| Settlement Type: | District of Tamil Nadu |
| Coordinates: | 9.9330° N, 77.4702° E |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Tamil Nadu |
| Subdivision Name2: | Pandya Nadu |
| Subdivision Type3: | Metro |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | 7 July 1997[1] |
| Seat Type: | Headquarters |
| Seat: | Theni |
| Parts Type: | Talukas |
| Parts: | Andipatti, Bodinayakanur, Periyakulam, Theni, Uthamapalayam[2] |
| Leader Title1: | District Collector |
| Leader Name1: | RV Shajeevana Indian Administrative Service took charge on 05.02.2023 IAS[3] [4] |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 2868 |
| Area Rank: | 3007 |
| Population Footnotes: | [5] |
| Population Total: | 1,245,899 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Metro: | 591841 |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Tamil |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code Type: | PIN |
| Postal Code: | 625531 |
| Area Code Type: | Telephone code |
| Area Code: | 04546 |
| Registration Plate: | TN-60 (Theni), TN-60Z (Uttamapalayam) |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | Coastline |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | 0km (00miles) |
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | Largest city |
| Blank2 Info Sec1: | Theni |
| Blank3 Name Sec1: | Sex ratio |
| Blank3 Info Sec1: | M-50.5%/F-49.5% ♂/♀ |
| Blank4 Name Sec1: | Literacy |
| Blank4 Info Sec1: | 71.58% |
| Blank5 Name Sec1: | Legislature type |
| Blank5 Info Sec1: | elected |
| Blank6 Name Sec1: | Legislature Strength |
| Blank6 Info Sec1: | 5 |
| Blank7 Name Sec1: | IUCN category |
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Precipitation |
| Blank1 Info Sec2: | 833.5mm |
| Blank2 Name Sec2: | Avg. summer temperature |
| Blank2 Info Sec2: | 40.5°C |
| Blank3 Name Sec2: | Avg. winter temperature |
| Blank3 Info Sec2: | 15°C |
| Website: | |
Theni District is one of the 38 districts of Tamil Nadu state in India. Well protected by the scenic hill locks, the district is located besides Madurai district. The town of Theni is the district headquarters. The district is divided into two natural divisions: The hilly areas are constituted by parts of the five taluk's Theni, Bodinayakanur, Periyakulam, Uthamapalayam and Andipatti with thick vegetation and perennial streams from the hills on the western side and Cumbum valley which lies in Uthamapalayam taluk.[6] As of 2011, Theni district had a population of 1,245,899 with a sex ratio of 980 females for every 1,000 males.
Theni District was formed by the bifurcation from the former Madurai District as per G.O. Ms. No. 679 Revenue Department dated 7 July 1996. Consequent to the bifurcation, one new Revenue Division with headquarters at Uthamapalayam and two new Taluks at Theni and Bodinayakanur were also created with effect from 1 January 1997. Theni Municipal town was only a firka headquarters until 31 December 1996. Consequent to the formation of the new District, Theni Municipal Town was upgraded as the Taluk and District headquarters on 1 January 1997.[7]
The region covered by present-day Theni District was sparsely populated before the 1900s. In 1886 Mullaperiyar dam project bought some part of the water from Periyar River downhill to the Cumbum Valley and merged it into the Mullayar River. This project helped more people to settle down in Cumbum Valley. Also to be noted that Theni was itself was a small though lesser-known town by the 1900s. After the Mullai-Periyar merger project, many people from nearby arid regions (Sivakasi, Kovilpatti, Virudhunagar, Sattur and several nearby towns) settled in Cumbum Valley (present day Theni District). So there was influx of people by the 1890s to 1920s. Bodi and Periyakulam were famous places at that time. Later Theni developed rapidly due to commerce.
The 2889km2 district lies at the foot of the Western Ghats between 9' 39' and 10' 30' North latitude and between 77' 00' and 78' 30' of East Longitude. Central location: 10.0667°N 122°W. The district is bounded by Dindigul District to the north, Madurai District to the east, Virudhunagar District to the southwest, and Idukki district of the Kerala State to the west. The district is home to Theni, Periyakulam, Bodinayakanur, Cumbum, Uthamapalayam, Kombai, Gudalur, Gandamanur, Chinnamanur, Kuchanur, Andipatti, Rasingapuram, Thevaram, Pottipuram, Ramakrishnapuram, B. Ammapatti, Lakshmipuram, Ambasamudram, Govindanagaram, Mayladumparai, Srirengapuram, Venkadachalapuram, K. Pudupatti, Devadhanapatti, Varusanadu, Odaipatti, Erasakkanayackanur and several other small villages like Gohilapuram, Pathirakalipuram, Sukkangalpatti, Kamarajapuram, Sadaiyalpatti, Meenatchipuram, Melasindalaichery, Hanumanthanpatty, Pallavarayan Patti, Genguvarpatti, Jeyamangalam, Thamaraikulam, Kallipatti, Devathanapatti and Kamatchipuram.
It is diversified by several ranges and hills. Many villages likes Sangakonampatti are depends only on agricultural incomes. A range of hills which runs parallel to Western Ghats from north to south separate it from the neighboring state of Kerala.[8]
In the plains, the temperatures range from a minimum of 15C to a maximum of . In the hills the temperatures can range from as low as 4- to . The district is known for its salubrious climate, hills and lakes.
