Thovalai

Thovalai is a small village located in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India. The area is well known in India for its production of flowers, especially Jasmine.Up to 1957, Thovalai Taluk wherein Thovalai is situated formed part of the Travancore Kingdom and subsequently the Travancore-Cochin State. It was when the States were divided on linguistic basis that Thovalai, Kalkulam, Vilavancode, and Agastheeswaram Taluks of erstwhile Thiruvananthapuram District of the then Travancore- Cochin State were included in the then Madras State (later renamed as Tamil Nadu) as Kanyakumari District.
Flower Industry
Thovalai and the area surrounding it is involved in the fresh flower industry, growing flowers for sale to other areas of India as well as for export.
The variety of white Jasmine flower (called locally 'Pichchi Vellai' or 'Pichchip poo') is a rarity with a unique scent. It is somewhat similar to 'Jaathi Malligai' which is grown elsewhere.
The...