Dindigul

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Dindigul
v • d • e
Tamil Nadu • India
Map indicating the location of Dindigul
Location of Dindigul
District(s) Dindigul
Coordinates 10.35° N 77.95° E
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area
• Elevation
• 268 m (879 ft)
Population 196,619 (2004)
Codes
• Postal
• Telephone
• Vehicle
• 624001
• +91-(0)451
• TN 57

Coordinates: 10.35° N 77.95° E

Dindigul (Tamil: திண்டுக்கல்) is a city and municipality in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Dindigul district.

Dindigul comes from the Portmanteau of Thindu meaning pillow and kal meaning Rock. It is also known as "The City of Locks and Tannery", is a fast growing tier-4 city in India. It is attracting a great deal of education sector investments. The city also has a large number of Textile Mills.

Contents

[edit] History

The History of Dindigul revolves around the Dindigul fort, as this was a position of great strategic importance with commanding views to passes into Madurai from the north side especially Coimbatore. Dindigul and the fort figured prominently in the military operations of the Marathas in the 17th and 18th centuries, and of Hyder Ali in 1755. It was captured by the British thrice in 1767, 1783 and 1790. It was restored to Hyder Ali under treaty after the first two captures ceded to the East India Company after the capture in 1799. The town has a sizeable population of both Muslims and Christians owing to the place being under the Army of Hyder Ali and the British subsequently.

[edit] Geography

Dindigul is located at 10.35° N 77.95° E[1]. It has an average elevation of 268 metres (879 feet).

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India censusGRIndia, Dindigul had a population of 196,619. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Dindigul 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 Dindigul, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

[edit] Industries

Dindigul is known for its Leather Tanning Industry. Besides tanning, Textile spinning industry, which ranks second to Coimbatore in spindlage capacity.

The town has been long associated with the manufacture of iron locks, which is still a major industry. Chinnalapatti, which is located 11 kilometres from Dindigul on the Madurai-Dindigul Road is known for its flourishing hand loom industry. Art–Silk Sarees and sungudi produced in Chinnalapatti are famous throughout India by the name of chinnalapattu. More than 1000 families are engaged in this industry. Dindigul city is an important wholesale market for Onion and Groundnut (Peanut).

[edit] Dindigul Locks

Iron-lock steel safes made here are known for good quality and durability. A lock manufacturing unit under co-operative sector is functioning here. They are usually the padlock type where one has to wind or unwind the keys twice to lock or unlock, thus making it completely foolproof. These are marketed throughout the state and some are even exported to foreign countries.

[edit] Tobacco

Dindigul has been a the centre of a trade in tobacco and manufacture of Cigars, from the time of British rule. Two large European cigar factories used to manufacture cigars to exported to England. Presently it has the largest trading centre in Tamil Nadu for chewing tobacco. Well-known brands of scented chewing tobacco Angu Vilas scented Tobacco and ROJA SUPARI are produced in this town and are sent to various places in the State and outside. This flourishing industry gives employment to a large number of people. Roja supari is a roasted, scented, flavoured betel nut manufactured by N.V.K.M SULTAN ROWTHER's family.

[edit] Educational Institutions

The City has a sizeable number of Educational institutions.

[edit] Prominent Educational and Vocational Institutions

[edit] Schools

  • C.S.I.Dudley Higher Secondary School
  • Nehuruji Memorial Municipal Higher Secondary School
  • St.Mary’s Higher Secondary School which is run by catholic missionaries .
  • MSP Solai Nadar Memorial Higher Secondary school.
  • Arul Jothi Vallalar Higher secondary school
  • St.Josephs Girls Higher secondary School
  • Annamalaiar Mills Girls Higher Secondary School
  • J.K.Matriculation Higher Secondary School
  • SMBM Matriculation School
  • John Paul Matriculation School
  • Seventh-day Adventist Matriculation Higher Secondary School
  • Soundararaja Vidyalaya
  • MV Muthiah Pillai Mariammal Girls Matriculation Higher Secondary School
  • Meenakshi Higher Secondary School

[edit] University and Colleges

[edit] Pilgrim centre

There are many temples in and around the city. Sri Kottai Mariamman Temple, It is more than 200 years old. The Mariamman idol is said to be installed by the army men of Tippu Sultan at the foot of the mountain. The temple is constructed in the shape of a square. There is a temple for Vetri Vinayaka at the South & Lord Muruga at the North of this temple. There is a Mandapam Hall in the centre of the ground in which there is a sculpture of a Lion facing the Sannidhi. The Sanctum is small & square shaped. There are several sculpture on the sniper structure over the. Sanctum Sanctorum, depicting various incarnations of the goddess Mariamman. Sri Chella Mariamman Temple, A. B. Nagar which is 2 km from the city. Palani,where one of the Six abodes of Lord Muruga,Dhandayuthapani Temple is situated on the hilly rock at a height of about 450 mts. Th place is at about 56 km from the City. Another Murugan temple at Thirumalaikeni,is at 25 km away from Dindigul town . Abirami Amman temple in the town and Raja Kaliamman Temple at Thethupatti, 20 km away from Dindigul are the other important Temples which attracts many pilgrims. Sri Soundaraja perumal temple, well known for its Sculptures is at a village, Thadikombu, 8 km away from the city on the National Highway No. 7.

