875:
56:
40:
506:
125:
63:
1169:
Our Lady of Health Higher
Secondary School, Our Lady of Health Middle School, Our Lady of Health Elementary School, Infant Jesus Primary School (English Medium) and Christ the King High School Special School for Handicapped and Deaf & Dumb Children are five schools situated in Velankanni town.
409:
indicated
Velankanni had a population of 10,145. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Citizens there have an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 68%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 64%. 12% of the population is under six years of age.
496:
The shrine's compound, nearby villages, hundreds of shops, homes and pilgrims were washed away into the sea. About 600 pilgrims died. Rescue teams extricated more than 400 bodies from the sand and rocks in the vicinity and large number of unidentified bodies were buried in mass graves.
915:
Annually, 20 million pilgrims flock to the shrine from all over India and abroad, out of which an estimated 3 million people visit the shrine during its annual festival from 29 August to 8 September. The 11-day annual festival concludes with the celebration of the
1494:
1522:
1339:
Plamoottil, Dr. Mathews. Puntius sanctus, a new fish (cypriniformes: cyprinidae) species from Tamil Nadu, India. Bioscience
Research 2020 17(1) P560-567
1590:
1570:
394:
904:
style, was modified by
Portuguese and then further expanded later on due to the influx of pilgrims. The church building was raised to the status of
87:
1229:
353:
Once a port that traded with Rome and Greece, the tiny commercial center gradually lost its importance to the larger city of
Nagapattinam. The
1438:
1410:
1378:
1106:
1082:
line. The foundation stone of the line was laid in 1999 and it was completed in 2010 at a cost of Rs. 48 crores. The line is part of the
1466:
39:
469:
493:. The rising water level did not enter the shrine, but the receding waters swept away hundreds of pilgrims who were on the beach.
1005:
932:(ECR) that runs from Chennai to Kanyakumari, connects the town to the rest of the country. The nearest operational airports are
949:
933:
564:
323:
55:
1575:
1565:
1184:
953:
882:
874:
387:
1585:
1204:
1083:
897:
937:
528:
479:
370:
1580:
1114:
1067:
272:
145:
1352:
1230:"Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)"
1233:
1179:
893:
1388:
490:
365:, runs south of the town and discharges into the sea. The town was among the worst hit by the
1087:
917:
557:
319:
150:
1117:. Apart from the express trains, two passenger trains are also operated daily, one each to
406:
244:
8:
901:
252:
1499:
1471:
1142:
1110:
1315:"How To Reach Velankanni | Route Map | Nagapattinam | Vailankanni.info"
1495:"Velankanni festival: Southern Railway to run special trains from Chennai, Nagercoil"
1040:
989:
900:
of the East". Its origins can be traced back to the 16th century. It is built in the
889:
1286:
1314:
522:
331:
1258:
1091:
1024:
929:
909:
886:
854:
380:
286:
928:
Vailankanni is well connected by road and rail to the rest of the country. The
315:
228:
1559:
1328:
1071:
1009:
769:
543:
530:
362:
335:
102:
89:
1134:
1122:
1075:
1056:
1044:
973:
518:
433:
377:
343:
482:. The tsunami struck at around 9.30 am on that Sunday, when pilgrims from
1154:
1102:
1079:
1048:
1032:
997:
993:
858:
1263:
1161:
during the months of August and
September for the annual church feast.
1020:
1001:
965:
561:
358:
347:
327:
138:
505:
1443:
1415:
1383:
1158:
1150:
1138:
1036:
1028:
1013:
985:
981:
969:
957:
487:
240:
235:
1550:
1291:
1118:
1052:
905:
474:
Velankanni town was among the worst hit by the massive 26 December
423:
1126:
1098:
977:
961:
514:
475:
393:
Velankanni has been chosen as one of the heritage cities for the
383:
366:
339:
1146:
1130:
1097:
As of 2023, there are no daily regular trains operated between
483:
948:
Due to the large number of pilgrims that visit this town, the
861:
fish found exclusively on a small body of water at
Velankanni
513:
Vailankanni is located 350 kilometres (220 mi) south of
443:
354:
956:(SETC) and several private bus operators ply to cities like
361:
still lies to the west. The
Vellayar, a minor branch of the
1205:"Velankanni Beach – Famous for Its Pristine Locations"
869:
44:
Entrance to the
Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
395:Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana
18:Special Grade Town Panchayat in Tamil Nadu, India
1557:
1327:"CLIMATE: VELANKANNI", Climate-Data.org. Web:
1321:
1125:. Special trains are operated from places like
509:St Sebastian Church at the entrance of the city
1515:
1232:. Census Commission of India. Archived from
397:(HRIDAY) scheme of the Government of India.
