Karaikal

The origin of the word Karaikal is uncertain. The Imperial Gazetteer of British India gives its meaning as 'fish pass'. Both the words 'Karai' and 'Kal' have several meanings, of which the more acceptable ones are 'lime mix' and 'canal' respectively. Hence it has been suggested that the name may mean a canal built of lime mix, however, no trace of such a canal is evident.

{{Main|French India|Siege of Pondicherry (disambiguation){{!}}Siege of Pondicherry|History of Puducherry}}

In 1738, Karaikal was promised to the French by Sayaji, the exiled Rajah of Thanjavur, in exchange for their assistance. However, the transfer of control only occurred in 1739 with the help of Chanda Sahib of Arcot, when the French formally obtained the town.

In 1749, additional territories consisting of 81 villages were ceded by Pratap Singh to the French during their siege of Thanjavur, a grant that was confirmed by treaty in 1754. Karaikal changed hands multiple times in the following years due to conflicts between the French and the British, notably during the siege of 1760, when British forces captured the town after a ten-day defense.{{cite book |last1=Hunter |first1=William Wilson |title=The Imperial Gazetteer Of India Vol 15 |date=1908 |publisher=The Clarendon Press |location=Oxford |page=39 |edition=2 |url=https://archive.org/details/the-imperial-gazetteer-of-india-vol-15/page/38/mode/2up}}

Karaikal was eventually restored to French control in 1817 following the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The French continued to hold control, despite occasional interruptions by the British Raj, until 1954, when it was de facto incorporated into the Republic of India. Karaikal, along with the other French Indian colonies of Mahé, Yanaon, Chandernagor, and Pondichéry, was de jure integrated into India in 1962.

Karaikal is a small coastal enclave which was formerly part of French India. Together with the other former French territories of Pondicherry, Yanam, and Mahé, it forms the Union Territory of Puducherry. Karaikal is bounded on three sides by three districts of Tamil Nadu, on the North by Mayiladuthurai district, on the South by Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu state, on the west by Tiruvarur district (also belonging to Tamil Nadu), and on the East by the Bay of Bengal. The enclave is located {{convert|140|km|abbr=off}} south of the city of Pondicherry, {{convert|158|km|abbr=off}} east of Trichy and is known for its rich cultural heritage.

The main branches of Kaveri below Grand Anicut are the Kudamurutti, Arasalar, Virasolanar and the Vikramanar. Although Arasalar and its branches spread through Karaikal, the waters of Kudamurutti and Virasolanar also meet the irrigation needs of the region.

Forming a part of the fertile Kaveri delta, the region is completely covered by the distributaries of Cauvery. Covered completely by a thick mantle of alluvium of variable thickness, the lie of the region is flat having a gentle slope towards the Bay of Bengal in the east. It is limited on the north by the Nandalar and on the south-east by the Vettar. The group of rocks known as Cuddalore formations is met with in the area contiguous to Karaikal region in Nagapattinam district.

Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as tropical wet and dry (As).

{{Weather box

|location = Karaikal (1991–2020, extremes 1973–2020)

