Periyapattinam is a large village located in the eastern part (Gulf of Mannar) of Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu, India. The inhabitants of this village are primarily Tamil Muslim.
This place is one of the historic ports of Eastern (Gulf of Mannar) from 21 km distance of Ramanathapuram where Ibn Battuta, Marco Polo and other famous travellers visited. Battuta mentioned this place as "Fattan" at his book Rihla. The port was called "Parakirama Pattinam" in the 10th century. In the 12th century, it was called "Pavitra Manicka Pattinam". It was also called "Ta Pa Tan" by the famous Chinese traveller Wang Ta-Yuan in the 14th century. Now, it is called Periyapattinam, where thousands of Muslims live. Most Muslims consider themselves to be settler descendants of maritime traders who had business linking the Persian Gulf to the south Indian coast and Southeast Asia.
Periyapattinam is often described as one of the earliest Jewish settlements in southern India. A rare Jewish inscription (c. 1200-1250 AD), originally situated on the Periyapattinam beach, was discovered from Valantharavai in 2022 (Valantaravai inscription).
India census,
Number of Households: 1777
Notable schools
Notable colleges
The food habits practised by the Periyapattinam people have similarities with Sri Lankan Tamil Muslim cuisine and Malay cuisine. For example, foods like vatlappam, Idiyappam are probably from Sri Lanka. Most of the dietary practices of people of Periyapattinam follow that of coastal dwellers i.e. seafood dependence.
Other foods include: Fish Kulambu (Fish Curry), Karuvattu Aanam( Dryfish curry), Thengai Paal Rasam & Paal Puliyaanam (Coconut Milk Rasam), Prawns, and Crab. Vattalappam is a famous dish eaten during Eid and some special occasions. Suttuppenanchaanam is also a traditional famous dish in this village.