Kayalpatnam - also spelled as Kayalpattinam sometimes - is a Municipality town in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu, South India.

As per the Census taken in 2001, the population of the town is 32,664. Majority of the town's population is Muslim and their lineage is traced back to Arab and persian traders - who were active in the Indian Ocean region and beyond many centuries ago.

It is said Arab traders first set foot in Kayalpatnam and settled here under the leadership of Muhammad Khalji during the 9th Century AD. The Second settlement - it is said - took place during the 13th Century, headed by Syed Jamaluddeen. It is a historical fact that Syed Jamaluddeen was an Army General in the Kingdom of Pandyas and later was elevated as a viceroy.

Kayalpatnam gave birth to Arabic-Tamil literature and poetry and it has been the birth place of numerous poets and Islamic scholars. Over the years, it has produced thousands of Islamic Scholars and Hafizs - both men and women.

There are dozens of mosques in this small town as well as many centres for religious learning - earning the town its very popular sobriquet in this part of the world - Little Makkah !