376:The town is home to one of the most visited
1439:"Nagapattinam–Velankanni BG line completed"
1379:"Velankanni festival ends with feast mass"
1353:"Hindus join in India's Marian pilgrimage"
1591:Cities and towns in Nagapattinam district
1523:"Details About Vailankanni Church Campus"
517:and 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) south of
1571:2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
936:, 165 kilometres (103 mi) away and
873:
579:Climate data for Velankanni, Tamil Nadu
504:
470:2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
1107:Vasco da Gama–Velankanni Weekly Express
1006:Kerala State Road Transport Corporation
173:Velankanni Special Grade Town Panchayat
1558:
950:Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation
864:
1487:
1347:
1345:
1259:"Velankanni: Death in the churchyard"
1253:
1251:
1023:division operates intercity buses to
940:, 300 kilometres (190 mi) away.
934:Tiruchirappalli International Airport
486:were inside the church attending the
1459:
1431:
1403:
1185:Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
954:State Express Transport Corporation
883:Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
878:Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
870:Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
388:Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
13:
1387:. 9 September 2007. Archived from
1371:
1342:
1287:"Tsunami sufferers question faith"
1279:
1248:
62:
14:
1602:
1544:
923:
186:5.5 km (2.1 sq mi)
1084:Tiruchirappalli railway division
896:, it is popularly known as the "
123:
61:
54:
38:
885:, one of the country's biggest
463:
400:
1333:
1307:
1222:
1197:
1113:and Velankanni is operated by
346:, and 33 km southeast of
342:(Madras), 12 km south of
1:
1467:"A new weekly train to Vasco"
1411:"Special buses to Velankanni"
1190:
938:Chennai International Airport
918:Feast of the Nativity of Mary
357:built to link this town with
1164:
1008:runs a daily bus service to
892:is located here. Devoted to
500:
480:2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
416:Religion in Velankanni town
371:2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
316:Special Grade Panchayat Town
165:Special Grade Town Panchayat
32:Special Grade Town Panchayat
7:
1173:
698:Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
628:Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
215:1,800/km (4,800/sq mi)
10:
1607:
1576:Shrines to the Virgin Mary
1566:Christianity in Tamil Nadu
1115:South Western Railway zone
1068:Velankanni railway station
841:
578:
570:
478:that was triggered by the
467:
458:
1586:Catholic pilgrimage sites
1551:Shrine's official website
1074:on the 10-kilometre-long
1039:, Tiruvarur, Kumbakonam,
842:Source: Climate-Data.org
767:
697:
627:
622:
619:
616:
613:
610:
607:
604:
601:
598:
595:
592:
589:
586:
583:
281:
271:
263:
251:
234:
224:
219:
211:
203:
198:
190:
182:
177:
169:
161:
156:
144:
134:
118:
83:
49:
37:
30:
23:
1527:www.velankannichurch.com
1180:Catholic Church in India
849:
1209:www.discoveredindia.com
1062:
943:
894:Our Lady of Good Health
338:, 350 km south of
103:10.681900°N 79.843700°E
75:Vailankanni, Tamil Nadu
879:
510:
194:29 m (95 ft)
1088:Southern Railway zone
877:
857:is a rare species of
558:Nagapattinam district
508:
320:Nagapattinam district
225: • Official
273:Vehicle registration
212: • Density
108:10.681900; 79.843700
1391:on 20 December 2007
1357:Catholic World News
865:Tourist Attractions
540: /
452: Other (0.67%)
99: /
1581:Marian apparitions
1500:The Times of India
1472:The Times of India
1447:. 28 February 2010
1359:. 3 September 2007
1267:. 28 December 2004
1111:Vasco da Gama, Goa
890:pilgrimage centres
880:
511:
407:2001 Indian census
204: • Total
183: • Total
1059:from Velankanni.
