# Theni district

Theni District is one of the 38 districts of Tamil Nadu state in India. Well protected by the scenic hill locks, the district is located besides Madurai district. The town of Theni is the district headquarters. The district is divided into two natural divisions: The hilly areas are constituted by parts of the five taluk's Theni, Bodinayakanur, Periyakulam, Uthamapalayam and Andipatti with thick vegetation and perennial streams from the hills on the western side and Cumbum valley which lies in Uthamapalayam taluk. As of 2011, Theni district had a population of 1,245,899 with a sex ratio of 980 females for every 1,000 males.

## History

Theni District was formed by the bifurcation from the former Madurai District as per G.O. Ms. No. 679 Revenue Department dated 7 July 1996. Consequent to the bifurcation, one new Revenue Division with headquarters at Uthamapalayam and two new Taluks at Theni and Bodinayakanur were also created with effect from 1 January 1997. Theni Municipal town was only a firka headquarters until 31 December 1996. Consequent to the formation of the new District, Theni Municipal Town was upgraded as the Taluk and District headquarters on 1 January 1997.
The region covered by present-day Theni District was sparsely populated before the 1900s. In 1886 Mullaperiyar dam project bought some part of the water from Periyar River downhill to the Cumbum Valley and merged it into the Mullayar River. This project helped more people to settle down in Cumbum Valley. Also to be noted that Theni was itself was a small though lesser-known town by the 1900s. After the Mullai-Periyar merger project, many people from nearby arid regions (Sivakasi, Kovilpatti, Virudhunagar, Sattur and several nearby towns) settled in Cumbum Valley (present day Theni District). So there was influx of people by the 1890s to 1920s. Bodi and Periyakulam were famous places at that time. Later Theni developed rapidly due to commerce.

## Geography

The 2,889 km$^2$ (1,115 sq mi) district lies at the foot of the Western Ghats between 9' 39' and 10' 30' North latitude and between 77' 00' and 78' 30' of East Longitude. Central location: 10°04′N 77°45′E﻿ / ﻿10.067°N 77.750°E﻿ / 10.067; 77.750. The district is bounded by Dindigul District to the north, Madurai District to the east, Virudhunagar District to the southwest, and Idukki district of the Kerala State to the west. The district is home to Theni, Periyakulam, Bodinayakanur, Cumbum, Uthamapalayam, Kombai, Gudalur, Gandamanur, Chinnamanur, Kuchanur, Andipatti, Rasingapuram, Thevaram, Pottipuram, Ramakrishnapuram, B. Ammapatti, Lakshmipuram, Ambasamudram, Govindanagaram, Mayladumparai, Srirengapuram, Venkadachalapuram, K. Pudupatti, Devadhanapatti, Varusanadu, Odaipatti, Erasakkanayackanur and several other small villages like Gohilapuram, Pathirakalipuram, Sukkangalpatti, Kamarajapuram, Sadaiyalpatti, Meenatchipuram, Melasindalaichery, Hanumanthanpatty, Pallavarayan Patti, Genguvarpatti, Jeyamangalam, Thamaraikulam, Kallipatti, Devathanapatti and Kamatchipuram.
It is diversified by several ranges and hills. Many villages likes Sangakonampatti are depends only on agricultural incomes. A range of hills which runs parallel to Western Ghats from north to south separate it from the neighboring state of Kerala.

### Climate

In the plains, the temperatures range from a minimum of 15 °C (59 °F) to a maximum of 40 °C (104 °F). In the hills the temperatures can range from as low as 4–5 °C (39–41 °F) to 25 °C (77 °F). The district is known for its salubrious climate, hills and lakes.

### Rivers and dams

The Vaigai River, Kottagudi River, Varaganathi River, Shanmuganathi River and Manjalar River flow through the district. The main reservoirs in the district are Lower Periyar Dam, Vaigai Dam, Shanmuganathi Dam and Sothuparai Dam.

