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Abstract
A flourishing town, Kottar in Agasteeswaram taluk, is situated on the main road from Trivandrum to Kanyakumari. Kottar, an ancient city is a part of present Nagercoil Corporation in Kanyakumari district, but forms the oldest part. The city had a number of lofty and palatial buildings beautified with multi coloured flags. The place was surrounded by a vast expanse of paddy fields, flower gardens and coconut groves. This part of the town was a flourishing centre of commerce from a very early past. Ptolemy (150.A.D.) mentions ‘Kottiara’ as a metropolis with considerable trade, while Pliny calls the town ‘Kottara’, which is a nearer approximation to its correct present - day designation. The line, "Kottarana Mummudi Cholapuram" in the Nagaraja temple inscription reveals the fact that Kottar, the flourishing city of Nanchilnadu constituted an apple of discord among the Great Triad of Tamilnadu the Cheras, the Cholas and Pandyas. In Kottar there is a very busy market and the town also otherwise famous for its commercial enterprises. Kottar was called ‘Rajendra Cholapuram’ during the time of Rajendra Chola. From time immemorial, the region which now forms Kanyakumari district has been an important trading area. Ptolemy's geography and Pliny's Travel Account clearly indicate that it was one of the most important cities in the beginning of the Christian era. The Kottar Vinayagar Temple at Chettikulam occupies a unique place in the social map of Kottar. Known to the world as a commercial centre, Kottar wielded unflinching influence upon the different socio-economic sections of southern Tamilnadu. In 1544, St. Francis Xavier, the Catholic missionary, selected Kottar for his Evangelical work. The Cathedral of St. Xavier, containing a small chapel of our lady, where Xavier used to celebrate Holy Mass, is situated in the heart of Kottar. In the 18th century, after the advent of Ringletaube, the missionary of the London Missionary Society in this area, the piece took its present name Nagercoil. Kottar is also one of the places of sacred to Muslims. The Mohammadans live mostly in Aripputheru in Kottar. They live scattered in the densely populated area of Edalakudy. Kottar has made tremendous progress in areas like housing, sanitations, drainage, health-care, child-welfare, water supply, transportation etc.