1041:Thiruthuraipoondi
846:
845:
330:. It lies on the
305:
304:
170: • Body
162: • Type
1598:
1538:
1537:
1535:
1533:
1519:
1513:
1512:
1510:
1508:
1503:. 12 August 2015
1491:
1485:
1484:
1482:
1480:
1475:. 28 August 2011
1463:
1457:
1456:
1454:
1452:
1435:
1429:
1428:
1426:
1424:
1419:. 20 August 2010
1407:
1401:
1400:
1398:
1396:
1375:
1369:
1368:
1366:
1364:
1349:
1340:
1337:
1331:
1325:
1319:
1318:
1311:
1305:
1304:
1302:
1300:
1283:
1277:
1276:
1274:
1272:
1255:
1246:
1245:
1243:
1241:
1226:
1220:
1219:
1217:
1215:
1201:
1072:terminal station
920:on 8 September.
576:
575:
555:
554:
552:
551:
550:
545:
541:
538:
537:
536:
533:
523:Coromandel Coast
451:
441:
431:
421:
332:Coromandel Coast
301:
298:
296:
294:
292:
290:
288:
129:
127:
126:
114:
113:
111:
110:
109:
104:
100:
97:
96:
95:
92:
65:
64:
58:
42:
21:
20:
1606:
1605:
1601:
1600:
1599:
1597:
1596:
1595:
1556:
1555:
1547:
1542:
1541:
1531:
1529:
1521:
1520:
1516:
1506:
1504:
1493:
1492:
1488:
1478:
1476:
1465:
1464:
1460:
1450:
1448:
1437:
1436:
1432:
1422:
1420:
1409:
1408:
1404:
1394:
1392:
1377:
1376:
1372:
1362:
1360:
1351:
1350:
1343:
1338:
1334:
1326:
1322:
1313:
1312:
1308:
1298:
1296:
1295:. 27 March 2005
1285:
1284:
1280:
1270:
1268:
1257:
1256:
1249:
1239:
1237:
1236:on 16 June 2004
1228:
1227:
1223:
1213:
1211:
1203:
1202:
1198:
1193:
1176:
1167:
1092:Indian Railways
1065:
1025:Tiruchirappalli
946:
930:East Coast Road
926:
910:Pope John XXIII
872:
867:
855:Puntius sanctus
852:
847:
836:
831:
826:
821:
816:
811:
806:
801:
796:
791:
786:
781:
776:
762:
757:
752:
747:
742:
737:
732:
727:
722:
717:
712:
707:
702:
692:
687:
682:
677:
672:
667:
662:
657:
652:
647:
642:
637:
632:
573:
548:
546:
544:10.40°N 79.49°E
542:
539:
534:
531:
529:
527:
526:
503:
472:
466:
461:
456:
455:
454:
453:
449:
447:
439:
437:
429:
427:
419:
403:
285:
259:
124:
122:
107:
105:
101:
98:
93:
90:
88:
86:
85:
79:
78:
77:
76:
73:
72:
71:
70:
66:
45:
33:
26:
19:
12:
11:
5:
1604:
1594:
1593:
1588:
1583:
1578:
1573:
1568:
1554:
1553:
1546:
1545:External links
1543:
1540:
1539:
1514:
1486:
1458:
1430:
1402:
1370:
1341:
1332:
1320:
1306:
1278:
1247:
1221:
1195:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1188:
1187:
1182:
1175:
1172:
1166:
1163:
1064:
1061:
945:
942:
925:
924:Transportation
922:
871:
868:
866:
863:
851:
848:
844:
843:
839:
838:
833:
828:
823:
818:
813:
808:
803:
798:
793:
788:
783:
778:
773:
765:
764:
759:
754:
749:
744:
739:
734:
729:
724:
719:
714:
709:
704:
699:
695:
694:
689:
684:
679:
674:
669:
664:
659:
654:
649:
644:
639:
634:
629:
625:
624:
621:
618:
615:
612:
609:
606:
603:
600:
597:
594:
591:
588:
585:
581:
580:
574:
572:
569:
502:
499:
465:
462:
460:
457:
448:
438:
428:
418:
414:
413:
412:
402:
399:
369:caused by the
303:
302:
283:
279:
278:
275:
269:
268:
265:
264:Telephone code
261:
260:
257:
255:
249:
248:
238:
232:
231:
226:
222:
221:
217:
216:
213:
209:
208:
205:
201:
200:
196:
195:
192:
188:
187:
184:
180:
179:
175:
174:
171:
167:
166:
163:
159:
158:
154:
