Ponnamaravathi

Since 16th century AD, Ponnamaravathi was a separate kingdom and it was named after the Maravar kings Ponnan and Amaran. The town was built by these kings. Ponnan killed at the place of Naatukkal. Amaran temple is now called as Pattamarathan near to the police station. The Nachiamman Temple of the town is mentioned in Silappatikaram, an Old Tamil Literature showing the prominence of the town since ancient days. Moreover, the literature revels that the town had link between Chola and Pandyan dynasties. The town has witnessed large number of wars between Chola and Pandyas. In the 12th Century AD, there was a war between Pandayas and Singalars in this region. The town has large number of historical landmarks revealing the ancient traits of the town.

Ponnamaravathy Taluk is located at the border of the Pudukkottai district and Sivaganga district. Pudukkottai, Natham, Karaikudi, Sivaganga, Madurai and Trichy are the nearby Cities to Ponnamaravathi.

The town consists of three major habitations, Ponnamaravathy, Valayapatti and Pudhupatti. Of them the major commercial activities are concentrated in the habitation of Ponnamaravathi, which has separate streets for each particular mode of commercial activity. Pudhupatti and Valayapatti, has residential land use to a greater extent. Most of the houses in this region are built in the Chettinadu architectural style.

Mean Annual rainfall (1935 - 2010) of the Ponnamaravathi is 910 mm. The rainfall during the summer season is about 110 – 120 mm and in winter the rainfall is very low in the order of 32 – 38 mm. During Southwest Monsoon and Northeast Monsoon a very high rainfall of 385 – 390 mm and 380 – 385 mm are recorded.

Ponnamaravathi was the main market center for hundreds of adjoining villages. Farming is the main occupation of the nearby villages. Rice, sugarcane, groundnut, cereals and all kinds of vegetables are cultivated in plenty.

The town has one bus stand named Kamaraj Bus Stand. This bus stand is classified as "C" class bus stand, per day 120 buses are plying over the bus stand and around six thousand public are benefited by this. Buses are often available for Pudukkottai (37 km), karaikudi (46 km), Madurai (70 km), Trichy (76 km) and Dindigul (87 km). Private and stated owned State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu) operates long-distance buses connecting the town to important cities like Chennai and Bangalore.

Pudukkottai railway station (37 km) is the nearest railway station, its connected by regular trains from Chennai and Rameswaram. Tiruchirappalli International Airport (77 km) is the nearest airport.

The small town has public and private schools for primary and higher secondary education. There are also arts and science colleges, polytechnic colleges and engineering colleges nearby. Ponnamaravathi Town Panchayat has a literacy rate of 83.95%, which is much higher than the national average of 64.8%.

Ponnamaravathi is well known for Shri Malaiyandi Kovil of Lord Murugan housed on a nice hillock. The town has large number of historical landmarks revealing the ancient traits of the town. The ancient Rajendra Chozhiswarar Sivan Temple in the town was built by Raja Raja Cholan II (reign, 1146 - 1173 AD). There is an important place in the town called as "Natukal" (Hero Stone), the place where the king Ponnan and Amaran died and even today the stone is the symbol of pride and respect patronizing Tamil warriors and their bravery. The town also has a large man made tank named after the king Amarkandan, it's called as "Amarkandan Oorani".

• Pudukkottai