This quiet village emerges as a destination for Vijay fans and travellers alike

In Tamil Nadu's Tiruvarur district, a quiet, beautiful village is emerging as an interesting destination for both movie fans and travel enthusiasts. Decades ago, there was a family of betel leaf farmers and traders here, in which the 9th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was born, 51 years ago. The family of Joseph Vijay, who rules hearts as an actor and has also won the Assembly Elections this year in flying colours, reportedly hails from the village of Muthupettai. A village known as the haven of migratory birds, narrow waterways, various still water bodies, and, most importantly, mangrove forests, it is a relatively untouched rural hamlet. Vijay's grandfather, Senapathi Pillai, apparently worked here as a railway station master, and his father, SA Chandrasekhar, also studied here before moving to Chennai to pursue acting. 

Where is the ancestral home
The ancestral home is said to be in Kamankottai, near the local Government Higher Secondary School, where Vijay's grandmother was a teacher.  The village is also known as the home of a renowned Mariamman Temple. The tombstone of Vijay's grandfather, Senapathi Pillai, is still here, and it was recently renovated after Vijay's election success. 

The scenic spots
Muthupettai is also a well-known spot to see mangrove forests and trees, and it covers an area of around 120 sq km. Tourists often hire motorboats to reach the Thalaimunai Mangrove Forest here. A serene wooden pathway, on which tourists walk to enjoy the mangroves, is often a popular attraction for shutterbugs as well. The mangrove is also a regular stopover for migratory birds from Europe, Siberia, and even other parts of Asia. 

How to reach Muthupettai
The Muthupettai (Mutupet) railway station code is MTT, and a few trains ply through this route daily. Certain trains to Velankanni also pass through this station. Muthupettai is approximately 381 km from Chennai and takes about 8.5 hours by bus. 
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