Pudukkottai
town is the headquarters of the district . Once a princely State,
the area, which comprises the district, is of absorbing interest
to historians, anthropologists, archaeologists and lovers of art. The
numerous dolmens, stone circles and other forms of megalithic burials
in the district
indicate the antiquity of this region dating back to pre-historic and
protohistorical times.This tract is mentioned in the Sangam classics.The
archaeological
and cultural remains at Kodumbalur, Narthamalai, Kudumianmalai, Kunnandarkoil,
Sittannavasal, Thirumayam and Avudaiyarkoil are proof of its rich cultural
heritage. The origin of Pudukkottai as a Princely state in the 17th
Century A.D. is only one colourful aspect of the past of the region.
Pudukkottai
town lies on the Chennai - Rameswaram Railway line. It is 390 kms from
Chennai. 53 kms from Tiruchirappalli and 57 kms. from Thanjavur. The
rulers of Pudukttai have built several beautiful places and also constructed
tanks canals and palaces.
Pudukkottai
is one of the new districts formed after the 1971 census, on 14th January,
1974. It is one of the small districts of Tamil Nadu with an area of
4661 sq.Kms. The district lies between 78degrees 25' to 79 degrees
15' of the eastern longitude and 9 degrees 50; to 10 degrees 40' of
the northern latitude. This district is bounded by Tiruchirappalli
in the north, Thanjavur in the north-east, Bay of Bengal in the east
and Ramanthapuram in the south. It has a coastline of about 39 Kms.
Total area of the district is 4651 sp. Kms. Headquarters of the district
is Pudukkottai.
There
are no national highways passing through the district. The total length
of roads in this district is 3243 Kms. Comprising of 78.10 Kms. of
state highways, 434.30 Kms. of major district roads and 2730.60 Kms.
of panchayat roads. The total length of metre-guage railway line in
the district is about 84 Kms. with 12 railway stations connecting Pudukkottai
town with Tiruchirappalli as also Karaikkudi and Manamadurai in the
adjacent Ramanathapuram district. Arantangi is connected with Thiruvarur
in the adjacent Thanjavur district. The metre-guage railway line from
Madras to Rameswaram passes through this district. The transport handled
by the railways in the district is very meagre on account of the low
route length and limited potential for transportation in the hinterland.