| Tiruchirapalli | |
| State - District(s) | Tamil Nadu - Tiruchirapalli |
| Coordinates | |
| Area - Elevation | 146.90 km² - 85 m |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population (2001) - Density | 746,062 - 499/km² |
| Mayor | Sarubala Thondaiman |
| Codes - Postal - Telephone - Vehicle | - 620001 - +91-431 - TN 45 and TN 48 |
Tiruchirapalli திருச்சிராப்பள்ளி pronunciation (also spelt Tiruchchirapalli, commonly known as Tiruchi or Trichy திருச்சி, was also pronounced as Trichinopoly under British rule) is a city and a municipal corporation in Tiruchirappalli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated on the banks of the Kaveri River, centrally located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The city is the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli District.
Trichy encompasses Srirangam, the foremost Vaishnavite temple and the biggest functioning Hindu temple in the world. Trichy also emcompasses "ThiruAnaikka" (ThiruvAnaikkaval) one of the five main abodes ("Panchaboodha Sthalam") of Lord Shiva. ThiruvAnaikkaval is the the house of Water.
The name of the town, "Tiruchirapalli[1]", originated as a tribute (thiru in Tamil means respected) to a Jain monk called "Chira": “Tiruchirapalli” means “the town of respected Chira”. It also means 'Thiru ShriRanganathan Palli', which means "the place where Shri Ranganatha reclines". 'Thiru' means respected, 'ShriRanganathan' denotes Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam (the famous temple town that is part of Trichy city) and 'Palli' means reclining posture of the Lord. The 'ShriRanganathan' has got morphed and/or got shortened to "chira" over the passage of time.
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Tiruchirapalli is home to many historic temples, monuments, churches and mosques. Uraiyur (also pronounced as Oraiyur) which is the Old Tiruchy has a long tradition. With over 2500 years of known history, it was the capital of the early Cholas. The oldest man made dam Kallanai was built by Karaikala Cholan across the river Kaveri about 10 miles from Uraiyur. It was an important town in the days of the later Cholas,Nayaks as well as during the early days of the British East India Company.
One famous landmark in Tiruchirapalli is the Rock Fort — a huge outcrop of rock. There is a Ganesha temple on top, which was also used as a military fort by the nayaks for some time. The Rock Fort is a 83 m high rock which is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat land of the city. On top of the rock is the Ucchi Pillayar Koil (temple of Ganesha at the top) , a temple dedicated to Vinayaka, from where one can enjoy a panoramic view of Tiruchirapalli. For this reason, the city is also called the Rock City. On the southern face of the rock are several beautifully carved cave temples of the Pallava period. Around the rock temple is a busy commercial region, specializing in textiles, known as Chatram. The Main Guard Gate is flooded on festive occasions such as Diwali and Pongal.
Trichy is well connected to various parts of Tamil Nadu, by private and public bus services. The Theppakulam (chathram) bus station, near Rock Fort temple, runs local and mofussil (city-to-city) bus services which connect people to nearby towns and villages. Bus services are frequent, once every two to five minutes.
Trichy is also well-connected to the other cities of Tamil Nadu, southern Karnataka and Kerala through private charter buses.
The central bus station runs long distance services to major cities of the State and South India such as Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, and Tirupathi. One can get buses from Trichy to almost any part of the state, due to its geographical location in the center of Tamil Nadu.
On the road infrastructure front, with the completion of highway projects in Tamil Nadu state, Trichy will be having four track highways from the city branching to destination Chennai, Madurai, Tanjore, [citation needed] .
Trichy is the hub of Southern Railway's operation to connect this central part of Tamil Nadu to various parts of India, notably regions in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Bengal, Maharastra, Karnataka, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh. Trichy Railway Junction has five branches leading to Madurai, Rameswaram, Erode, Tanjore and Chennai. Currently few of them are Meter gauge tracks being phased out as of 2006. After the completion of all ongoing gauge conversion projects in Tamil Nadu, Trichy is set to become one of busiest Railway Junctions.The railway station has 7 platforms [citation needed] .
Trichy has an international airport about seven kilometres from the city, which operates flights to Indian cities, territories, and neighbouring countries (Sri Lanka, Singapore).
