Viluppuram
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Viluppuram(also Villupuram) is one of thirty districts which make up Tamil Nadu State situated on the southern tip of India. Viluppuram District came into existence on 30 September 1993 when it was created out of South Arcot District.
Early history
Between the 1st and 4th century AD the Chola were the rulers of the area, Karikala Chola was the most famous and powerful individual of the time. The grip of Chola rule was broken when the Cholas were overthrown by Simha Vishnu Pallava and the region came under the Pallava rule. Vijayalaya Chola again revived Chola rule. This was the beginning of great Chola Empire. The later Chola rulers were weak and the power passed on to the hands of Eastern Chalukyas.
Cholas regained their lost position but with the rise of Jatavarman Sundara Pandya-1 (1251 A.D), Chola supremacy came to an end. The sway of Pandyas lasted for over 50 years, followed by Muslim domination from 1334 to 1378 A.D. By 1378, the region came under the rule of Vijayanagar Kingdom and Nayaks were appointed as the rulers of the region.
In 1677 Shivaji took the Ginjee area with the assistance of Golkonda forces. Then came the Mughals. During the Mughal regime, both the English and French acquired settlements in South Arcot. During the Anglo-French rivalry, the entire district was turned into a battleground. After sometime, the entire area came under the control of British East India Company. It remained under British authority till 1947 when India became independent.
Geographical location
Viluppuram is the second largest district in the state which lies in the middle of the Tiruchirapalli and is connected to the national road network by Chennai National Highway No. 45. It is also well connected to the rest of the state and country by rail and is the site of a major junction. The region has a variety of historical tourist attractions many of which are more than 100 years old. The district has temples, mosques and churches which are very old and famous.
Sites of interest in Viluppuram
Gingee
Nestled on three hills, and enclosed by a huge rampart 60 feet thick, stands the majestic Gingee Fort, which is located on the Thindivanam to Thiruvannamalai road about 25 km from Thindivanam and 130 km from Chidambaram. The indominitable courage and valour of its rulers, caused Father Pimenta, a Jesuit priest, to call the Gingee Fort the Troy of the East. Besieged by the Mughals and battered by the British, the fort still stands at 800 ft. in height, guarded by an eighty foot wide moat. Much of the early history of this 800 year old fort is shrouded in mystery, as the fort seems to have changed many hands times before it was annexed to the Vijayanagar empire.
Gingee is also known as Gingee in Tamil. The small town of Gingee was once a capital city of a province extending from Nellore in the north to the Coleroon (Kollidam) in the south. According to local legend, Gingee Amman, was one of the seven virgins who were the guardian deities of the village. Legend has it that at around 1200 A. D., Gingee was fortified by Ananda Kone, chief of the local shepherd community. In 1240 A. D. Krishna Kone, his successor is said to have fortified the northern hill which later came to be known as Krishnagiri. The Kone dynasty gave way to the Kurumbars, who established their headquarters at Sendamangalam,which later came under the influence of the powerful Chola empire. Recorded history goes back to the 16th century, when Gingee became the seat of the Nayaka rulers, who were under the lordship of the expanding Vijayanagar empire. Krishnadevaraya appointed Krishnappa Nayaka, and he was considered the founder of the Nayaka line of Gingee.
Most of the structures, fortification walls and temples were built during this period. The fortifications and defenses were further strengthened under Chatrapati Shivaji, the great Maratha ruler who captured Gingee in 1677 A.D. Gingee came under the hegemony of the Moghul emperor Aurangazeb in 1691 A. D., Sarup Singh was appointed as the chief of Gingee by the emperor, under the control of the Nawab of Arcot.
Fortification walls
The massive fortification walls of Gingee interconnect the three inaccessible hills - Krishnagiri, Chakkilidrug and Rajagiri. The three hills are in the form of triangle, while the main wall connecting them is 20 meters thick. The tops of the three hills form impregnable citadels, while the inner fort contains many fortifications and gates. The Rajagiri citadel is the highest, about 800 ft. in height, and the most inaccessible. The 20 metre deep chasm is now connected by a bridge.
