Historic town of Kayalpatnam is situated in Tuticorin District. It lies in the southeast part of Indian peninsula, on the shore off the Bay of Bengal.
A Muslim dominant town, Kayalpatnam is situated about 644 km from Chennai and about 161 km from Thiruvananthapuram and Madurai. Situated near the Tamiraparani River, the town was the chief port of Mabar.
Kayalpatnam was also an important trade center even before the arrival of Islam. Five thousand years ago, it was the capital of second Tamil Sangam, called Kapadapuram. The northern part of Kayal is called Palaiya Kayal and Punna Kayal. The town has a number of mosques. Prominent among them are
Kadal Karai Palli (the first mosque of the town),
Kutba Periya Palli, Karup-Udaiyar Palli, Kattu Mogudoom Palli, Kutba Sirupalli, Mogudoom Palli of Mogudoom street and Yusuf Appa Palli.
The nearest airport is at Tuticorin (33 km). Kayalpattinam Railway Station connects nearby towns. Tuticorin, Tiruchendur and Tirunelveli are the nearest major towns that are well connected to Kayalpatnam. Luxury buses to Chennai leave after 16:00 hrs daily. The highway connecting Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari passes through Kayalpatnam.
