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{{About|the city in Tamil Nadu, India|}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Rajapalayam
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname = Cotton City
| settlement_type = [[Town]]
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Tamil Nadu#India3
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu, India
| coordinates = {{coord|9|27|0|N|77|33|0|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Virudhunagar district]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[List_of_revenue_divisions_of_Tamil_Nadu|Revenue Division]]
| subdivision_name3 = Sattur
| subdivision_type4 = [[Taluk]]
| subdivision_name4 = [[Rajapalaiyam taluk|Rajapalayam]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| named_for =
| government_type = Special Grade Metro Municipality
| governing_body = Rajapalayam Special grade municipality
| leader_title1 = Municipality Chairman
| leader_name1 =
| leader_title2 = [[Rajapalayam (State Assembly Constituency)|MLA]]
| leader_name2 = Thangappandian.S (2019-Current)
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank = 1 in district
| area_total_km2 = 68.008
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 175
| population_total = 130,442
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank = 34
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = Rajapalayaththaan
| population_footnotes =
| Official Language =
| 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|Pincode(s)]]
| postal_code = 626117,626108,626110
| registration_plate = TN 67, TN 84
| area_code = [[Telephone numbers in India|+91-4563]]
| website =
| footnotes =
| official_name =
}}

'''Rajapalayam''' ({{IPA-ta|ɾaːdʑabaːɭaɪjam|lang}}) is a city in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. It is the largest municipality in the [[Virudhunagar]] district. Rajapalayam is located in the [[Madurai]] to [[Quilon]] National Highway at a distance of 562 km south to the state capital [[Chennai]]. Economy is based on textile manufacture: the town has several mills for spinning and weaving cotton, as well as a large cotton market. The town is also famed for Rajapalayam mango and the [[Rajapalayam dog|Rajapalayam breed of dogs]].

==Climate==
The climate of the region is of the [[Semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] [[Tropical monsoon climate|tropical monsoon]] type. The average temperature range is 20 °C to 37 °C.

==Demographics==
{{bar box|title=Religious census|titlebar=#ddd|left1=Religion|right1=Percent(%)|float=left|bars={{bar percent|[[Hinduism|Hindu]]|Orange|94.53}}{{bar percent|[[Islam|Muslim]]|Green|3.48}}{{bar percent|[[Christianity|Christian]]|purple|1.75}}{{bar percent|[[Sikhism|Sikh]]|yellow|0.02}}{{bar percent|Other|grey|0.21}}}}

According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]], Rajapalayam had a population of 130,442 with 1,014 females for every 1,000 males, far above the national average of 929.<ref name="dashboard">{{cite web|title=Census Info 2011 Final population totals|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/censusinfodashboard/index.html|publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|year=2013|access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref> A total of 11,604 individuals (5,927 males and 5,677 females) were under the age of six. [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]] accounted for 13.51% and 0.09% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the city was 77.87%; the national average was 72.99%.<ref name="dashboard"/> The city had a total of 37,797 households. There were 53,913 workers, comprising 380 cultivators, 3,676 main agricultural labourers, 1,375 in household industries, 45,223 other workers, 3,259 marginal workers, 34 marginal cultivators, 326 marginal agricultural labourers, 286 marginal workers in household industries and 2,613 other marginal workers.<ref name="2011census">{{cite web|title=Census Info 2011 Final population totals - Rajapalayam|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=689062|publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|year=2013|access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref> According to the religious census of 2011, the population was 94.53% [[Hindus|Hindu]], 3.48% [[Muslims|Muslim]], 1.75% [[Christians|Christian]], 0.02% [[Sikhs|Sikh]] and 0.21% other.<ref name="religion2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|title=Population By Religious Community - Tamil Nadu|year=2011|publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|format=XLS|access-date=13 September 2015}}</ref>

==Geography==
The mountains of the [[Western ghats]] are to the west of the city (12 km from the city), and the [[Sanjeevi]] hills are to the east. These moderate the climate, and several water catchment areas in the hills provide water for the city. Water is stored in the 6th mile water reservoir. There are several major lakes around the city, including Kondaneri, Karungulam, Pirandaikulam, and Sengulam. The soil in the area is classified by the government as [[Loam|red loam]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://virudhunagar.tn.nic.in/statistics_handbook/Agriculture.pdf|title=Soil in Rajapalayam|website=Virudhunagar district}}</ref>

==Industries==
The principal industry was initially agriculture. In 1936, Thiru P. A. C. Ramasamy Raja started the first cotton spinning mill, called Rajapalayam Mills Ltd. Later, more [[textile mill]]s were started including Sree Karpagambal Mills Ltd. Today, Rajapalayam is a major hub of the textile industry, famous for bandages, woven fabric, [[nighties|nightwear]], and other products. The neighboring town of [[Chatrapatti]] (Virudhunagar Dist) is a large player in producing surgical cotton [[gauze]], and nearby [[Dhalavaipuram]] and Muhavoor produce women's nightwear.

==Transportation==

===By Land===

====Road====
The National Highway NH-744 from [[Tirumangalam, Madurai|Tirumangalam]] to [[Kollam]] passes through the city. State highway SH-41 (Rajapalayam-Sankarankovil-Tirunelveli) links the major parts of the extreme south of Tamil Nadu, including [[Tirunelveli]], [[Thoothukudi|Tuticorin]] and [[Kanyakumari]]. The road also offers good freight connectivity to Tamil Nadu's second largest seaport, [[Tuticorin Port Trust|Tuticorin]]. State highway SH-186 (Rajapalayam-Vembakottai) connects the town to the east part of [[Virudhunagar]] district and passes through the fast-growing industrial towns of [[Chatrapatti]] and [[Alangulam, Tirunelveli|Alangulam]].

