Namakkal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Namakkal | |
  Namakkal
|
|
| State - District(s) |
Tamil Nadu - Namakkal |
| Coordinates | |
| Area - Elevation |
- 218 m |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population (2001) - Density |
53,040 - |
Namakkal (Tamil: நாமக்கல்) is a city and a municipality in Namakkal district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of Namakkal District.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Namakkal is located at [1]. It has an average elevation of 218 metres (715 feet). It is close to Kolli Hills (கொல்லி மலை) - which is part of the Eastern Ghats (கிழக்கு தொடர்ச்சிமலை). The closest river is Kaveri (காவேரி). The city is approximately 380km southwest of Chennai, 250km south of Bangalore, 50 km south of Salem and 85km northwest of Tiruchirapalli (Tricy).
[edit] History
Namakkal is a historic town dating back to at least the 14th century. The name Namakkal derives from Namagiri, which is the name of the single rock formation at the center of the town. The rock is enormous - 65 meters high and more than a kilometer in circumference. Over this massive rock is a fort.Although it is called tippu's fort but actually built by a hindu king... the hindu sculptures in front of the gate and the hindu temple inside leads to the main controversy whether it was actually built by Tippu Sultan. Gandhi held a public meeting in 1933 in Namakkal under the slope of the Namakkal rock.
Kollihills was ruled by the king called valvil ori, one of the seven last heroes of the Sangam age. A statue for him is located at Semmedu at a distance of 65 kilometers from Namakkal.
God Murugan is supposed to have visited Kollihills and evidence is at Belukkurchi , 24 kilometers from Namakkal on the way to Senthamangalam.
[edit] Economy
The economy of the district is primarily agricultural. A wide variety of crops are grown within the district. The Kaveri riverside has heavy concentration of Rice, Banana and Sugarcane plantations and fields. There are also poultry farms and a well developed small scale industry for Truck body building in the district. Namakkal is well known for its poultry farms and its truck building facilities. Namakkal is also famous for lorry Transport.
[edit] Art
V. Ramalingam Pillai, more popularly known as Namakkal Kavingnar (நாமக்கல் கவிஞர்), is a well known Tamil (தமிழ்) poet who hailed from Namakkal (born in 1888 in Mohanur). His poems on the non-violent Indian independence movement are popular. His famous patriotic poem is
கத்தி யின்றி ரத்த மின்றி யுத்த மொன்று வருகுது சத்தி யத்தின் நித்தி யத்தை நம்பும் யாரும் சேருவீர்!....
Pottery and sculpture are promoted by way of traditional festivals and temple celebrations. Most villages in the district, like many other south Indian villages, have a temple to a guardian deity at the perimeter of the village. Aiyanar is the guardian deity of the village. Much artistic expression goes into sculpting the Aiyanar statues.
[edit] Transport
Namakkal is accessible by road. The nearest large cities are Salem (48km), Erode, Tiruchirapalli. Chennai, the capital of the state is 380 km from Namakkal. The nearest airport is in Tiruchirapalli (74km).
[edit] Climate
The temperature ranges from 20 to 44 degrees Celsius throughout the year.
[edit] Places to visit
Kolli Hills is the most attractive destination in the district of Namakkal. It is accessible by road, and buses are available to Kolli Hills from Namakkal and Salem, via Sendamangalam. Various attractions in Kolli Hills include the Agaya Gangai (Ganges of the Sky) waterfalls, Pineapple plantation, Arapaleeswarar temple, and various scenic drives and hikes. The Agaya Gangai waterfalls is accessible on foot by a 1 hour hike on well-paved steps, and is of moderate difficulty. Kolli Hills is also famous for its jackfruit, various varieties of pineapple, the small delicious mountain bananas and wild honey. A few well furnished hotels are available on Kolli Hills.
The most popular attractions within the city of Namakkal are the Rockfort (Malai kottai), and the temples surrounding it. The Rockfort takes about 30 minutes to hike to the top, and is of mild to moderate difficulty. It is a monolith about 65 metres in height, with the ruins of an ancient fort on top, spanning a few acres. It is recommended to hike in the evenings, or early in the mornings, during daylight. It can get extremely hot during the summer days, so avoid these times, or carry enough water and wear a hat. No amenities are available at the top, and please verify with the locals if it is safe to hike alone, as it used to be the hangout for monkeys, and some vandals. It is recommended that you hike with company. Monkeys have been removed to hills outside the city, but they are generally friendly if you encounter one. But keep your food hidden from monkeys, as it could provoke them, and do not attempt to feed or pet them.
