Karaikudi is located in Sivagangai district on the Trichy - Rameswaram Highway. Earlier it was a small village in Ramanathapuram District. In 1928 its status changed from Panchayat to Grade III Municipality. The city became well connected by Railways and Roadways in 1930. Karaikudi was upgraded to Grade II Municipality in 1973 and later to Selection Grade Municipality in 1988. The area of Municipality is about 13.75 sq. km comprising the revenue villages of Kalanivasal, Sekkalai kottai, Elappakudi Area, Ariyakudi Area and Senjai.
The Thennar River flows through South Karaikudi. It is 300 km from Coimbatore, 90 km from Trichy, 80 km from Madurai, and 400 km from Chennai, 50 km from Pudukkottai