====Bus====
[[File:Rajapalayam Old Bus Stand.jpg|thumb|Rajapalayam Old Bus Stand|right|250px]]

Rajapalayam's long-distance bus station, located on Sankarankovil Road, is served by buses from the government of Tamil Nadu's TNSTC (Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation) and private transport companies. Buses run to [[Chennai]], [[Bangalore]], [[Coimbatore]], [[Tiruchirappalli|Trichy]], [[Tiruppur]], [[Erode]], [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], [[Dharapuram]], [[Mettupalayam, Coimbatore|Mettupalayam]], Sathyamangalam, [[Oddanchatram]], [[Pondicherry]], and [[Sengottai]]. Several Private bus services runs to Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore from Rajapalayam. Rajapalayam old bus station is currently serving buses to nearby villages Seithur, Muhavoor, Chatrapatti, Dhalavaipuram, Devathanam and often called as Old bus stand or Town bus stand.

====Rail====
{{Main|Rajapalayam railway station}}
The Rajapalayam railway station is in the Southern Railways zone/Madurai division of [[Indian Railways]] and falls on the [[Virudhunagar]] to [[Kollam]] line. The station code is RJPM.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/departures/rajapalayam-rjpm/2680|title=Rajapalayam Station - 16 Train Departures SR/Southern Zone - Railway Enquiry|last=P|first=Arpit|website=indiarailinfo.com|access-date=2019-09-12}}</ref>

The [[Pothigai Express]] connects Rajapalayam to Chennai and runs daily. A Tri-weekly express train, the "Silambu Express" runs to Chennai via [[Aruppukottai]], [[Manamadurai]], [[Karaikudi]] and on to [[Sengottai]]. Kollam Express<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/train/96239|title=16101/Chennai Egmore - Kollam Jn Express (PT) - Chennai Egmore to Quilon SR/Southern Zone - Railway Enquiry}}</ref> runs between Chennai Egmore and [[Kollam Junction railway station|Kollam Jn]] daily via Trichy, Madurai, Rajapalayam, Tenkasi. Passenger trains also run to [[Madurai]]. There are two temporary services runs between [[Velankanni railway station|Velakkani]] & [[Ernakulam Junction railway station|Ernakulam Jn]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/train/velankanni-ernakulam-jn-via-kollam-jn-summer-special-06016/14082/2680/52|title=06016/Velankanni - Ernakulam Jn (Via Kollam Jn) Summer Special (PT) - Rajapalayam to South SR/Southern Zone - Railway Enquiry}}</ref> and between Chennai Egmore and [[Tirunelveli Junction railway station|Tirunelveli]] (via Tenkasi).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/train/tambaram-tirunelveli-special-via-tenkasi-06035/102908/2680/797|title=06035/Tambaram - Tirunelveli Special (via Tenkasi) (PT) - Rajapalayam to Tirunelveli SR/Southern Zone - Railway Enquiry}}</ref>

===By Air===
The nearest International airport is [[Madurai Airport]] (~100 km).

==Tourist attractions==

===Ayyanar Kovil Forest Area ([[Ayyanar Falls]])===
[[File:Rajapalayam Water Dam.jpg|thumbnail|Water Dam]]
[[File:Ayyanar Falls.jpg|thumb|Ayyanar Falls]]
Ayyanar Kovil forest area is 10 km west of Rajapalayam on the eastern slope of the Western Ghats. The forest area has many streams, waterfalls, springs and a temple. Hiking in this forest area is one of the main recreations for Rajapalayam residents. Rajapalayam Water Reservoir, which provides water to the entire city, is situated en route to Ayyanar Falls. Rajapalayam Dam and Rajapalayam Water Treatment Plant are also situated adjacent to the Rajapalayam Water Reservoir.

==== Shri Raakatchiamman Temple & Falls ====
It is also located in the foothills of Western Ghats which is around 10 km from the city. It is also a well known attraction for the falls. Comparing to the Ayyanar falls water flows here almost throughout the year.

==== Sri Vallakattu Karuppasamy kovil ====
Vallakattu Karuppasamy temple is situated en route to Ayyanar Kovil, in the middle of the forest next to the 6th Mile Dam that supplies water to Rajapalayam. [[Karuppu Sami]] is one of the 21 associate folk-deities of Ayyanar. This temple is one of the most famous in the area.

===Sanjeevi Hills===
Sanjeevi Hills lies to the east of Rajapalayam. The Murugan Temple is at the top of the hill. Tradition recounts that [[Hanuman]], the monkey god, carried the entire mountain of [[Sanjeevi]], complete with its herbal plants, to [[Sri Lanka]] to save the unconscious [[Lakshmana]]. A small portion of the mountain fell off en route, and this portion is said to be the Sanjeevi Hills.

== Notable people ==

* [[P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja]] (Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (1949–52) and Governor of Orissa (1954–56)
* [[Vijay Sethupathi]]
* [[Samuthirakani]]
* [[SJ Suryah]]
* [[Muthukaalai]]
* [[Vasanthabalan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*
*
* [http://www.Rajapalayam.com Rajapalayam]

{{Municipalities of Tamil Nadu}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Virudhunagar district]]
[[Category:Palayam]]

Rajapalayam - Revision history

Shirttheory at 16:29, 17 February 2026

imported>Mainakchatterjee.tech at 16:06, 28 August 2021