TINNEVELLY, a town and district of British India, in the Madras presidency. The town is on the left bank of the Tam braparni river, on the other side of which is Palamcottah, the administrative headquarters of the district. Pop. (1931) 57,078.
It is on the South Indian railway, 444 m. S.W. of Madras. A branch line was opened to Tiruchendur in 1923. Its most note worthy building is a beautifully sculptured temple of Siva.
The DISTRICT OF TINNEVELLY has an area of 4,315 sq.m. It is for the most part a plain with an average elevation of 200 ft., sloping to the east with slight undulations. It is watered by numerous short streams, the principal being the Tambraparni with a length of 8o m. The chief irrigation work is the Srivai kuntam anicut or dam on this river. In the north the scenery is unattractive and the soil poor; in the south red sandy soil pre vails in which little save the Palmyra palm will grow. This palm yields toddy as well as a coarse sugar. Along the banks of the rivers are rice-fields; cotton, millet, pulse and oil-seeds are grown, and cloth, mats, lace and sugar manufactured. There is a trade in cot
ton stuffs, and fishing is carried on. The district contains many ancient and magnificent buildings. In 1931 the population was 2,046,907. The number of Christians was 227,604. Tinnevelly being the most Christian district in India. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and the Church Missionary Society have important stations at Tinnevelly town and Palamcottah, as also have the Jesuits. It was here that St. Francis Xavier began his preaching in India.
The early history of Tinnevelly is mixed up with that of Madura and Travancore. Down to 1781 it is a confused tale of anarchy and bloodshed. In that year the nawab of Arcot as signed the revenues to the East India Company, which then undertook the internal administration. Several risings subse quently took place, and in 18o' the whole Carnatic, including Tinnevelly, was ceded to the British.