The Vaigai River, Kottagudi River, Varaganathi River, Shanmuganathi River and Manjalar River flow through the district. The main reservoirs in the district are Lower Periyar Dam, Vaigai Dam, Shanmuganathi Dam and Sothuparai Dam.[9]
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The economy of Theni district is mostly agricultural. Utilisation of land area for cultivation in the district is 40.33%.[6] The principal crop production (in tonnes) in 2005-2006 were sugarcane 1,201,221, cotton 95,360 (561 bales of 170. kg lint each), rice (paddy) 66,093, millets and other cereals 57,081, pulses 6,677, groundnut 4,021 and gingelly 325.[10] Silk, Banana, Coconut, Tea, Coffee, Cardamom, Grapes and Mangoes are other main produce of the district.[11] even though this place is economically good. Kolukkumalai located in Theni district atop the Western ghats is the home to the highest tea plantation in the world.Cumbum Valley is a major centre for grape production with 4,000 small farmers producing over 90,000 tonnes of Muscat grapes, locally known as panneer dhrakshai, and about 10,000 tonnes of Thomson seedless grapes. The unique feature here is that the grapes are harvested throughout the year, while in most grape growing centres elsewhere the season ends with summer.
Cotton Spinning Mills and Sugar Mills are the major industries in this district. In Andipatti Taluk Handloom weaving and power looms are flourishing. In Uthamapalayam Taluk, the Highwavis Estate produces an important amount of Tea. Bodinayakanur is a major market place (Auction Centres) for cardamom, coffee, tea and black pepper. This city is also called "Cardamom City" because of the large quantity of cardamom trade in this area. It has an auction centre for cardamom.[8]
The Periyar and Surliar Hydro Power Stations and the Vaigai Micro Hydro Power Station have 181 MW installed capacity and actual power generation of 494 MW in 1996 in this district.[6] Theni is one of the active business hubs in the western side of Tamil Nadu, inviting more industries to its locality. The district ha 41.09 km of Metre gauge track serving 3 Railway Stations which connect to Madurai[6] now converted to broad gauge.[12] [13] The Teni Junction Railway Station is the most important railway station in the district.
The forest area in Theni district is about 33.70%. There are 27 forest areas in the district, constituting a total area of 795.81km2. Of these, 19 areas fall under the Reserve Forest category with 255.44km2 and 8 areas under Reserve Land category with 540.37km2. Total area of forest under green cover classification was 806.86km2. Dense forest and sparse forest are 292.81km2 and 22.43km2, respectively. There is no unclassed forest type in the district. About 44.65km2 of artificial forest area are cultivated in the district. Wattle, softwood, fuel wood, cashew, neem, and tamarind are the main forest plantation species in the district.[6] The forest area in the district is 1179.29km2, which is 40.98% of the total geographical area of the district.[14] The Meghamalai Wildlife sanctuary, Srivilliputhur elephant reserve, and part of Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary are situated in Theni district.
There has been no conservation of biological resources in the district. The information of wild life census in Theni district is yet to be made available.[6]
According to 2011 census, Theni district had a population of 1,245,899 with a sex-ratio of 991 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929. 53.81% of the population lived in urban areas.[15] A total of 119,661 were under the age of six, constituting 61,873 males and 57,788 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 20.72% and 0.15% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the district was 69.84%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.[15] The district had a total of 338,112 households. There were a total of 591,642 workers, comprising 36,371 cultivators, 275,585 main agricultural labourers, 12,714 in house hold industries, 205,921 other workers, 61,051 marginal workers, 1,996 marginal cultivators, 39,576 marginal agricultural labourers, 2,225 marginal workers in household industries and 17,254 other marginal workers.[16]
At the time of the 2011 census, 79.04% of the population spoke Tamil, 12.75% Telugu and 7.86% Kannada as their first language.[17]
Periyakulam, Theni, Uthamapalayam, Cumbum, and Bodinayakanur are charming towns in the district. Cascades, silver-lined clouds resting atop green hill tops, sheer rock faces and temples of antiquity distinguish these places.[18]
Theni is the orchid of Tamil Nadu. It has numerous green lands like the Western Ghats stretching from Kodaikanal to Kumily via Periyakulam. Theni District has the Western Ghats as its Western Boundary.[25] Theni District has many tourist spots like Kumbakarai Falls, Sothuparai Dam, Vaigai Dam, Manjalaaru Dam, Kurathi Falls, which are originating from the Western Gahats. Theni District is having the other tourist attractive places like Veerapandi Gowmariyamman temple, Surulipatti kailasanaathar temple, Anumanthampatti Hanuman kovil, Periyakulam Balasubramanian Periya kovil.[26]
Some of the Famous Cinema Directors, music directors and Actors hail from Theni District. Many movies were shot here. The titles of some of the famous Movies are: "Pithamagan", "Avan-ivan", "Sundarapandiyan", "Veeralaksumi", "Varuthapadatha Vaalibar Sangam", "Naan kadavul". These Movies were mostly directed by Director Bala.[27]
For people from Theni town itself, see Theni, these are people from the surrounding area