Sarup Singh's son, Raja De singh, revolted against the Nawab of Arcot, and was defeated and killed in the war that followed. Though Gingee became a part of the Nawabs territory in 1714 the young and courageous De Singh became a legend and his heroic deeds were sung in the form of popular ballads. Thus Gingee too became quite well known. In 1750, Gingee came under French rule and remained so till it was surrendered to the British in 1761.
Gingee today, with its ruined forts, temples and granaries, presents a different picture from the glorious splendor of its bygone days. But the remains of that glorious past, speak volumes about the numerous invasions, warfare and bravery that it witnessed.
Indian Government Website on the Gingee Fort (http://indiaimage.nic.in/gingeefort.htm)
Kalyana Mahal
Built in the indo-Islamic style, the Kalyana Mahal is one of the most attractive ruins in the fort. It consists of a square court, surrounded by rooms for the ladies of the Governors household. In the middle of this court, is a 27 meter high square tower, built of stone. The tower has a pyramidal roof. The rooms in this tower are very similar to other Vijayanagar Nayaka buildings elsewhere.
Venugopala Swamy Temple
Located to the west of the inner gate of the lower citadel, the temple contains a remarkable sculpture depicting Lord krishna playing on the flute with is two consorts. Another interesting feature in this temple is a finely polished, broadsmooth slab found in front of the temple
Nandieswarar Thiruvamathur Temple
Thiruvaamathoor is an ancient chola temple dedicated to Lord Sri Abiramaeshwarar it is thought to be around 1500 years old. As the temple seems to have changed many hands Times between. Rajaraja Chola I (AD 985-1012) and seerangadeva Maharayar. (1584.AD) The amman Named Muththambigai.
Pachchaiamman Temple
This was the place of worship used by special [chittars]. Seven Jadamuni shapes form a very big pachaimalai situated on the rear of the building. Rare medicinal plants are found within the temple. The temple commands excellent views of the surrounding area, it is possible to clearly see the Thiruvannamalai tower from the site.
Angala parameswari Melmalayanur
Melmalayanur: The temple of Angala Parameswari is 32 km from Gingee, the special deity of the Sembadavars. Here festival occurs in February-March. A special feature of this festival is the Simimasana kollai. The people who attend the festival cook large quantities of grain of various kinds and set them out in the burning ground and offer them to goddess who is brought there. Every Ammavasai (New Moon day) there will be the laks of devotees throng here. situated here. In the inner sanctum there is a snake pit which is being worshipped. There is a congregation of devotees on every new moon day
The temple of Lord Ranganatha Singavaram
Singavaram : The temple of Lord Ranganatha, the tutelary god of Raja Desingh is on a hill top. It is a good specimen of south Indian type of rock – cut shrine. The idol of Lord Ranganatha, in a reclining posture, measures 24 ft, in length which together with the inner sanctorum, is carved out of a single rock. It is said to be bigger than that of Theidol in Srirangam.
Krishnagiri Fort
Krishnagiri is a small hill made up of granite boulders, located to the north of Rajagiri on the main road from Gingee to Tiruvannamalai. The citadel on this hill, can be reached by climbing a flight of steps over a steep slope. Within the citadel are two stone-built granaries, a pillared hall, two temples and an edifice built of brick and mortar known as the "Audience Chamber".
Mandagapattu
A famous Archeological Temple site is 20 km from Viluppuram and 17 km from Gingee. It is a 100 ft hillock, where the Mahendraverma (I) of Pallava kind, (580-630) turned a cave into a temple.
Mel Chittamur
Mel Chittamur is 20 km of Thindivanam and 10 km east of Gingee. Head quarters of Digambara sect in Tamilnadu with the JINAKANCHI MATHA presided over by the Pontiff. Two temples, one dedicated to Parsvanatha and other known as 'Mailanatha temple was originally a boulder containing roc-cut images of Bahubali, Parsvanatha, Adinatha, Mahavira and Ambika yakshi carved in the 9th century AD. Rebuilt in the 16th century and renovated in the present century.
Thirunarungondai
Thirunarungondai - It is 16 km northwest of Ulundurpet and 21 km east of Thirukkoilur. Hillock at the village contains a Jaina cave and two temples dedicated to Parsvanatha and Chanraprabha. Cave served as the monastery of the monks of Virasangha in the 8th - 9th century A.D. Rich collection of bronze images found in the temple. Annual festival (Jan-Feb) celebrated on a grand scale and attended by Jains from all over Tamilnadu.
