from Theni)
 * 4) Theertha thotti Subramanya Temple (~16 km from Theni)
 * 5)  Balasubramanya Temple (~16 km from Theni)
 * 6)  Kamatchi Amman Temple (~35 km from Theni)
 * 7) Mavoothu Vellappar Temple (~25 km from Theni)
 * 8) Suruli Vellapar Temple (~50 km from Theni)

Churches

 * 1) Rayappan patti Pani (snow) Matha Church

Mosque

 * 1) Periya Palli vasal, Uthamapalayam

Government Aided Arts and Science Colleges

 * 1) Cardamom Planters Association College, Bodinayakanur
 * 2) Hajee Karutha Rowther Howdia College, Uthamapalayam
 * 3) Jayaraj Annpackiam College for Women, Periyakulam
 * 4) Madurai Kamaraj University College, Andipatti

Self-financing Colleges

 * 1) Jayaraj Chella Durai College, Nalla Karuppan Patty, Periyakulam East
 * 2) Nadar Saraswathi College of Arts and Science, Theni
 * 3) Sri Adi Chunchanagiri Women's College, Cumbum
 * 4) Theni Arts and Science College, Veerapaandi, Theni
 * 5) Jeyavenkatesh Arts and Science College, Keppurengan patti

Engineering Colleges

 * 1) Odaiyappa College of Engineering and Technology, Theni
 * 2) Bharath Niketan Engineering College, Andipatti
 * 3) Thangam-Muthu Polytechnic, Nalla karuppan patty, Periyakulam
 * 4) Soniya Jeyavenkatesh Engineering College

Medical College

 * 1) Government Medical College and Hospital, Theni

Agricultural College

 * 1) Horticultural College and Research Institute, Nalla Karrupan patty, Periyakulam.