Karaikudi is a Municipality in Sivaganga District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is part of the area commonly referred to as "Chettinad". Karaikudi became popular because the area is famous for houses built with limestonecalled 'karai veedu'. It may also be due to a plant called "Karai" which is widely spread over this area.
Karaikudi is also associated with the "Chettinadu" or "Karaikudi" cuisine although the term "Chettinadu" is widely used nowadays to refer to non-vegetarian delicacies in-spite of actual Chettinadu cuisine being predominantly vegetarian.
Karaikudi assembly constituency is part of Sivaganga (Lok Sabha constituency)