153:
148:
142:
141:
136:
132:
131:
120:
116:
115:
81:
80:
74:
68:
67:
60:
59:
53:
52:
51:
50:
47:
46:
43:
35:
34:
31:
28:
27:
24:
17:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1603:
1592:
1589:
1587:
1584:
1582:
1579:
1577:
1574:
1572:
1569:
1567:
1564:
1563:
1561:
1552:
1549:
1548:
1528:
1524:
1518:
1502:
1501:
1496:
1490:
1474:
1473:
1468:
1462:
1446:
1445:
1440:
1434:
1418:
1417:
1412:
1406:
1390:
1386:
1385:
1380:
1374:
1358:
1354:
1348:
1346:
1336:
1329:
1324:
1316:
1310:
1294:
1293:
1288:
1282:
1266:
1265:
1260:
1254:
1252:
1235:
1231:
1225:
1210:
1206:
1200:
1196:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1177:
1171:
1162:
1160:
1156:
1152:
1148:
1144:
1143:Vasco da Gama
1140:
1136:
1132:
1128:
1124:
1120:
1116:
1112:
1108:
1104:
1100:
1095:
1093:
1089:
1085:
1081:
1077:
1073:
1069:
1060:
1058:
1054:
1050:
1046:
1042:
1038:
1034:
1030:
1026:
1022:
1017:
1015:
1011:
1010:Changanassery
1007:
1003:
999:
995:
991:
987:
983:
979:
975:
971:
967:
963:
959:
955:
951:
941:
939:
935:
931:
921:
919:
913:
911:
907:
903:
899:
895:
891:
888:
884:
876:
862:
860:
856:
840:
834:
829:
824:
819:
814:
809:
804:
799:
794:
789:
784:
779:
774:
771:
770:precipitation
766:
760:
755:
750:
745:
740:
735:
730:
725:
720:
715:
710:
705:
700:
696:
690:
685:
680:
675:
670:
665:
660:
655:
650:
645:
640:
635:
630:
626:
582:
577:
568:
566:
563:
559:
553:
524:
520:
516:
507:
498:
494:
492:
489:
485:
481:
477:
471:
445:
435:
425:
417:
411:
408:
398:
396:
391:
389:
385:
382:
379:
374:
372:
368:
364:
363:Cauvery River
360:
356:
351:
349:
345:
341:
337:
336:Bay of Bengal
333:
329:
325:
321:
317:
313:
309:
300:
289:.nagapattinam
284:
280:
276:
274:
270:
266:
262:
256:
254:
250:
246:
242:
239:
237:
233:
230:
227:
223:
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
197:
193:
189:
185:
181:
176:
172:
168:
164:
160:
155:
152:
149:
147:
143:
140:
137:
133:
121:
117:
112:
84:Coordinates:
82:
57:
48:
41:
36:
29:
22:
16:
1530:. Retrieved
1526:
1517:
1505:. Retrieved
1498:
1489:
1477:. Retrieved
1470:
1461:
1449:. Retrieved
1442:
1433:
1421:. Retrieved
1414:
1405:
1393:. Retrieved
1389:the original
1382:
1373:
1361:. Retrieved
1356:
1335:
1323:
1309:
1297:. Retrieved
1290:
1281:
1269:. Retrieved
1262:
1238:. Retrieved
1234:the original
1224:
1212:. Retrieved
1208:
1199:
1168:
1135:Secunderabad
1123:Nagapattinam
1096:
1078:–Velankanni
1076:Nagapattinam
1066:
1057:Nagapattinam
1045:Pattukkottai
1018:
974:Muvattupuzha
947:
927:
914:
881:
853:
772:mm (inches)
549:10.40; 79.49
519:Nagapattinam
512:
495:
473:
464:2004 Tsunami
434:Christianity
415:
404:
401:Demographics
392:
375:
352:
344:Nagapattinam
324:Indian state
311:
307:
306:
151:Nagapattinam
15:
1532:17 February
1155:Tirunelveli
1103:Vailankanni
1080:broad-gauge
1049:Pondicherry
1033:Pudukkottai
998:Tirunelveli
994:Thoothukudi
908:in 1962 by
547: /
386:called the
106: /
1560:Categories
1264:Rediff.com
1240:1 November
1214:20 January
1191:References
1021:Kumbakonam
1019:The TNSTC–
1002:Trivandrum
