Thovalai
| Thovalai തോവ്വാള தோவாளை | |
|---|---|
| village | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Kanyakumari |
| Government | |
| • Body | Gram panchayat |
| Population | |
| • Total | Around 6,000 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 629302 |
| Nearest city | Nagercoil |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Kanyakumari |
Thovalai is a small village located in Thovalai taluk, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India. The area is well known in India for its production of flowers, especially jasmine. The taluk was among several in Thiruvananthapuram district that with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 were transferred from Thiruvananthapuram district, Travancore-Cochin State to the newly created Kanyakumari district of Madras State (the latter later renamed as Tamil Nadu State).
History
Boundary
Thovalai Taluk was part of the Princely state Travancore Kingdom, the latter which subsequently became part of the then Travancore-Cochin State. Part of The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 aligned state boundaries on linguistic affiliations. Thovalai, Kalkulam, Vilavancode, and Agastheeswaram Taluks were transferred from Thiruvananthapuram District of the Travancore-Cochin State to Kanyakumari district, Madras State. Madras was later renamed as Tamil Nadu).
Thovalai Azharia Kanni Vinayagar Temple
This temple has as its main god Lord Ganesha. It was built by Azhakia Nambia Pillai.
Flower industry
Thovalai and the surrounding area is involved in the fresh flower industry for sale to domestic and foreign markets.[1]
The variety of white Jasmine flower (locally called 'Pichchi Vellai' or 'Pichchip poo') is a rarity with a unique scent. It is somewhat similar to 'Jaathi Malligai' which is grown elsewhere.
The village people are quite active throughout the day with the flower business. Especially, the ladies at home are employed in this work and earn a substantial income. This increases the economy of the whole family and also the confidence level of the women.
The Government of India is planning to set up a floriculture research station with a cold storage facility at Thovalai for the benefit of farmers raising flower crops in and around the Kanyakumari district.[1] exporting flowers to foreign markets through Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala state.
Infrastructure
The Subramania Temple is in the village. There is a secondary government school situated in center place with more than 5 acres (20,000 m2) of ground.
In Thovalai is the CSI Institute of Technology which was established in 1995 and is one of the oldest engineering colleges in Kanyakumari district.
The train makes a stop in the village. The village is on the highway running between Nagercoil and Tirunelveli.
Famous functions
In Thovalai on a small hill in the middle of the village is where the welknown Subramanaian Temple can be found. At this temple, the Pushbabishekam festival is commonly celebrated at the end of May. The temple at festival time is filled with all varieties of flowers. After one week of Diwali, Surasamharam festival is celebrated throughout Tamil Nadu including at this temple.
References
- 1 2 http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/05/stories/2006080508700300.htm, The Hindu, Tamil Nadu, Floriculture Research Station for Thovalai, Retrieved February 13, 2011.
