Thoothukudi District, also known as
Tuticorin District is a district in
Tamil Nadu state in southern
India. The district was formed by dividing
Tirunelveli district in 1986 and
Thoothukudi is the district headquarters. The district is known for pearl cultivation, with an abundance of
pearls being found in the seas offshore. It was formerly ruled by one of the oldest kingdoms in India, the
Pandyan Dynasty with the port of
Korkai through which trade with
Rome happened. The archaeological site at
Adichanallur holds the remains of the ancient Tamil civilization. As of 2011, the district had a population of 1,750,176 with a sex-ratio of 1,023 females for every 1,000 males.