town, southern Tamil Nadu (Tamil Nādu) state, southeastern India. It lies across the Tambraparni River, slightly downstream from the city of Tirunelveli, with which it is now merged administratively. Palayankottai is a residential and educational centre in the Tirunelveli urban agglomeration. It is a major centre of Christian missions in southern India and has private Christian schools and Christian and other colleges affiliated with Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli. Cotton and palmyra are the chief commercial agricultural products grown in the surrounding region.