Melapalayam is a neighborhood of Tirunelveli City in Tamil Nadu, India situated on the east bank of the Thamirabarani River. The neighborhood's name comes from its location west () of Palayamkottai. Eighty percent of the population is Muslim. Melapalayam is west of downtown Tirunelveli and is an administrative zone of the Tirunelveli City Municipal Corporation. History Melapalayam was known as Keela Veera Ragavapuram during British Rule. The old Tamil name for the region is Mangai Maa Nagar (). Literacy Melapalayam has an average literacy rate of 62.4%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy is 71.6% while female literacy is 28.4%. Education The area of Melapalayam had a poor standard of education until the 21st century. Since then, more schools have been established and educational accessibility has increased. Many welfare trusts have been formed advocating for social awareness of education. The Muslim Higher Secondary School in Melapalayam attained Tamil Nadu state second level rank in the SSLC examination held in April 2011. As a result of campaigning by social organizations, there was a visible increase in literacy; candidates from Melapalayam have acquired seats in IIT, IISc and other prominent universities both in India and abroad. List of Schools Higher secondary schools in the neighborhood are classified as Government Aided Minority Institutions. Part of the student community of Melapalayam travels to Palayamkottai for education. Matriculation Schools Golden Jubliee Matric HSS Zareena Fathima Matriculation School Higher secondary schools The Muslim Higher Secondary School TIME Matriculation school (with more than 95% students from Melapalayam, placed near Melapalayam) The Muslim Girls Higher Secondary School Rahmania Higher Secondary School Quaide Millath Higher Secondary School Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School CBSE schools Al Madina Cbse School Mutthamil Public School NURSERY & PRIMARY SCHOOLS Little star N&p Al irshad N&P Al huda N&P Al biyan N&P Siraj oriental N&P MAS N&P MAR N&P MKS N&P Jawahar N&P South Mohideen N&P New red rose N&P Nehru N&P Rose N&P =GOVERNMENT N&P SCHOOLS Ganesapuram west school Ganesapuram east school Azath school Hameem middle school VST corporation school Ganesamoorthy school Gazanathul school List of colleges Annai Hajira Women's College Government Engineering College, Tirunelveli List of Arabic colleges Men's colleges Jaamiathul Aliya Fe MaAaliyas Saniyaa Arabic College Thaarul Ulum Usmaaniya Arabic College Islamic College Women's colleges Al Irshaad Tharbiyathunisha Hidayathadunhislan Shirin Farhana Nashisathun Linisvaan Thaglimun Nisvaan Magdinul Ulum Al-Muneera Women's Arabic College Women's madrasas Rifayee Moulana Vellai Kalifa