Indiacensus, Udangudi had a population of 19,738. Males constitute 49.92% of the population and females 50.07%. Udangudi has an average literacy rate of 93.18 %, very much higher than the state average of 80.09%: male literacy is 95.08%, and female literacy is 91.30%. Udangudi in British rule had railway line connected to Tiruchendur. This railway line was laid primarily to take advantage of collecting the Palm Juice extraction going around Udangudi and British established a Jaggery Factory near Kulasekaran pattinam for export market. Unfortunately, the factory became non-operational which resulted in non-usage of this railway line. The town is an example of peaceful co-existence with population of Muslims, Christians and Hindus distributed in equal proportions and the entire people live in harmony. T.D.T.A.Higher Secondary School is the oldest school for boys, Mary Ann Best Higher SecondarySchool for girls from which most people got educated and One more School Sri. Ramakrishna Chidhambareshwarer. Hr.Sec.School is also there and there is most famous schools are there like St. Antony's RC Middle School, Saiva Prakasa Vidyasalai School, Anitha Kumaran Matric. Higher Secondary School. Najath School and Salma School etc.
Centre for Karuppatti
Years back Udangudi and its suburbs had a lot of Palmyrah groves, where the main occupation was to extract Palm Juice and prepare Karuppukatti or KarpagaKatti. More than a century back this centre was the place which catered to the Palm Jaggery requirements to the demands of South India and also Palm Jaggery requirements to several other countries where it was exported.
Reason for the Name 'Udangudi'
The name Udangudi might have been derived from two Tamil words. "Udai" means the thorny firewood tree which is abundant in that area. "Kudi" refers to a village or a human settlement. The two words when joined together its pronounced as "Udangudi". Some people told this is the village having equal number of Hindu, Christian and Muslims. They lived here with a close relationship. So it named as 'Udangudi'.
Temples
There are several temples for "Satharakonvillai Sri Utchinimaakaali Amman Kovil", Mutharamman, Suadali Madan'. Satharakonvillai is near Mary Ann Best Higher secondary school for girls. 'Santhaiyadioor Ayya Vaigundar' temple, Santhaiyadioor Mutharamman Koil and Ayyanar temples around Udangudi. Some of the famous Ayyanar temples are ThuthuVaalai Ayyanar, Alli Oothu Kal Aal Ayyanar, Pon vandu Ayyanar, Arunjunai Katha ayyanar, Vennimalai aiyyan sastha koil located around Udangudi, Iyndhu veetu swami Temple at Chettiyapathu located 3 km from Udangudi. And one of the famous temple is Mutharamman Temple. Santhaiyadiyoor is the main place in Udangudi. Weekly market is very famous in that place. Vaithilingapuram utichinimaakali amman, pattarai ammam temple one of the famous temple in Udangudi. Vaithilingapuram gold workers is very famous place in udangudi
Dasara
The city celebrates the famous festival called "THE GRAND DASARA" every year in the month of September / October, it is celebrated over 10 days. Devotees wore many fancy dresses to worship Kulasai Shri Mutharamman. It is very famous next to Mysore Dasara. Dasara, a South Indian term for Vijayadashami, derived from the Sanskrit Dasha-hara which means "remover of bad fate", is among the most important festivals celebrated in India. Other regional spellings include Dashera, Dussera and Dussehra in North India.
Churches
There are many Churches for Protestant and Catholic in the small town - some Churches have a history of 150 years. There is a famous church called St. Mark's Church which was established by Rev. Christian Samuel Kohlhoff. St.Mark's Church is famous for 'ASANAM' which is conducted every year in the month of January. St.Mark's Church - Website & , Yesuvin Thirunama Aalayam, St.Luke's Church, St. Andrew's Church, St.Joseph's Church, Bharathar street & St. Antony's Church Bharathar Street both are built by British.
BHEL signs MoU with TNEB for Udangudi power project
2x660 MW, Stage-I LOA issued to M/s BHEL for Design, Engineering, Manufacture, Supply, erection, testing and commissioning of complete 2x660MW coal based Supercritical thermal power project, Udangudi Stage I, on Engineering, Procurement and Construction basis for a value of Rs.7359 crores on 7.12.17. The required land has been handed over to the contractor on 15.12.2017. Work of Establishment of Captive Coal Jetty has been awarded to M/s. ITD Cementation India Limited on 13.2.18 and required land has been handed over to the contractor on 20.2.2018