## Politics

Source: :
| District | No. | Constituency | Name | Party | Alliance |
| Theni | 198 | Andipatti | A. Maharajan | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | SPA |
| Theni | 199 | Periyakulam (SC) | K. S. Saravana Kumar | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | SPA |
| Theni | 200 | Bodinayakanur | O. Panneerselvam | Independent | NDA |
| Theni | 201 | Cumbum | N. Eramakrishnan | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | SPA |

## Economy

The economy of Theni district is mostly agricultural. Utilisation of land area for cultivation in the district is 40.33%.$^{:29}$ The principal crop production (in tonnes) in 2005-2006 were sugarcane 1,201,221, cotton 95,360 (561 bales of 170. kg lint each), rice (paddy) 66,093, millets and other cereals 57,081, pulses 6,677, groundnut 4,021 and gingelly 325. Silk, Banana, Coconut, Tea, Coffee, Cardamom, Grapes and Mangoes are other main produce of the district. even though this place is economically good. Kolukkumalai located in Theni district atop the Western ghats is the home to the highest tea plantation in the world. Cumbum Valley is a major centre for grape production with 4,000 small farmers producing over 90,000 tonnes of Muscat grapes, locally known as panneer dhrakshai, and about 10,000 tonnes of Thomson seedless grapes. The unique feature here is that the grapes are harvested throughout the year, while in most grape growing centres elsewhere the season ends with summer.
Cotton Spinning Mills and Sugar Mills are the major industries in this district. In Andipatti Taluk Handloom weaving and power looms are flourishing. In Uthamapalayam Taluk, the Highwavis Estate produces an important amount of Tea. Bodinayakanur is a major market place (Auction Centres) for cardamom, coffee, tea and black pepper. This city is also called "Cardamom City" because of the large quantity of cardamom trade in this area. It has an auction centre for cardamom.
The Periyar and Surliar Hydro Power Stations and the Vaigai Micro Hydro Power Station have 181 MW installed capacity and actual power generation of 494 MW in 1996 in this district.$^{:15}$ Theni is one of the active business hubs in the western side of Tamil Nadu, inviting more industries to its locality. The district ha 41.09 km of Metre gauge track serving 3 Railway Stations which connect to Madurai$^{:29}$ now converted to broad gauge. The Teni Junction Railway Station is the most important railway station in the district.

## Forest resources

The forest area in Theni district is about 33.70%. There are 27 forest areas in the district, constituting a total area of 795.81 km$^2$ (307.26 sq mi). Of these, 19 areas fall under the Reserve Forest category with 255.44 km$^2$ (98.63 sq mi) and 8 areas under Reserve Land category with 540.37 km$^2$ (208.64 sq mi). Total area of forest under green cover classification was 806.86 km$^2$ (311.53 sq mi). Dense forest and sparse forest are 292.81 km$^2$ (113.05 sq mi) and 22.43 km$^2$ (8.66 sq mi), respectively. There is no unclassed forest type in the district. About 44.65 km$^2$ (17.24 sq mi) of artificial forest area are cultivated in the district. Wattle, softwood, fuel wood, cashew, neem, and tamarind are the main forest plantation species in the district. The forest area in the district is 1,179.29 km$^2$ (455.33 sq mi), which is 40.98% of the total geographical area of the district. The Meghamalai Wildlife sanctuary, Srivilliputhur elephant reserve, and part of Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary are situated in Theni district.
There has been no conservation of biological resources in the district. The information of wild life census in Theni district is yet to be made available.

## Demographics

Religions in Theni district (2011) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 92.22% | 92.22% |
| Islam | Islam | 4.56% | 4.56% |
| Christianity | Christianity | 3.02% | 3.02% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.20% | 0.20% |
According to 2011 census, Theni district had a population of 1,245,899 with a sex-ratio of 991 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929. 53.81% of the population lived in urban areas. A total of 119,661 were under the age of six, constituting 61,873 males and 57,788 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 20.72% and 0.15% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the district was 69.84%, compared to the national average of 72.99%. The district had a total of 338,112 households. There were a total of 591,642 workers, comprising 36,371 cultivators, 275,585 main agricultural labourers, 12,714 in house hold industries, 205,921 other workers, 61,051 marginal workers, 1,996 marginal cultivators, 39,576 marginal agricultural labourers, 2,225 marginal workers in household industries and 17,254 other marginal workers.
* Tamil (79.04%)
* Telugu (12.75%)
* Kannada (7.86%)
* Others (0.35%)
At the time of the 2011 census, 79.04% of the population spoke Tamil, 12.75% Telugu and 7.86% Kannada as their first language.