Nowadays, flights are operated to Gulf countries such as Sharjah, Fujairah, and Ras al-Khaimah (United Arab Emirates), and to Kuwait. Plans are being made to upgrade it to a full international airport. The Process of expansion of existing runway at the Airport is in completion stage and aiming to make it into a Full fledged operational international airport in the next three Years [citation needed]. Indian airlines going to introduce service to Dubai and Singapur airlines will start service afetr necessary landing systems are in place. New terminal building also to be constructed very soon.
Considered an educational town, Tiruchirapalli has schools and colleges that are hundreds of years old. College Road in Chatram has three colleges and five schools. Prominent among the educational institutions in Tiruchirapalli are Bharathidasan University, The National Institute of Technology, Trichy. The Government Law College, Tiruchirapalli was founded in 1979. Bharathidasan Institute of Management, a top-20 Indian B-school is also located in Tiruchirapalli, adjacent to NIT-T. K.A.P.V. Medical College is located close to the Central Bus Stand.
Indian President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam studied at St Joseph's College in Trichy. R.Venkataraman (former Indian President) studied at National College in Trichy. (See also List of Colleges in Trichy.)
There are some major industrial houses in Trichy, few among them are BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited), Ordinance Factory, Railway Workshop and Dalmia Cements. The plant of BHEL in Trichy, manufactures High Pressure Boilers.
Number of small scale industries have also sprung up in Trichy, mostly around Thuvakudi and Mathur. Leather tanneries are located on the way to Pudukottai. Viralimalai, considered a industrial suburb on Madurai road has the factories of TVS, India bus body building unit, Cethar Vessels, MM Forgings. One can also find agro-based industries around Trichy city, especially along Karur road and Chennai.
Manachanallur, famous for its numerous rice mills supplying polished rice all over Tamil Nadu and outside is located about 7 km from Main Guard gate.
The spectacular Rock Fort Temple, the landmark of the city, is on the shores of the Kaveri. It is perched on a massive rocky outcrop at an altitude of 83 m above sea level. The Thayumanaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva (the destroyer in the Hindu trinity), is situated halfway to the top. It has a 100-pillar hall and a Vimana covered with gold. On the southern face of the rock are several beautifully carved rock-cut cave temples of the Pallava period.
The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam), situated 6 km north of the city, is among the most revered shrines dedicated to Lord Vishnu in South India, and is the largest temple complex in the world. Shrouded in a haze of coconut palms away to the north, the temple is built on an island in the middle of the Kaveri and covers an area of 2.5 km². Enclosed by seven rectangular walled courtyards, this temple has 21 gopurams, the largest of which was completed in 1987 and measures 73 m in height. Srirangam is connected to the mainland by a bridge. The temple is replete with excellent carvings and numerous shrines dedicated to various gods.
The Jambukeshwara Temple (Thiruvanaikaval), dedicated to Lord Shiva, is situated just 2 km east of Srirangam and houses five concentric walls and seven gopurams. Legend has it that an elephant once worshipped the Lord under the holy Jambu tree, and hence the name Jambukeshwara. The principal deity is the Shiva lingam, almost submerged in water, which flows from the subterranean spring in the sanctum sanctorum.
The Samayapuram Mariamman Temple is located 12 kms north of the city junction on Trichy-Chennai NH 45.The Maariamman Temple is one of the most visited shrines in Tamilnadu, dedicated to Maariamman, a manifestation of the primeval energy Shakti as the mother Goddess. The offerings are in various forms.The most common offering is the Mavilakku Mavu made of jagery, rice-flour,dhal and ghee. Mariamman is believed to be a form of Shakti associated with prosperity and health. Local beliefs associate the deity with cures for diseases such as small pox and chicken pox.
Samayapuram was a local capital of the Vijayanagar rulers in the vicinity of Tiruchirappalli, and was known as Vikramapuram.
Other temples in and around the city include Vayalur Subramniya Temple, Anbil, Appakudathan and Thiruvallarai Vishnu Temples, Uraiyur Nachiyaar Temple, Uraiyur Vekkali Amman Temple, Thiruppaigeeli Siva Temple, Gunaseelam Vishnu Temple and Thirupparaithurai shiva temple.
