LOCATION AND AREA 

Ramanathapuram is one of the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu having a sea coast extending to nearly 260 kms. It is bounded on the north by Pasumpon Muthuramalingam and Pudukkottai districts, on the east and south by the Bay of Bengal, and on the west by V.O. Chidambarnar and Kamrajar districts. Total area of this district is 4232 sq. kms. The district headquarters district headquarters district is located at Ramanathapuram.

COMMUNICATIONS 

The district is served by the metre gauge section of the Southern Railway. The main line from Chennai Egmore to Rameswaram runs through the district linking Karaikkudi and Manamadurai of the adjoining district. Road transport is another important aspect in communication facilities. The district is connected by the National Highway. NH 49, Madurai-Dhanushkodi road, connects Manamadurai, Paramakkudi, and Ramanathapuram. There is no major shipping transport in his district. A small port at Rameswaram is having a ferry service to Talaimannar, situated in the north of Sri Lanka. This service is not operated round the year, but stopped with the onset of north-east monsoon. Kilakkarai port lost its importance in sea transport with the development of railway line to tuticorin and the opening of the Pamban-Madurai line. However, a little foreign trade is done with Jaffna, Kaits, Talaimannar and Colombo. Chanks are imported from Kaits and exported to Calcutta and Dacca for making bangles.

TOURISM 

Ramanathapuram district has a number of places having temples, famous for antiquity and sculpture. This region, having been known from early times and mentioned in Ramayana and later in Tamil Puranas, naturally has a good number of places of worship associated with Hindu gods. Of these, Rameswaram deserve mention which even now attract large number of persons from within the district and outside. Rameswaram is an island, but very close to the main land. It is the Pamban canal which separates it from the main land. Rameswaram can be reached by train and lies on the Madras-Rameswaram main line of the Southern Railway. Rameswaram is a sacred place for HIndus and is as famous as Varanasi in the northern India. It is 12 miles from Mandapam, the nearest place on the main land, and it is from here that Rameswaram is linked by rail. The town is built on an island in the Palk Straits at the extreme south- eastern tip of the Indian Peninsula. It contains one of India's most venerated temples, a fine example of south Indian architecture. The presiding deity of the temple is Ramanathaswamy, said to have been installed in Linga form by Sri Rama of the Ramayana epic on his return from Sri Lanka defeating Ravana. The Ramalingam at Rameswaram is one of the twelve Jyothi Lingams in India. The most impressive feature is the many pillared corridors, covering a length of 1220 metres. Besides, there are art works depicting puranic stories. Gandhamadhana Parvadham is a hillock to the north of the temple and is the highest point around from where one sets an excellent view of the temple and is the highest point around from where one gets an excellent view of the island. There is a two storeyed mandapam and Rama's foot placed on a chakra for worship attracts pilgrims. Dhanushkodi, another holy place is situated at a distance of 8 kms. from Rameswaram and has a temple for Kothandaramaswamy. The temple remains intact on the island, even though Dhanushkodi was washed away by the cyclone in 1964. It is believed that Vibhishana, brother of Ravana, surrendered before Sri Rama at this spot. The three main festivals celebrated at Rameswaram temple are Sivarathri for 10 days (February-March) Brahmotsavam for 3 days (June-July) and Tirukalyanam for 17 days (July-August).

EDUCATION

 UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGES, 1996 Setupati Govt. Arts College, Ramanathapuram. Dr Zakir Husain College, Ilayangudi, Ramanathapuram.

INDUSTRIES 

The district is considered as an industrially backward area and the Government is giving incentives like cheap sites, adequate power supply and loans on low rates of interest to entrepreneurs for setting up industries. The Government on their part also has set up few establishments in the public / co-operative sectors for providing employment to local population. The chief industries found in the district are handloom weaving of textiles, spinning and weaving of textiles in factories, salt and chemical industries, cement, matches, crackers and fireworks and printing and allied industries. Handloom weaving of cotton textiles is an ancient occupation followed in this district. The important handloom centres are situated in Paramakkudi taluk. Silk weaving, using China Silk as raw material, is practiced in Ramanathapuram and Paramakkudi. Textile mill are functioning in the district which produce a variety of yarns. Mat weaving is followed in the vicinity of Ilaiyankudi. Boxes and other articles from palmyrah leaves are being manufactured in a number of places in Ramanathapuram taluk. Coconut coir fibre making are followed in the district, the important centres being Periyapattinam (Ramanathapuram taluk).