## Places of interest

Periyakulam, Theni, Uthamapalayam, Cumbum, and Bodinayakanur are charming towns in the district. Cascades, silver-lined clouds resting atop green hill tops, sheer rock faces and temples of antiquity distinguish these places.
* Kolukku Malai (~64 31km from Theni)
* Vaigai Dam (~16 km from Theni)
* Suruli falls (~48 km from Theni)
* Manjalar Dam(~33 km from Theni)
* Meghamalai Hill (~60 km from Theni)
* Peyathevar Canal Hill (~50 km from Theni)
* Bodi Mettu Hill (~41 km from Theni)
* Kumbakarai Falls (~28 km from Theni)
* Sothuparai Dam (~26 km from Theni)
* Shanmuganathi Dam (~39 km from Theni)
* Chinna Suruli falls (~45 km from Theni)
* Ramakkal Mettu(~3 km from Theni)
* Kurankani (~ 31km from Theni)
* HighWavys (~56 km from Theni)
* T.Rajagopalanpatty (~1 km from Theni)

## Festivals

* The Karuppaswamy festival celebration at Anaipatti.
* Arilmigu Krishnan Kovil Thiruvizha in Purattasi thingal at Lakshmipuram (Jangal Patti Panchayat).
* B.Ammapatti, Kaliamman kovil is the famous god to solve problems and has a great festival on 1 April.
* The Ramzan Peru naal Thozhuhai at Periyakulam, Uthamapalayam, Cumbum, Devadhanapatti, Gudalur, Kottur, Bodinayakanur, Chinnamanur, Batalagundu in Theni. Mariyamman Temple Festival also famous.
* The celebration of "Gowmariyamman Temple" festival at Veerapandi and Cumbum during the month of May.
* Shri Bathirakaliyamman Chiththirai Thiruvizha Festival at Bathirakalipuram and visuvasapuram near Bodi.
* Shri Veerappa Ayyanar Festival during Chiththirai Thiruvizha at Theni-Allinagaram.
* Kamatchi Amman festival at Devadanapatti and Suyambu Saneeswara Bagavan and the month of Aadi every friday celebration on Temple festival at Kuchanur.
* Apart from Pongal celebrations in other areas, the birthday of John Pennycuick who built the MullaiPeriyar Dam is celebrated in Surulipatty and other places.
* Theni district is known for its celebration of Pongal, which is considered to be one of the most important festivals of Tamil Nadu. Pallavarayanpatti, Ayyampatti and Pudupatti is known for its Jallikattu during the Pongal festival.
* Another important festival is Chitra Pournami festival, which is celebrated at Sri Mangala Devi Kannagi temple, on the Western Ghats near Gudalur during the month of May.
* Other important festivals of the region are festivals of Masi Maham and Shivarathri which are celebrated in the Kamatchi Amman Temple during the months of February–March and kottur Ekadasi.
* Christmas and New Year are celebrated in Anaimalayanpatty.
* Chithirai Thiruvizha in which Lord Azhagar enters in the Vaigai river at Ambasamudram & Govinda Nagaram.
* Pankuni Thiruvizha in Gandamanur.
* Arulmigu Pattalamman, Kaliyamman, Karuppasamy temple festival in Kattunaickenpatty
* Uppukottai Varatharaja Perumal Kovil.
* Our Lady of Snow's Church festival celebration at Royappanpatti in the month of August.
* Holy spirit church in Hanumanthanpatti, they celebrate St. Xavier festival on 2 December every year.
* Manthaiyamman temple festival is celebrated in Gudalur(Melagudalur) of Theni district.
* Srinivasaka Perumal Kovil temple festival is celebrated in Silamalai(Bodi Taluk) of Theni district.
* Sri Guru Boga Eswara Ananda Swami is offering Pooja to Lord Shanmuganatha SwamiThai Poosam Festival at Shanmuganathar Temple at Kamayagoundanpatti.Siddar Sri Guru Boga Eswara Ananda Swami had visited this Temple during Thai Poosam Festival.
For people from Theni town itself, see Theni, these are people from the surrounding area
* Gangai Amaran - music composer, singer, lyricist, writer, film director and actor, born in Pannaipuram
* Bala - director, screenwriter, producer
* Bharathiraja - movie director, screenwriter, producer, actor
* Dhanush - film actor, director, screenwriter, lyricist, singer
* N. Eramakrishnan MLA, Cumbum
* Tarun Gopi - actor, film director, script writer
* Ilaiyaraaja - music director, singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, orchestrator, conductor-arranger and lyricist
* Raj Kapoor - director, actor
* Theni Kunjarammal - actor, singer, folk performer / singer
* N. Lingusamy - film director, screenwriter
* Marimuthu - actor
* R. Muthuraman - actor
* O. Panneerselvam - former Chief Minister, Deputy CM and Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu State
* Singam Puli - actor, comedian, film director, script writer
* P. T. Rajan - former CM of Madras state
* Suruli Rajan - actor, comedian
* Rajashekar - actor
* P. Ravindhranath - Member of parliament
* Selvaraghavan - film director, lyricist, screenwriter
* Sendrayan - actor
* Vairamuthu - Tamil poet, lyricist, author