Kasavai Mouna Nirvaana Swamighal Aaalayam (God of silence) Situated in Kasavanampatty Village, 14 KM west from Dindigul. It is very nearby the The Famous Western Ghats of India.

[edit] Begampur mosque

Hyder Ali constructed three Mosques - One for himself for Namaz, another for his soldiers below Rock Fort and a third one in the south of Rock Fort for commoners and gave grants for the upkeep. In 1766AD Hijri 1187,Ameer-un-Nisha Begum, the wife of Mir Riza Ali khan, the Fort commander and the younger sister of Hyder Ali Bahadur, died here. She was buried in the Mosque compound with a Tomb was constructed on it. The southern part of Dindigul has hence the name Begampur. A sizeable population of Muslims also stay in this part of the City and is a major mosque in Tamilnadu.

[edit] St.Joseph Church

This church was constructed during 1866 to 1872 by Britishers after the fall of Tipu sultan. This church is headquarters of Dindigul diocese of Roman Catholic Churches in Dindigul District.

[edit] Places to visit

[edit] Rock Fort

The Dindigul Fort is one of the major landmarks of the city is visible from several kilometres. The fort has been constructed on a huge rock about 280 ft height and looks like Pillow ('Dhindu'),when viewed from south east gives the name to the city. In the year 1605 Madurai Nayak King 'Muthu Krishna Naicker' started the construction of this Fort. The fort was completed in stages during 1623 to 1659 by Mannar Thirumalai Naicker . In 1755 Hyder Ali was escorting Fakhr-Un-Nisha his wife and Five years old Tipu to Dindigul. From 1784 to 1790 the Fort was under the rule of Tipu Sultan. In 1784, the Tipu's commandant Syed Ibrahim, under whose care the fort was, constructed many rooms, strengthened the walls and got repaired. In 1790 Tipu was defeated in the Mysore war and the Fort came into the hands of British.

Peranai and Sirumalai hills are the two fine picnic spots in the vicinity of the Town. There are four dams viz, Palar Porundalar, Varathamanathi, , Parappalar in Palani Taluk and Maruthanathi in Dindigul Taluk augment irrigation facilities to agricultural fields in this district. Nilakkottai town is famous for Brass Vessels and Jewellery. Nilakkottai Taluk is famous for the growing and marketing of flowers and Grapes. Oddanchatram is a noted market centre for vegetables. It is also famous for the export of Butter, manufactured in the nearby villages using cream separators. Batlagundu is an important market centre for Tomato. Pattiveeranpatti in Vathalagundu Block is famous for Cardamom and Coffee curing enterprises.

Kodaikanal, a popular Summer Resort, located at an altitude of 2133 meters in the Western Ghats is at about 100 km from the city.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Dindigul
Dindigul seen from the rock fort
Dindigul seen from the rock fort

[edit] External links

Dindigul District
Taluk

Dindigul | Kodaikanal | Natham | Nilakkottai | Oddanchatram | Palani | Vedasandur
Blocks

Athoor | Batlagundu | Guziliyamparai | Kodaikanal | Natham | Nilakkottai | Oddanchatram | Palani | Reddiarchatram | Shanarpatti | Thoppampatti | Vadamadurai | Vedasandur
Corporation

None
Municipality

Dindigul | Kodaikanal | Palani
Town Panchayat

Ammainaickanur | Agaram | Ayakudi | Ayyalur | Ayyampalayam | Balasamudram | Batlagundu | Chinnalapatti | Eriodu | Kannivadi | Keeranur | Natham | Neikkarapatti | Nilakkottai | Oddanchatram | Palayam | Pannaikadu | Pattiveeranpatti | Sevugampatti | Sithayankottai | Sriramapuram | Thadikombu | Vadamadurai | Vedasandur


Seal of Tamil Nadu State of Tamil Nadu
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 • Tambaram • Thanjavur • Thoothukudi • Tiruchirapalli • Tirunelveli • Tiruppur • Tiruvannamalai • Tiruvottiyur • Vellore
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