| metric first = Yes

| single line = Yes

| width = auto

| Jan record high C = 32.2

| Feb record high C = 34.2

| Mar record high C = 37.2

| Apr record high C = 40.7

| May record high C = 42.0

| Jun record high C = 42.4

| Jul record high C = 39.5

| Aug record high C = 39.4

| Sep record high C = 38.8

| Oct record high C = 36.9

| Nov record high C = 35.9

| Dec record high C = 32.7

| year record high C = 42.4

| Jan high C = 29.0

| Feb high C = 30.4

| Mar high C = 32.2

| Apr high C = 34.2

| May high C = 36.3

| Jun high C = 36.6

| Jul high C = 36.0

| Aug high C = 35.1

| Sep high C = 34.2

| Oct high C = 32.1

| Nov high C = 29.8

| Dec high C = 28.8

| year high C = 32.9

|Jan mean C = 25.9

|Feb mean C = 26.8

|Mar mean C = 28.6

|Apr mean C = 30.6

|May mean C = 30.9

|Jun mean C = 31.4

|Jul mean C = 31.4

|Aug mean C = 30.2

|Sep mean C = 29.8

|Oct mean C = 28.8

|Nov mean C = 27.0

|Dec mean C = 26.2

| Jan low C = 22.3

| Feb low C = 23.0

| Mar low C = 24.4

| Apr low C = 26.5

| May low C = 27.2

| Jun low C = 26.8

| Jul low C = 26.5

| Aug low C = 25.8

| Sep low C = 25.5

| Oct low C = 25.0

| Nov low C = 23.9

| Dec low C = 22.8

| year low C = 25.0

| Jan record low C = 18.0

| Feb record low C = 17.8

| Mar record low C = 18.4

| Apr record low C = 20.8

| May record low C = 21.0

| Jun record low C = 20.8

| Jul record low C = 21.1

| Aug record low C = 21.0

| Sep record low C = 20.6

| Oct record low C = 20.6

| Nov record low C = 19.5

| Dec record low C = 17.8

| year record low C = 17.8

| rain colour = green

| Jan rain mm = 37.4

| Feb rain mm = 24.6

| Mar rain mm = 19.6

| Apr rain mm = 23.6

| May rain mm = 59.3

| Jun rain mm = 57.8

| Jul rain mm = 37.0

| Aug rain mm = 84.5

| Sep rain mm = 109.5

| Oct rain mm = 260.7

| Nov rain mm = 493.4

| Dec rain mm = 260.6

| year rain mm = 1467.9

| Jan rain days = 2.1

| Feb rain days = 1.0

| Mar rain days = 0.6

| Apr rain days = 1.2

| May rain days = 2.4

| Jun rain days = 2.4

| Jul rain days = 2.2

| Aug rain days = 4.9

| Sep rain days = 4.9

| Oct rain days = 9.8

| Nov rain days = 13.7

| Dec rain days = 8.4

| year rain days = 53.6

| time day = 17:30 IST

| Jan humidity = 75

| Feb humidity = 72

| Mar humidity = 71

| Apr humidity = 73

| May humidity = 71

| Jun humidity = 65

| Jul humidity = 65

| Aug humidity = 70

| Sep humidity = 75

| Oct humidity = 78

| Nov humidity = 82

| Dec humidity = 79

| year humidity = 73

|source 1 = India Meteorological Department

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf

| archive-date = 5 February 2020

| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf

| title = Station: Karaikal Climatological Table 1981–2010

| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010

| publisher = India Meteorological Department

| date = January 2015

| pages = 391–392

| access-date = 19 March 2020}}

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf

| archive-date = 5 February 2020

| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf

| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)

| publisher = India Meteorological Department

| date = December 2016

| page = M196

| access-date = 19 March 2020}}

|source 2 = Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1991–2020)

{{cite web

| url = https://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/tcc/tcc/products/climate/normal/parts/NrmMonth_e.php?stn=43346

| title = Normals Data: Karaikal – India Latitude: 10.92°N Longitude: 79.83°E Height: 7 (m)

| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency

| access-date = 1 December 2022}}

}}

The District Collector is the official representative to the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Co-ordinator and Liaison Officer to all Government departments of Karaikal district. District Collectorate, Karaikal is the functional headquarters of Karaikal District.

Karaikal region is made up of Karaikal municipality and the Communes of

• Nedungadu
• Kottucherry
• Neravy
• Thirunallar
• Tirumalarajanpattinam
• Poovam
• Varichikudy

According to the 2011 Census of India, total population of Karaikal district is 200,222, comprising 97,809 males and 1,02,413 females. Population of the district accounts for 16.04% of the total population of Puducherry U.T. and ranks second among the districts. The literacy rate is 87.1%, with male literacy at 92.4% and female literacy at 82.0%.{{Cite report |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/974 |title=Census of India 2011 - Puducherry UT - Series 35 - Part XII A - District Census Handbook, Karaikal |date=2014}}

File:Chandra Theertham karaikal.jpg, the city's eminent temple tank, is particularly highlighted during the Theppotsavam.]]

