India Tourism » Ettayapuram Travel

ETTAYAPURAM & PANCHALANKURICHI
Famous for its pearls and pearl fishing, Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu is also known as the home of two of South India’s most popular freedom fighters: the poet, Mahakavi Subramanya Bharati and Veerapandiya Kattabomman, an 18th century Indian Palaiyakkarar chief tain. At Ettayapuram (40 km from Thoothukudi), the house that Bharati was born in has been carefully preserved. A modest rural house open to visitors, the house has pictures of Bharati, his parents and a collection of his works. A little further away is Bharati’s memorial built by Kalki Knshnamurthy in 1945.

As one traverses through its battered ramparts, listening to Kattabomman’s folklore narrated by the locals, his heroism comes alive in the mind’s eye. A new memorial fort was constructed by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1974. A temple dedicated to Devi Jakkammal, the family deity of Kattabomman is a must-visit. The memorial also houses some paintings depicting the battle between Kattabomman and the British army.

History says
Ettayapuram is the birthplace of Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi (1882-1921), poet and freedom .fighter. His songs were banned by the British but they caught the attention of freedom fighters and common people and became a part of every South Indian household. Panchalankurichi is the home of Veerapandiya Kattabomman (17601799), one of the earliest opponents of British rule.

Getting there
Jet Airways has daily flights to Madurai from Chennai. Thoothukudi is about 135 km from Madurai.