PATTUKKOTTAI

Country India
State Tamil Nadu
District Thanjavur
Headquarters Thanjavur
Government
• Type Selection Grade Municipality
• Body Pattukottai Municipality
Area
• Total 21.83 km2 (8.43 sq mi)
Elevation 5 m (16 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total 73,135
• Density 3,400/km2 (8,700/sq mi)
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 614601, 614602
Telephone code +91 4373
Vehicle registration TN 49
Sex ratio 1003 ♂/♀
Website 123.63.242.116/Pattukkottai/
Pattukkottai is a town in Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The town came to prominence after the construction of the fort by Vanaji Pandithar, a feudatory of the Thanjavur Maratha ruler Shahuji I in 1686–87. The recorded history of Pattukkottai is known from the 17th century and has been ruled, at different times, by the Thanjavur Marathas and the British. It is the headquarters of the Pattukkottai taluk of Thanjavur district and is one of the three municipalities in the district.

Pattukkottai comes under the Pattukkottai assembly constituency which elects a member to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly once every five years and it is a part of the Thanjavur (Lok Sabha constituency) which elects its Member of Parliament (MP) once in five years. The town is administered by the Pattukkottai municipality, which covers an area of 21.83 km2 (8.43 sq mi). As of 2011, the town had a population of 73,135. The town is a part of the fertile Cauvery delta region, but fishery is the major occupation. Roadways are the major mode of transportation to Pattukkottai and the nearest international airport is Tiruchirapalli Airport, located 135 km (84 mi) away from the town.

History

According to an inscription, the fortress of Pattukkottai was constructed by Vanaji Pandithar, a feudatory of the Thanjavur Maratha ruler Shahuji I in 1686–87. Pattukkottai was ruled by the Thanjavur Marathas till 1799, when it was annexed by the British East India Company. It became a part of Tanjore district in 1801.

Having a population of 7,603 in 1901, Pattukkottai experienced a population splurge between 1941 and 1981, when its population quadrupled. Sri Puradhana Vaneswarar temple is the most important Hindu temple in Pattukkottai and is of considerable antiquity.

Geography

Pattukkottai 10.43°N 79.32°E[4] is located along the southeast coast of India in the East-central region of Tamil Nadu. Pattukkottai Municipality covers an area of 21.83 km2., and has an average elevation of 5  meters (16  feet). Pattukkottai is 48 km from the city of Thanjavur. The coast of the Bay of Bengal is just 12  km away, with Manora fort 15  km away from this town.

Pattukkottai lies on an extremely dry, rugged plateau. The Pattukkottai division is the only division of Thanjavur district which is not watered either by the Kaveri River or any of its tributaries.Pattukkottai comes under the "As" region of the Köppen climate classification, as it is situated in Tropical region and receive its maximum rainfall during the winter months from October, November and December. Due to its geographical position, Pattukkottai experiences Hot and Humid climate and there is no extreme variation in seasonal temperature. As it is nearer to equator, the summer season starts from April and extends till early June. This period observes the hottest part of the year, locally known as "Agni Nakshatram" or "Khatri".

Economy

In British times, brass vessels, cotton cloths and mats were the main manufactures of Pattukkottai. In 1951, anthropologist Kathleen Gough notes that Pattukkottai had the largest portion of zamindari and inam lands in Thanjavur district.

Agriculture, using water from the Kaveri River for irrigation, is the mainstay of the area, though the town hosts a number of other businesses. Paddy and Coconut are the major crops. Pattukkottai was declared a "coir cluster" in September 2007 in order to promote traditional coir-based industries