Karaikal is renowned for its connection with Karaikal Ammaiyar, a leading Shaivite saint and Bhakti poetess, amongst the sixty-three nayanmar, who lived there around the 5th century CE.{{Cite book |last=Cūriyamūrtti |first=Kōmati |title=Kāraikkālammaiyār |date=2003 |publisher=Cākittiya Akātami |others=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-260-1645-7 |edition= |series=Intiya ilakkiyac ciṟpikaḷ |location=Putu Tilli |language=ta}} A sanctuary, the Karaikal Ammaiyar temple, is dedicated to her, and popular for its annual celebration of Mangani (the Mango Festival or Fête des Mangues in French), which takes place in summer.{{Cite news |last=Raja |first=P. |title=Karaikal’s festival of mangoes that celebrates a saint |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/karaikals-festival-of-mangoes-that-celebrates-a-saint/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} The event is the town's main feast.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-06-21 |title=Karaikal comes alive with Mangani festival |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/karaikal-comes-alive-with-mangani-festival/article68316932.ece |url-access=limited |access-date=2024-10-09 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}} Located on the former {{Lang|fr|Rue de Poréar|italic=yes}} (now Bharathiyar Street), the {{Lang|fr|Karikal Amméar|italic=yes}} temple is neighboured by the Shaivite temple of Kailasanathar and the Vaishnavite temple of Nithyakalyana Perumal. The three religious sites share the Chandra Theertham tank, which lies along the street. A second religious celebration in the town concerns exclusively the Kailasanathar temple, which organizes the Karaikal Chariot festival.

Karaikal is also sometimes associated with the temple partly devoted to Shani or Saneesvara at Thirunallar, one of the Navagraha Sthalam in the Kumbakonam region.{{cite web|url=http://www.thirunallar.org|title=Thirunallar Temple Website -|website=www.thirunallar.org}} The Dharbaranyesvarar temple of Thirunallar is as well one of the Sapta Vidanga Sthalam, an important network of Shaivite shrines in relation with the famed Thyagaraja temple of Thiruvarur. Three other significant Shaivite sanctuaries, among the Paadal Petra Sthalam, are also located nearby Karaikal. These are the Dharmapuram Yazhmoorinathar temple in Dharmapuram, between the communes of Karaikal and Thirunallar, the Tiruttelicheri Parvatheesvarar temple, in nowadays Kovil Pathu, on the outskirts of the town, and the Thiruvettakudi Sundaresvarar temple in Thiruvettakudi, a hamlet east to the village of Varichikudi.

Of lesser reverence with respect to the Paadal Petra Sthalam, Karaikal and its surroundings also feature temples esteemed in the Saiva Siddhanta tradition, designated as the Vaippu Sthalam. Mentioned in the religious literature associated with this tradition, there are two of these temples, the Raja Chozheesvarar temple at Thirumalairayanpattinam or T.R Patnam (once known as the {{Lang|fr|Grande Aldée}} in French), and the Thirulokanathar temple at Thakkalur, a hamlet between Dharmapuram and Thirunallar. File:Festival Ganduri at karaikal.jpgThe Muslim presence in Karaikal grew between the 18th and 19th centuries.{{Cite book |last=Weber |first=Jacques |title=Pondichéry et les comptoirs de l'Inde après Dupleix: la démocratie au pays des castes |date=1996 |publisher=Denoël |isbn=978-2-207-24208-7 |series=L'aventure coloniale de la France Destins croisés |location=Paris |pages=42-43, 48 |language=fr |chapter=Le règne des castes sur des comptoirs éparpillés |oclc=708333455}} The town witnessed the establishment of a Bukharan Muslim Sufi cleric christened Mastan Saheb in the early 19th century. He attracted many Muslims to the town, and his fruitful preaching brought new believers. Following his demise in 1829, a dargah formed, and a commemorative procession (an urs), known locally as Kanduri (the Kanduri Festival or Candry in French), is held annually.{{cite book |last1=More |first1=J. B. P |title=The Political Evolution of Muslims in Tamilnadu and Madras, 1930-1947 |date=1997 |publisher=Orient Longman |isbn=978-8125010111 |edition=1 |location=Hyderabad |page=30-31 |chapter=Historical Evolution and Conditionings |oclc=37770527}} Karaikal's Dargah is an architecturally remarkable building, reminiscent of the more famous Dargah at nearby Nagore, and demonstrative of the Islamic architectural style in use at the time in the Tanjore region, and more widely in the Deccan. The adjacent Grand Mosque is also a remarkable architectural structure, with a more pronounced Indo-Saracenic influence.

