🏡 Basic Details
- Village & Panchayat: Sethavarai serves as both a village and its own Gram Panchayat within Gingee Block, Gingee Taluk
- Village Code & Area: Village code 632435, spread over approximately 283.0 hectares (~2.83 km²)
- Postal Info: PIN 604152, with its main office in nearby Gingee.
- Location: About 35 km north of Viluppuram and approximately 30 km from Gingee town
- Legislative Constituencies: Falls under Gingee Assembly and Arani Lok Sabha constituencies
👥 Population & Demographics (2011 Census)
- Population: 1,303 residents (630 males and 673 females), housed in around 277 households .
- Sex Ratio: A high 1,068 F per 1,000 M—well above the Tamil Nadu average
- Children (0–6 yrs): 145 (75 boys, 70 girls)—Child Sex Ratio: ~933 (slightly below state average).
📚 Literacy & Workforce
- Literacy Rate: Approximately 75.6%, with male literacy near 84.7% and female literacy at 67.3%
- Workforce: Of a working population of ~923—about 51% were main workers (year-round), while 49% were marginal or seasonal workers. Among main workers, 340 are cultivators and 42 engage in agricultural labor.
🗿 Cultural & Geographic Highlights
- Rock Art Heritage: Sethavarai is world-renowned for its 3,000-year-old rock paintings, located atop a small hill called Ayyanarmalai. The art includes vivid depictions of deer, fish, buffalo (in x-ray style), human handprints, and scenes of meat roasting—all executed in red ochre with considerable detail.
- The site is recognized for its archaeological importance and ties to ancient tribal artistry.
🚍 Connectivity & Local Context
- Transport: Public and private buses service the village directly, and a railway station is accessible within 20 km or more.
- Nearby Villages: Adjacent settlements include Madappundi, Kanjur, Nagalampattu, Nallampillaipetral, Uliyampattu, Tadagam, Pothuvoy, Palavalam, Malarasankuppam, Malavantangal, and Gangavaram.
- Economic Life: Predominantly agrarian, supported by cultivation and seasonal labor, as reflected in workforce data.
✅ Summary
Sethavarai stands out as a small yet culturally significant village (~1,300 residents, ~277 households) in Gingee Taluk. Highlights include:
- Exceptionally high sex ratio (~1,068) and a healthy literacy rate (~75%)
- Nearly equal split in livelihoods—reflecting a structured yet seasonal rural economy
- A unique archaeological identity due to its prehistoric rock art on Ayyanarmalai hill
- Strong links to nearby villages and towns via local roadways and bus routes