966:Coimbatore
562:Tamil Nadu
468:See also:
359:Vedaranyam
348:Thiruvarur
328:Tamil Nadu
312:Vēḷāṅkaṇṇi
308:Velankanni
199:Population
157:Government
139:Tamil Nadu
94:79°50′37″E
91:10°40′55″N
69:Velankanni
25:Velankanni
1507:28 August
1479:22 August
1451:21 August
1444:The Hindu
1423:21 August
1416:The Hindu
1395:21 August
1384:The Hindu
1363:21 August
1299:21 August
1271:21 August
1165:Education
1159:Nagercoil
1151:Ernakulam
1139:Bangalore
1037:Karaikudi
1029:Thanjavur
1014:Cherthala
986:Nagercoil
982:Sengottai
970:Ernakulam
958:Bengaluru
952:(TNSTC),
501:Geography
488:Malayalam
236:Time zone
220:Languages
191:Elevation
1292:BBC News
1174:See also
1119:Karaikal
1109:between
1053:Karaikal
906:basilica
887:Catholic
768:Average
436:(31.18%)
426:(61.86%)
424:Hinduism
381:Catholic
314:), is a
241:UTC+5:30
146:District
1127:Chennai
1099:Chennai
1090:of the
978:Madurai
962:Chennai
898:Lourdes
837:(52.5)
832:(11.5)
827:(15.7)
763:(76.3)
758:(72.3)
753:(74.1)
748:(76.3)
743:(77.5)
738:(77.4)
733:(79.3)
728:(79.3)
723:(80.2)
718:(79.2)
713:(75.7)
708:(73.0)
703:(71.4)
693:(90.1)
688:(82.4)
683:(84.7)
678:(88.9)
673:(92.7)
668:(93.4)
663:(95.2)
658:(97.2)
653:(96.3)
648:(92.8)
643:(89.2)
638:(85.1)
633:(83.3)
571:Climate
535:79°29′E
532:10°24′N
521:on the
515:Chennai
476:tsunami
459:History
446:(6.30%)
384:shrines
367:tsunami
340:Chennai
334:of the
322:in the
297:/church
282:Website
119:Country
1147:Kollam
1131:Mumbai
1105:. The
1004:. The
902:Gothic
822:(9.3)
817:(3.3)
812:(3.0)
807:(2.4)
802:(1.4)
797:(1.5)
792:(1.3)
787:(0.6)
782:(0.4)
777:(2.1)
584:Month
484:Kerala
450:
442:
440:
432:
430:
422:
420:
258:611111
207:10,144
128:
1070:is a
990:Salem
850:Fauna
835:1,331
623:Year
565:state
525:, at
444:Islam
378:Latin
355:canal
299:.html
277:TN-51
267:04365
229:Tamil
135:State
130:India
1534:2014
1509:2015
1481:2014
1453:2014
1425:2014
1397:2014
1365:2014
1301:2014
1273:2014
1242:2008
1216:2016
1157:and
1121:and
1101:and
1063:Rail
1055:and
1012:and
1000:and
944:Road
859:barb
761:24.6
756:22.4
751:23.4
746:24.6
741:25.3
736:25.2
731:26.3
726:26.3
721:26.8
716:26.2
711:24.3
706:22.8
701:21.9
691:32.3
686:28.0
681:29.3
676:31.6
671:33.7
666:34.1
661:35.1
656:36.2
651:35.7
646:33.8
641:31.8
636:29.5
631:28.5
620:Dec
617:Nov
614:Oct
611:Sep
608:Aug
605:Jul
602:Jun
599:May
596:Apr
593:Mar
590:Feb
587:Jan
491:Mass
405:The
293:.nic
178:Area
1086:of
830:291
825:400
820:236
560:of
556:in
326:of
318:in
295:.in
291:.tn
287:www
253:PIN
245:IST
1562::
1525:.
1497:.
1469:.
1441:.
1413:.
1381:.
1355:.
1344:^
1289:.
1261:.
1250:^
1207:.
1153:,
1149:,
1145:,
1141:,
1137:,
1133:,
1129:,
1094:.
1051:,
1047:,
1043:,
1035:,
1031:,
1027:,
1016:.
996:,
992:,
988:,
984:,
980:,
976:,
972:,
968:,
964:,
960:,
912:.
815:83
810:75
805:61
800:35
795:37
790:34
785:14
780:11
775:54
567:.
390:.
373:.
350:.
1536:.
1511:.
1483:.
1455:.
1427:.
1399:.
1367:.
1330:.
1317:.
1303:.
1275:.
1244:.
1218:.
310:(
247:)
243:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