The Architecture of the St. Joseph's College Church situated within the St. Joseph College Campus on College road is awe inspiring
Kollam pond in Crawford lies along the Trichy-Madurai Railway line. This pond is home to different types of bird varieties including common crane, ducks and Kingfisher. One could also see few fisherman spreading nets naviagating with the help of vehicle tyre tubes
The capital of the imperial Chola dynasty a thousand year ago, Thanjavur is situated 54 km from Trichi. The magnificent Brahadeeswarar temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, bears witness to the glory of Chola architecture, sculpture, and painting. A museum in the temple courtyard has interesting Chola artifacts. The Thanjavur Art Gallery has priceless collection of bronze icons and granite sculptures dating from the 9th century AD. Thanjavur is famous for souvenirs like Thanjavur Art Plates, handicrafts, hand-woven silk, bronze icons, intricately inlaid brass work and bejeweled paintings.
Pudukkottai town (58 km) was once a princely state. The area, which comprises the district of the same name, is of absorbing interest to historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, and lovers of art. The numerous dolmens, stone circles, and other forms of megalithic burials in the district indicate the antiquity of this region dating back to pre-historical times. The rulers of Pudukkottai have built several beautiful palaces and constructed tanks and canals.
Gangaikonda Cholapuram is located at a distance of 100 km from Trichy. The Siva temple called Gangaikondacholesvaram here was conceived and constructed by the Chola king Rajendra I after his victory over the kingdoms in the region of the river Ganges. Apart from the huge Nandi, there are some beautiful sculptures including a dancing Ganesha, a lion-headed well, and a stunning piece depicting Rajendra being crowned by Shiva and Parvati.
The Grand Anicut at Kallanai (24 km) is an ancient dam built (according to legends) by Karikala Chola across the river Cauvery in the 1st century CE. is still in use as part of the district's irrigation system.
Mukkombu (18 km) is a wonderful picnic spot where the river Kollidam branches off from the Cauvery.
At Viralimalai (30 km) is a temple dedicated to Lord Subramanya, perched atop a hill. It is also the site of a peacock sanctuary.
Sittanavasal (58 km) is the site of an ancient Jain monastery with exquisite fresco paintings in a cave. It is also noted for its pre-historic burial grounds.
Puliancholai (72 km) is water falls on the foot hills of Kolli hills. It is a nice picnic spot.
Pachamalai (Green) hills is a low lying hill station with gentle plateau falls inside Trichy district. Though the altitude of these hills is only average, it always has a pleasant climate and many parts of the hills are heavily wooded. The presence of other remarkable hill stations in Tamil Nadu has led to less improvement of this place.
Kodumbalur (42 km) and Avudayar Kovil are some other nearby sites worth visiting.
Tiruchirappalli is the fourth largest city in Tamilnadu and had a urban population of 847,131 As of 2001 India censusGRIndia. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Tiruchirappalli has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 80%. In Tiruchirappalli, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Urban Population
| Year | Population | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 711,257 | census | official |
| 2001 | 847,131 | census | official |
| 2006 | 937,642 | estimate |
Tiruchirappalli District has an area of 11,075 square kilometres. It is bounded to the north by Namakkal District, to the northeast by Perambalur District, to the east by Thanjavur District, to the southeast by Pudukkottai District, to the south by Sivaganga and Madurai districts, to the southwest by Dindigul District, to the west by Karur District, and tp the northwest by Namakkal District.
| State of Tamil Nadu </b> Tamil Nadu Topics | History | Politics | Tamil people |
|---|---|
| Capital | Chennai |
| Districts | Chennai • Coimbatore • Cuddalore • Dharmapuri • Dindigul • Erode • Kanchipuram • Kanyakumari • Karur • Krishnagiri • Madurai • Nagapattinam • Namakkal • Perambalur • Pudukkottai • Ramanathapuram • Salem • Sivaganga • Thanjavur • The Nilgiris • Theni • Thoothukudi • Tiruchirapalli • Tirunelveli • Tiruvallur • Tiruvannamalai • Tiruvarur • Vellore • Viluppuram • Virudhunagar |
| Major cities | Alandur • Avadi • Ambattur • Chennai • Coimbatore • Cuddalore • Dindigul • Erode • Kancheepuram • Karur • Kumbakonam • Madurai • Nagercoil • Neyveli • Pallavaram • Pudukkottai • Rajapalayam • Salem • Tiruchirapalli • Tirunelveli • Tambaram • Thoothukudi • Tiruppur • Tiruvannamalai • Thanjavur • Tiruvottiyur • Vellore |
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