page_title: Srivilliputhur
section_title: Geography
hierarchical_section_title: Srivilliputhur / Geography
caption_attribution_description: English: I have taken this photograph when I visited Shenbagathoppu along with my Weavers colony folks.
context_page_description: Srivilliputhur, officially known as Thiruvilliputhur is a town and a Municipality in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The name is pronounced as 'Sreevilliputhoor'. As of 2011, the town had a population of 75,396. The most important landmark of Srivilliputhur is 11-tiered tower structure dedicated to the Vatapatrasayee, the presiding deity of Srivilliputhur Divya Desam. The tower of this temple rises 192 feet high and is the official symbol of the Government of
  Tamil Nadu. It is said to have been built by Periyalvar, in the year 788 AD
  believed to be the adopted father of the Temple Deity, with a purse of gold that he won in debates held in the palace of Pandya King Vallabhadeva. Srivilliputhur is well known for its ancient heritage and devotional contributions.
  It is on the Virudhunagar - Shenkottai line of the Southern Railway, about 74 km south of Madurai and connected by road and rail with Madurai, Rajapalayam, Sankarankovil & Shenkottai, Thirunelveli and Sattur.
context_section_description: Srivilliputtur is located at 9.5161°N 77.63°E. The town is located at the foothills of the Western Ghats 77 km (48 mi) south west of Madurai. It has an average elevation of 137.2 metres (450 ft) above mean sea level. There are no notable mineral resources available in and around the town.  Srivilliputtur receives scanty rainfall with an average of 811 mm (31.9 in) annually, which is lesser than the state average of 1,008 mm (39.7 in). The South west monsoon, with an onset in June and lasting up to August, brings scanty rainfall. Bulk of the rainfall is received during the North East monsoon in the months of October, November and December.
  Shenbaga Thoppu is a forest located 8 km (5.0 mi) west of Srivilliputhur. These forests are found on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. Many rare and endemic varieties of flora and fauna are found along the mountain slopes. A wildlife sanctuary, spread over 480 km² (190 sq mi) was established in 1989 at Shenbaga Thoppu. The sanctuary is contiguous with the Periyar tiger reserve on the south-western side and the Megamalai reserve forest on the north-western side. The sanctuary is home to the endangered, arboreal Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macrora).  The sanctuary also hosts birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies. Resident and migratory elephants are common. Other animals sighted are tiger, leopard, Nilgiri thar, spotted deer, barking deer, sambar, Wild Boar, porcupine, Nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaque, common langur, slender loris, bonnet macaque, sloth bear, Gaur (Indian Bison) and flying squirrel.
caption: Shenbagathoppu's calm and serene forest
exif: {}