Kulithalai comes under the Kulithalai assembly constituency which elects a member to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly once every five years and it is a part of the Perambalur (Lok Sabha constituency) which elects its Member of Parliament (MP) once in five years.

The 7th century Nayanmars (Saiva saints) Thirunavukkarasar, revered the place as Kadambandurai and Kuzhithandalai in his works in Tevaram.

As per Hindu legend, Saptha Matha, the seven divine virgins were praying to god Shiva in the Kadamba forest located here to save them from a demon named Doomralochana.

The town is located in Karur district of the South Indian state, Tamil Nadu, at a distance of 370 km (230 mi) from Chennai.

The South west monsoon, with an onset in June and lasting up to August, brings scanty rainfall.

Bulk of the rainfall is received during the North East monsoon in the months of October, November and December.

[13] The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation operates daily services connecting various cities to Kulithalai.

There are daily express trains running on either sides connecting Kulithalai with cities like Coimbatore, Erode, Palakkad, Mangalore, Cochin and Mysore.

[21] The functions of the municipality are devolved into six departments: general administration/personnel, Engineering, Revenue, Public Health, city planning and Information Technology (IT).

[25] M. Karunanidhi, five time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and leader of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam won his first legislative elections from Kulithatlai constituency in 1962.

[20] Law and order in the town in maintained by the Kulithalai sub division of the Karur district of Tamil Nadu Police headed by a Deputy Superintendent.

[34] Water supply is provided by the Kulithalai Municipality from borewells in Kaveri river through two over head tanks located in the town.

Built on the banks of river Cauvery, the temple has a tall gopuram (gateway tower) and the stone walls.

[1] The annual Mariamman Kovil Thiru Therr Vizha held in the temple is another prominent festival in the town.

The fortnightly ritual culminates on the festive day when people perform their prayers and offerings through Theertha Kudam (water pot), Alagu (piercing body parts), Agni Chatti (fire pot) and Pookuli Midhithal (walking on fire).

Rathnagirinathar temple at ancient Rathinagiri, which is currently called as Iyermalai or Ayyarmalai or Aivar Malai is located at about 10 km (6.2 mi) far from Kulithalai, southerly.

Because of the santamarutham, 8 kodumudigal (parts) fell from Kailasam into 8 different places which are Thirugonamalai (Trincomalee, Sri Lanka), Thirukalahasti, Thiruchiramalai rock fort, Thiruenkoimalai, Rajathagiri, Neerthagiri, Ratnagiri (Ayyar Malai), and Suwethagiri or Thirupangeeli.

[42] The Ayyar malai temple attracts lot of visitors during full moon days and somavaram (Mondays) during the Tamil Month of Karthigai.

[43] Thiru Eengoinathar Malai is a small hill temple, which is another nearby Paadal petra sthalam situated around 3 km (1.9 mi) to the north of Kulithalai.

[44] Traditionally, it is considered auspicious to visit on the same day three padal petra sthalams - Kadambar Kovil at Kulithalai, Rathnagirinathar temple at Rathinagiri (now called Ayyarmalai) and Thiru Eengoi Malai at Mullipadi.