Three popular temples are located around the Rockfort. The Hanuman Temple (நாமக்கல் ஆஞ்சநேயர் சன்னதி) is one of the most famous in South India. The "Narasimmar - Namagiri Amman Temple" (நரசிம்மர்-நாமகிரி தாயார் சன்னதி) was an inspiration of renowned mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujam. They are both located on the west side of the rockfort. The Hanuman Temple tends to be very crowded with lots of pilgrims, and is small but very popular. It was built recently, and reflects contemporary Hindu temple style architecture. The Narasimmar-Namagiri Amman temple sprawls a few acres in size, and parts of it were built by quarrying the granite boulders out of the Rockfort several hundred years ago. It reflects historical temple architecture, and offers several places to sit and reflect in solitude, and is highly recommended. Ranganaathar Temple (இரங்கநாதர் சன்னதி) is located on the foothills of the Rockfort on the east side where Mahatma Gandhi delivered his address in 1933.
Koolippatti Murugan Temple (கூலிப்பட்டி முருகன் கோயில்) is located in a small hill, which is 3 km from Namakkal on the way to Thuraiyur.
Thathagiri Murugan Temple is located in a small hill, which is 10 km from Namakkal on the way to Senthamangalam. It is one of the temples the saint Kirupanandha Variyar used to visit regularly.
Naina-Malai is a hill located 10 km from Namakkal. One can reach this place from Sendamangalam too(2 km). On top of the hill there is a temple to Swami Venkatajalapathi. People go this to temple especially on the Saturdays of the months of September and October (tamil Purataci months - 5 weeks). One can reach the top of the hill by foot. There are more than 2500 steps.
[edit] Schools (Primary and Secondary)
Kongu Matriculation School ( Keerambur ).
Government Higher Secondary school, Namakkal(South).
Government Higher Secondary school, Namakkal(North).
Gandhi Matriculation and higher secondary school, Kandampalayam
Kandasamy Kandar Matriculation and Higher Secondary School, Namakkal
Kongu Matriculation Higher secondary school, Velur
Anna Nehru Matric Hr.sec school, Namakkal
Jack and Jill Matriculation and Higher Secondary School, Namakkal
Kurinji higher secondary school, namakkal-637 001
[edit] Colleges and universities
Annai Mathammal Sheela Engineering College, Erumapatty, Namakkal
Govt College of Arts and Science for Men
Govt College of Arts and Science for Women
K.S.Rangasamy College Of Arts and Science, Tiruchengode
K.S.Rangasamy College Of Engineering, Tiruchengode
K.S.Rangasamy College Of Technology, Tiruchengode
Mahendra Engineering College,Mahendhirapuri,Vadugapalayam, Mallasamudram, Tiruchengode
Mahendra Polytechnic College,Mahendhirapuri,Vadugapalayam, Mallasamudram, Tiruchengode
Mahendra Arts and Science College, Kalipatti
Mahendra College of Education, Kalipatti
Mahendra Teacher Training Institute, Kalipatti
Paavai Engineering College Pachal Namakkal
Kandasamy Kandar College of Arts & Science, Velur
PGP College of Arts & Science, Namakkal
PGP College of Education, Namakkal
PGP College of Engineering and Technology, Namakkal
PGP Industrial Training Institute,Vettambadi, Namakkal
PGP Polytechnic College, Namakkal
Sengundar Ars and Science College, Tiruchengode
Sengundar Engineering College, Tiruchengode
Thiruvalluvar Govt Arts college, Rasipuram (Co-Education)
Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal - 637001.
Vivekanandha College Of Arts and Science, Tiruchengode
Vivekanandha College Of Nurshing, Tiruchengode (Tcd.colleges by Laal)
Vivekanandha College Of Dental, Tiruchengode
Vivekanandha College Of Technology, Tiruchengode
[edit] Highschools and Education
Namakkal district is well known in the state of Tamil Nadu for producing excellent results in the Class 12 final examinations, and its students secure admissions to several top professional colleges in the state. Namakkal and Rasipuram taluks have several of these intensive preparation schools which stress on academics more than extra-curricular activities to produce these results. Several boarding schools are available with spartan non-academic facilities and accommodations, and admissions to these can be very competitive, as it often leads to an admission in some of the top engineering and medical colleges in the state. Due to its reputation and experienced teachers, students from all over the state seek admission to high schools in the Namakkal district. The government higher secondary school namakkal south has excellent history in the past.It is the oldest educational instituition in Namakkal with a golden period during early and mid-90's when there was high quality education and now has numerous roots all over the world mainly in UK and USA in the form of Doctors and Engineers who qualified from this school.It also has the biggest play ground in the state.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India censusGRIndia, Namakkal had a population of 53,040. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Namakkal has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 74%. In Namakkal, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Recent developments
- AIDS epidemic and control
