Places and rivers in Tamil

Some important cities , towns, rivers which has Tamil words and their meanings.
Chennai: Chen+anai =Attraction+Having.
Chen+nai: (Attraction + Storing.)  Attractive place. we can also say, செல்பவரை அணைக்கும் சென்னை.


Madurai: Ma+Thurai meaning “A place with Entrance” or Ma+Thirai meaning “A place in the Plains” this is the capital of the Pandiyan kingdom, their initial capital was Korkai a port city which was later shifted to Madurai.  Sound “Ma” in Tamil refers to something “in a place”, Or the name could be the modified version of the word “Moothoor” meaning “old city”, 3rd century BC, Megasthenes visited, the city being referred to as “Methora” in his accounts.
ThiruNelveli: Thiru+Nel+Veli meaning “Paddy Giving field or place“
Thiruchirapalli:  Thiru+Cheera+Palli meaning Goodness Giving place. The word Palli in Tamil refers to a School.(Pal+li literally means, Place where many come and then Go. A resting place, a temporary place, a school can therefore be called as Palli. )
Thirupati: The Giving place, referring the temple here, pathi in Tamil (In a keeping state)
Literally  Thiru+Pathi = In wealthy keeping state.  திரு வைத்திருக்கும் நிலை.
Thanjavoor: Than+jai+Oor means a either “The place everyone likes”. or the “The Place that anyone wants to reside.“
Thoothukudi: Thoothu+Kudi , Thoothu means, to Sweep and Settlement referring to the Sandy surfaces.
Thiruppoor: Giving place
Erode: Iru+Odai Two streams
Coimbathore: Ko+AmbaTh+Oor  The head chieftians place.
Poompukaar: the ancient sea port of the Cholas  should be splitted as Poom+Pu+Kaar  is  kept outside + Entry + Support, The word Poo refers to something thats “kept outside” in Tamil.
ThiruChendur: A Giving Good Attractive place.
Kadaloor: Place near the Sea.
Kanchipuram:
Kaan+Cheer+Puram Means a place which cures/blesses/teaches when we visit/see them, a holy place.
Kaan+Chi+Puram Means a place which does not allow to go outside.
Salem: Weaving place.

Bengalooru: VenKalooru: White Rock Place. White Granite place.
KarNataka: Karnaadakam: Kar+Naadu+Akam is Giving Country.

Bengaal : Bangla : In Tamil we call as Vangala, so whats this Vangala? It should be Van+Karai, “Van” can refer to harshness or forest and the “karai” means Shore. So Bangla could mean “Harsh/Forest Shore” referring the Marshy Mangrove forest along the shores?
Patti: This is a common prefix word used in Tamil to refer places, there are hundreds of Patti’s in Tamil naadu and also in India.
This word literally should mean, “More comes in and stays”, Pattinams in India  refers to ports, referring to the multiple ships that comes in and stays.  The famous Pattinams like Nagapattinam, Visaakapattinam. Even the Patna and Patans may be of this origin.
Oor: This is also a common prefix and thousands of “Oors” are there in Tamil Naadu and also in India, Ooru often refers to outskirts or country side places.
Puram : Also a common prefix for place refers to outskirts and small towns. The word puram itself means “outside” in Tamil, the opposite of  “Akam”
Mahabalipuram: in Tamil it should be  MaaValipuram and means “Great way’s place ” ,  Valipuram is the most common word in Tamil and many places in Tamilnadu  has vali in it not bali, the word bali is  a later day change with letter “v” changed to “b” with  external influence.
Kaaraikudi: Helpfull/Protective  settlements. Kaaraikaal:
Paakkam: There are many paakkams in Chennai,(Paakkam means “More inside place” A rich place/செழிப்பான ஊர்
Maaldeevs: Islands of Garland.(Maalai+Theevu)
Kavery: Kaa+Viri means river that spreading(viri)  support(Kaa)
Vaigai: Vai+Kai  refers to “வருவதை தன்னுடன் வைத்திருப்பது“- It contains the one which is coming”
TamaraParani: I will split this as Thaan+Mara+Para+Nir meaning  River that flows without ego or forgetting itself. Thaan means Self, Mara means to destroy or to forget, Para means flowing and  Nir means water.
Paalaaru: Milk river.
Coovam : Well, Stream – க்+ஊ +வம்  (க்+ஊ +வம் = கிடைப்பது + உள்ளிருந்து வெளியே  + வரும் இடம்)
More to add….