Rajapalayam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rajapalayam
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Town
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Rajapalayam from the southeast
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| Nickname(s):
Cotton City
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 Rajapalayam
Location in Tamil Nadu
Rajapalayam
Location in India
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| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Virudhunagar district |
| Revenue Division | Sattur |
| Taluk | Rajapalayam |
| Government | |
| • Type | Special Grade Municipality |
| • Body | Rajapalayam Special grade municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.36 km2 (4.39 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 1 in district |
| Elevation | 187 m (614 ft) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 130,442 |
| • Rank | 34 |
| • Density | 11,483/km2 (29,740/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Rajapalayathaan |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Pincode(s) |
626117,626108,626110
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| Area code(s) | +91-4563 |
| Vehicle registration | TN 67, TN 84 |
Rajapalayam is a busy town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It's the biggest town in the Virudhunagar area. Rajapalayam is about 562 kilometers south of Chennai, the state capital. It sits on the main highway that connects Madurai to Kollam. The town is famous for its many factories that spin and weave cotton. It's also well-known for its delicious mangoes and a special kind of dog called the Rajapalayam dog.
Contents
What's the Weather Like?
The weather in Rajapalayam is mostly dry and warm, like a semi-arid tropical monsoon area. The temperature usually stays between 20°C and 37°C.
Who Lives in Rajapalayam?
According to a count in 2011, Rajapalayam had 130,442 people living there. For every 1,000 boys, there were 1,014 girls, which is more than the average for India. About 11,604 children were under six years old. Most people in the town can read and write, with a literacy rate of 77.87%.
Religions in Rajapalayam
Most people in Rajapalayam are Hindu, making up about 94.53% of the population. There are also Muslims (3.48%) and Christians (1.75%). A small number of people follow other religions.
Rajapalayam's Location
The Western ghats mountains are to the west of the town, about 12 kilometers away. To the east, you can see the Sanjeevi hills. These mountains and hills help keep the climate mild. They also collect water, which is stored in the 6th mile water reservoir for the town.
There are several big lakes around Rajapalayam, including Kondaneri, Karungulam, Pirandaikulam, and Sengulam. The soil in this area is a type of red loam. The town's area is about 11.36 square kilometers, making it the largest town in the Virudhunagar district.
What Rajapalayam Makes
At first, farming was the main job in Rajapalayam. But in 1936, a person named Thiru P. A. C. Ramasamy Raja started the first cotton spinning factory, called Rajapalayam Mills Ltd. After that, many more textile mills opened.
Today, Rajapalayam is a major center for the textile industry. It's famous for making things like bandages, woven fabric, and nightwear. Nearby towns like Chatrapatti are big in making surgical cotton gauze, and Dhalavaipuram and Muhavoor make women's nightwear.
Getting Around Rajapalayam
By Road
Main Roads
A major road, National Highway NH-744, goes through Rajapalayam. This road connects Madurai to Kollam. Another important road, State Highway SH-41, links Rajapalayam to other big parts of southern Tamil Nadu, like Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, and Kanyakumari. This road also helps transport goods to Tuticorin, which is a large seaport.
State Highway SH-186 connects Rajapalayam to the eastern part of the Virudhunagar district. It passes through growing industrial towns like Chatrapatti and Alangulam.
Bus Services
Rajapalayam has a bus station for long-distance travel. It's on Sankarankovil Road. You can find buses from the government's TNSTC (Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation) and private companies. These buses connect Rajapalayam to big cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, and Salem.
The old bus station, also called the Town bus stand, is where you can catch buses to nearby villages.
By Train
Rajapalayam Railway Station
The Rajapalayam railway station is part of the Southern Railways zone in Indian Railways. It's on the train line that goes from Virudhunagar to Kollam. The station code for Rajapalayam is RJPM.
Many passenger and express trains stop at Rajapalayam daily, connecting it to various cities across India.
By Air
The closest international airport to Rajapalayam is Madurai Airport, which is about 80 kilometers away.
Famous People from Rajapalayam
- P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja: He was a Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and later a Governor of Orissa.
- S. Peter Alphonse: A politician who was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly multiple times.
- Vijay Sethupathi: A well-known actor.
- Samuthirakani: A famous director and actor.
- Vasantha Balan: A notable film director.
- Muthukaalai: An actor.
- A.A Subba Raja: Served as the Municipal chairman for many terms and also as an MLA.
- N.A.P. ALAGIRI RAJA: A kind person who helped the community and was the first elected chairman of Rajapalayam municipality.
