Kallikulam, Thoothukudi
Kallikulam is
a panchayat village
located in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamilnadu.
The village is famous for the Our Lady of Snow church located at the heart of
the Terku (South) Kallikulam. Kallikulam is a village located about 50 km from
the Thiruchendur and Nagercoil in South Tamilnadu, India. The villagers were
predominantly farmers but due to large export of labour to Gulf countries
farming is now only a secondary profession.
Kallikulam
lies in the semi-arid zone and water scarcity is looming large. Due to the
influx of Gulf money the economy of the village has improved and the people
have a high standard of life. Kallikulam has an Arts college, a high school, a
middle school as well as a primary school.
History
The
history of South Kallikulam extends up to the early 18th century. It is
believed that the first inhabitants of Kallikulam were of Nadar community
migrated from some southern part to the current village location. It was an
unoccupied arid land till the first occupants moved here to start a living by
farming. They built a temple for Sudalai Madan,
a Hindu deity worshiped in the Tamilnadu. There were a lot of disputes over the
ownership of the land of the village. Over the time of period new families
started to move here from surrounding places.
In 1770,
a thatched church was built in the name of Holy Mary by the village people with
the help from the priest from Vadakkankulam,
a town located about 15 km south to Kallikulam. During 1885, snowfall
occurred in the centre of the village and people believed that it was because
of Holy Mary. Subsequently, the church was built up as permanent structure with
very good design during 1885 after the great miracle.
Geography
South
Kallikulam is located at 8.354°N
77.664°E which is very southern part of the South India peninsular.
It is located about 6 km east to Valliyur on
the route to Thiruchendur in Indian state highway
(SH) - 93. The nearest pivotal towns are: Valliyur to
the west, Thisayanvilai to the east, Thiruchendur to
the northeast, Nagercoil to the southwest.
Religion
South
Kallikulam has a rich heritage of diverse group of religions. Though it doesn't
have a large crowd of people in the village there are people who practice the
major religions of India: Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Even though it has
different religion practitioners, Roman
Catholic is predominant in Kallikulam. It has four Roman
Catholic churches, a mosque and a couple of Hindu temples too. Each church has
different patron saints in which Our Lady of Snows church located in the center
of the village is very famous around the place for its significant history
behind.
Places of
Interest
Cross Station:
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Our Lady of Fatima Grotto:
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto:
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Our Lady of Snows Church:
For
brief details, please refer below link;
St. Anthony Church:
For
brief details, please refer below link;
St. Michael Church:
For
brief details, please refer below link;
St. Anthony Church, Siluvaipatti:
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Connectivity
Kallikulam
is a village located about 50 km from the Thiruchendur and Nagercoil in South
Tamilnadu, India.
Frequent
Buses are available from Thoothukudi, Thiruchendur & Thirunelveli. The
nearest railway station to Kallikulam is Nanguneri which is located at a distance
of 7.6 Kms. Kallikulam‘s nearest airport is Tuticorin Airport situated at a distance
of 48.7Kms.
