Tirunelveli - The City of Culture

The word Tirunelveli is synonymous with Halwa for many who have visited this place and relished the sweet, melt-mouth delicacy. The entire city is dotted all across the length and breadth with sweet shops that sell this famous Halwa. Among all these shops, the Iruttukadai Halwa shop stands tall, all thanks to its fame and origin that dates back to 1882. It all started when Mr Jegan Singh, fondly called the "father of Halwa", decided to open a Halwa shop in Tirunelveli. It was the first-ever Halwa shop in Tirunelveli and was named the "Tirunelveli Halwa."

Even today, this shop is believed to be the only shop where you can get premium, fresh, genuine quality "Tirunelveli Halwa" made using an age-old traditional recipe that Tirunelveli is always proud of. This shop makes only limited quantities of Halwa a day, and it will always be sold out on that day itself. They never resort to any publicity or advertisement. The taste speaks for itself and spreads through word of mouth through cities, states, and nations.

The name "Iruttukadai" comes from the shop's small, dimly lit interiors. In the past, the shop was only lit by a few burning lamps, and hence, the interiors were always dark. As time progressed, they got electric bulbs. Still, the lighting is intentionally kept dim to pay homage to its legendary name- "Iruttukadai." The shop is located just opposite the famous Nellaiappar Temple, and you can still see a long queue of tourists and regular visitors waiting to taste the delicacy before sunset.

Tirunelveli is also known as the land of temples. Thousands of devotees and ardent admirers of temple architecture often visit the place from all across the world. Stepping into Tirunelveli is almost like taking a trip through a time capsule. The place preserves memories, heritage, culture and traditions untouched, unblemished and pure just as it was thousands of years before. You can catch a sight of these cultural gems in the form of intricate and breathtaking carvings and sculptures seen all across the town.

Most of the Tirunelveli Temples have a Gopuram, and each Gopuram tells stories from the pages of Hindu Mythology. Among the countless Temples, you can see in Tirunelveli, the Nellaiappar Temple is the most popular one. It is one of the largest temples in Tamil Nadu and is often visited by both devotees and lovers of art and architecture. During the festival seasons, you can see pilgrims in almost every nook and corner of Tirunelveli. If you seek spirituality and peace, then these Temples might be just the soul-fulfilling escape you need.

Tirunelveli cuisine is the typical South Indian spread. Rice is a staple part of the day to day diet, and traditional recipes handed down through generations are what you get to relish any day, any time. There are many regional recipes, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Tirunelveli cuisine is also considered one of the most aromatic cuisines of the entire Tamil Nadu. It has an easily distinguishable aroma and taste. Most of the recipes contain a delectable blend of spices and seasoning like peppercorns, curry leaves, coriander seeds, nutmeg, ginger, coconut, green chilli, garlic, mustard seeds, and coriander leaves to name a few.

Tirunelveli cuisine focuses on both health and taste in equal proportions. They use a variety of herbs in their rasams and opt for kambu koozhu, a dish made of millet as an alternative to rice-based dishes. On hot, sunny days, they go around and pluck fresh vegetables, chillies, and coriander leaves directly from the fields. These are then mixed with rice and made in the form of a tasty yet healthy curry koottu that keeps them healthy and happy the entire day.

Due to its geographical location, Tirunelveli remains hot and humid during both the monsoon and summer seasons. But, the temperature drops to around 25°C during the winter season and hence is an ideal time to visit this place. Tirunelveli tourism is not just limited to the sacred Temples brimming with architectural marvels. There are many scenic destinations that any nature enthusiast would instantly fall in love with.

Tirunelveli is surrounded by two majestic dams- Papanasam and Manimuthar. Besides that, there are the Koonthankulam and Ariakulam bird sanctuaries, Upper Kodaiyar, and Manjolai. All these are spellbinding scenic spots. The cascading waterfalls in Papanasam and Courtallam are believed to have medicinal healing properties. From high peaks to green plains, from mystique jungles to breathtaking sea coasts, Tirunelveli will never stop surprising you.