Thoothukudi District, also known as Tuticorin District is a district in Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The district was formed by dividing Tirunelveli district in 1986 and Thoothukudi is the district headquarters. The district is known for pearl cultivation. There are many pearls in the seas offshore. It was formerly ruled by one of the oldest kingdoms in India, the Pandyan Dynasty with the port of Korkai through which trade with Rome happened. The archaeological site at Adichanallur holds the remains of the ancient Tamil civilisation. As of 2011, the district had a population of 1,750,176 with a sex-ratio of 1,023 females for every 1,000 males.