Nagerkoil
About the city
Nagercoil is the capital of Kanyakumari. Until 1956, it was a part of Kerala, but now it is in Tamil Nadu. Nagercoil is famous for Nagaraja Temple and the name derived from this Temple. It is situated at the Southern part of Tamil Nadu. The Nagaraja temple situated here is unique in many respects. Though Nagaraja (Serpent God) is the presiding deity, the images of Lord Siva and Anathakrishna (Vishnu) are also enshrined. The Nagaraja is installed on the ground where it was originally found.The prasadam distribution to the devotees is wet sand scooped out from the ground where the image of the Nagaraja deity is enshrined. The images of the Jain Theerthakaras, Mahavira and Parswanathar are found in the pillars of the temple. The entrance to the temple is reminiscent of the Chinese architecture of Budha Vihara. The Nagalinga flower found here is also symbolic of Nagaraja.
Nagercoil is the district administrative center and holds a number of educational institutions, hospitals, offices and industries. It is also the hub of industrial and commercial activity in the district, and a fertile agricultural area that produces cotton and rice. The minerals ilmenite and monazite are mined there. The land is surrounded by hills and lush green paddy fields. It is also known for different varieties of bananas. Nagercoil is a land of great traditional and cultural significance.