Most of the people in town are office goers and industrial workers. There are a number of iron and steel rolling mills, spinning mills, tiles, polythene, rubber and chemical industries in Karaikal. Other common sources of the people's income come from business. The prominent source of income of this district is agriculture and fishing. Karaikal is a coastal town with a total coastline of {{convert|26|km|abbr=off}}. There are 12 big fishing hamlets and around more than 25,000 fishermen (6,000 families) are living in these coastal villages. Their main employment is fishing, exporting and fishing related activities. The other main source is the liquor business, the tax being less and the cost almost half when compared to the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. Karaikal is one of the towns in South India with high cost of living due to French NRI's presence. Thousands of families with their origin in Karaikal live in France. Puducherry Power Corporation Limited is Generating Electricity with Natural gas fuel in their combined cycle power plant and supply the electricity to Puducherry Electricity Department. The fuel gas received through GAIL India Limited by underground pipelines from ONGC Wells.The ONGC's office Kaveri rig is at Karaikal.{{cite web |url=http://www.ongcindia.com/offices.asp |title=ONGC :: Contact Us :: ONGC Offices |access-date=2011-10-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930044148/http://www.ongcindia.com/offices.asp |archive-date=2011-09-30 }}

The nearest airport to Karaikal is Tiruchirappalli International Airport, which serves the entire Cauvery delta region, as well as adjacent areas. The other major airport close to the town is Chennai International Airport, which offers better air connectivity, especially to long-haul destinations.

Karaikal Airport is a greenfield project nearby Karaikal, currently frozen. It would have been the first airport in the country built entirely with private capital. The project received in-principle clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation in February 2011. Karaikal Airport's Air Traffic Control, however, would have been operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). In its initial plans, the airport, spread across {{convert|562|acres|0|abbr=on}}, was being developed by Karaikal Airport Private Limited, a subsidiary of Super Airport Private Limited. The first phase of construction would have included construction of a 1200-metre runway and a terminal building capable of handling 120 passengers during peak hours. The airport was expected to handle regional turboprop airliners like the ATR-42. The company planned to expand the airport after five years, extending the runway to {{convert|2,600|m|abbr=off}} and increasing terminal building capacity to 500 passengers per hour. A further expansion was planned ten years down the line with a 3500-metre runway and a passenger capacity of 1,000 per hour.

Karaikal port is a new deep sea water port being constructed in Karaikal. More than {{convert|600|acre|km2}} of land was leased out to MARG corporation in year 2005 for 30 years and can be renewed for every 10 years thereafter. The port will have a total of nine berths and is constructed for primary transport of coal, textile and cement. The Karaikal port is intended to primarily handle cement and coal to serve the hinterland in Ariyalur, Perambalur and Tiruchi districts. The port is also expected to provide an alternative to the Madras and Tuticorin ports, which are the major ports in the coastline but are separated by long distance. Further, Karaikal is in the middle of the Tamil Nadu coast, midway between the two deepwater ports of Chennai and Tuticorin.

The National Highway NH 32 connects Chennai and Thoothukudi, passes through Karaikal. It is located at the distance {{cvt|297|km}} from Chennai, {{cvt|132|km}} from Puducherry, {{cvt|154|km}} from Tiruchirapalli, {{cvt|57|km}} from Kumbakonam and {{cvt|20|km}} from Nagapattinam. Karaikal is connected with both National Highways and State Highways. Both Gov't. and Private buses available from Karaikal to Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, Puducherry, Cuddalore, Chidambaram.

Karaikal having rail line connected from Tiruchirapalli via Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Nagore. Presently Rails are available from Karaikal to Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Ernakulam, Tiruchirapalli, Tanjore, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Nagore, Velanganni and currently Karaikal to Peralam Railway line work is under progress.

Peralam–Karaikal line

{{See also|List of educational institutions in Karaikal, India}}

File:Main Arch NITPY.jpg]]

According to the 2011 Census, Karaikal has literacy rate of 87.1%. There is a wide network of educational institutions right from elementary level to collegiate level in the Karaikal region.

Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) was established in Karaikal in 2016 with an initial intake of 50 students. The students are selected through entrance exams conducted nationwide.

National Institute of Technology Puducherry was established in Karaikal in 2010. The students are admitted based on Joint Entrance Examination – Main entrance exam score.

• Peter Hein
• A.M.H. Nazeem
• Padma Shri K. N. Dandayudhapani Pillai
• M. O. H. F. Shahjahan
• K. A. Thangavelu

• French India
• French colonial empire
• French East India Company
• Municipal Administration in French India
• Karaikal Carnival
• Serumavilangai

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Karaikal}}

• {{Official website|http://karaikal.gov.in}}

{{Former French colonies}}

{{Puducherry}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Port cities in India

Category:Enclaves and exclaves

Category:Cities and towns in Karaikal district