Auroville
Auroville – An incorporated intentional community in the northeast part of Tamil Nadu. The city was founded in 1968 by Parisian Mirra Alfassa, best known as “The Mother,” the spiritual collaborator of the famed Indian revolutionary and evolutionary yogi Sri Aurobindo Ghose.
Attracting residents and visitors from many nations, Auroville was conceived by its founder as “a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities.” Auroville is endorsed by UNESCO, supported by the Government of India and recognized by many nations of the world.
The township is constantly growing and developing with members of the community working toward the shared vision of realizing human unity. The population currently stands at approximately 2000 people, one third of whom are Indian. The center of the community is a large meditation hall called the Matrimandir, which is said to house the world’s largest crystal.
In the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami of December 26, 2004, Auroville quickly created shelter and provided food, medical resources and other assistance for over 1500 homeless survivors of the disaster seeking refuge from the surrounding area.
Matrimandir
Here there is an Urn to which in 1968 young people from 124 nations came together and placed a contains a hand-full of soil from their home countries symbolizing international friendship and birth of a new unified world
Thirukkoilur
Situated on the Cuddalore - Chittoor trunk road and 37 km from Viluppuram. The presiding deities of the Vishnu Temple are Ulagalanda Perumal (Thiruvikrama Swami) and Pushpavallithayar. Kabilar Kundru is also yet another picnic spot at Thirukkoilur which is situated in the middle of the river Pennayar. Kabilar was saint here and his last resting place, is maintained by the state Archeaological Department.
Kalrayan Hills
The Kalrayan hills are one part of the Eastern ghats, lies on the western side of the Kallakurichi Taluk. This area spread over an area of 600 km² approximately with the height ranging from 1000 ft to 3800 ft from the sea level. The History of Kalrayan hills with its Jagirdars run back to the time of Krishna Deverayar the Emperor of 'Vijaya Nagar Kingdom'. The emperor Krishna Deverayar given the rights to the tribes to enjoy this land but imposed many taxes on them. About the hill tribes it is said that warriors belonging to 'KARALAR' community had come from Kanchipuram and settled in kalrayan hills. after sometimes they over ride the tribal people called 'Vedar' (hunter) and married their wives. The communities of karalar and vedar who at present are called 'Malayali' and they call themselves as 'Goundars'. Kalrayan hills Possesses innumerable tourism Potentialities like water falls, jungle streams, rivers and rivulets and lovely jungle walks. The place is a veritable paradise for trekkers. It is also called as 'Poor man's hill station' of Tamil Nadu. Every year the District Administration conducts a Summer Festival to create the awareness among the tribes.
Mayilam - Arulmigu Subramaniya
A Swami Temple located on a small hillock at Mailam is a famous place of pilgrimage. It is about 32 km from Viluppuram on the Pondicherry - Thindivanam road. The Panguni Uthiram festival held in March - April fascinates a large crowd of devotes from all over Tamil Nadu.
Thiruvakkarai
A Geological park is about 40 km from Viluppuram and 25 km from Pondicherry. A national geological park with large number of petrified tree trunks known as fossil are found here. There is a temple for Lord Siva constructed by the famous Chola queen Sembiyan Madheviyar. Arulmigu Chandramoulisvarar and Tenambikai are the presiding deities here. Arulmigu Vakkaralingam and Arulmigu Vakkrakali for whom every full moon day and night of the year special prayers are conducted and thronged by pious devotees throughout the night. The Temple was sung by the Thirugnana Sambanthar. Excellent sculptures and car/chariot like Mandapam is also existing here with huge nandhi and Ganesha. It was connected by Thindivanam and Pondicherry by regular buses.
Thiruvennainallur
Located 20 km from Viluppuram City on the Thirukkoilur road which is Thiruvennainallur, the birth place of Sadayappar, the patron of Kambar (The greatest Tamil poet and author of the Tamil Epic Kambaramayanam) There is also an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Siva.
Marakanam Beach
Situated 22 km from Pondicherry across East Coast Road in Vanur Taluk. The salt field is a very famous feature of this beach.
External links
- Viluppuram district administration (http://www.viluppuram.tn.nic.in)
- Auroville (http://www.auroville.org)