Tirunelveli (; ), also known as Nellai and historically (during British rule) as Tinnevelly, is a city in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of the Tirunelveli District. It is the sixth largest municipal corporation in the state (after Chennai,Coimbatore, Madurai,  Tiruchirappalli, Salem). Tirunelveli is located southwest of the state capital, Chennai and away from Thoothukudi.