Tirunelveli is a city in Tamil Nadu state of southern India. It is the headquarters of Tirunelveli District. It is located on the banks of the perennial Thamirabarani River, 75 km from Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India. The Thamirabarani contains traces of copper, hence its name (Thamiram means copper in Tamil). Tirunelveli can be easily reached from Madurai (4 hours) or Nagercoil (1 1/2 hrs).It is one of the Ayyavazhi (Followers of Lord Narayana) populated districts of Tamil Nadu.

The city also goes by the name Nellai. The district is known for its paddy fields. The name 'Tiru-Nel-Veli' owes to a Hindu mythological story where Lord Shiva protected the paddy ('nel') by creating a fence ('veli').

The other famous town is Palayamkottai, known for its educational institutions and sometimes referred to as South Indian Oxford. The Church of South India Diocese is located here. Palayamkottai is also knows for its famous 'Central Prison' which has housed lot of freedom fighters during the Indian independence fights.

Nellayappar temple, a famous temple of the Hindu god Shiva, is situated here. The Goddess deity is called 'Gandhimathi Ambal'. There are many sculptures in and on the various temples. The Nellayappar temple is infact bigger than the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple, but the latter is more famous due to its historical imporatance and tourist attraction. In addition to Panchappathi, Thiruchendur were Ayya Vaikundar incarnated from the sea is also considered sacred by the followers of Ayyavazhi.

The city is noted for the sweet 'Halwa' (pronounced Alwa) which is made from wheat and sugar. 'Tirunelveli Alwa' is said to owe its peculiar taste to the Thamirabarani river water. The 'Iruttu Kadai' opposite the Nellayappar temple is the hot spot when it comes to Alwa.

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