This
is the district
headquarters. Major industries such as SPIC, Chemical Industries,
Heavy Water Plant and Thermal Plant are located here. It is also
called "Pearl City" in view of the pearl fishing being
conducted periodically. The city is also famous for the
production of salt.
Here is one Sivan Temple called as Sri Sankara Rameswarar Temple and one Sri Vaikundapathy Temple built by the Pandya King Sankara Pandyan.
One famous Church named as " PANIMAYA MATHA" (Lady Snow) is here. It was built by Portugese in 1714.