Aruppukkottai

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  ?அருப்புக்கோட்டை Aruppukottai
Tamil Nadu • India
Coordinates: 9°31′N 78°06′E / 9.52, 78.1
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area
• Elevation
• 97 m (318 ft)
District(s) Virudhunagar
Population 83,999 (2001)
Codes
• Pincode
• Telephone
• 626101
• +04566

Coordinates: 9°31′N 78°06′E / 9.52, 78.1 Aruppukottai (Tamil: அருப்புக்கோட்டை) is a town and a municipality in Virudhunagar district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Sri Ramana Maharishi was born in Tiruchuli near Aruppukottai town. The name evolved from 'Arumbu Kottai' which means Fort of Jasmines. The small villages & towns surrounding Aruppukottai are famous for production of Jasmine flowers.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Aruppukottai is located at 9.52° N 78.1° E.[1] It has an average elevation of 97 metres (318 feet).

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[2] Aruppukottai had a population of 83,999. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Aruppukottai has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 54% of the males and 46% of females literate. 9% of the population is under 6 years of age. Prominent groups in this town are Nadar, Mukkulathor, Saliyar, Devanga chettiyar, Naidu, Reddiar, Mudaliars, Pallars, Parayars, Christians, Muslims, others.

[edit] Economy

Aruppukottai acts mainly as an Educational and Commercial hub for the surrounding villages. It is noted for its cotton industries mainly spinning mills and limestone industries.

Major employers are Spinning mills, Weaving sectors (Handloom & Powerloom), Rice Mills, and Government sector.

Aruppukottai was once known for its handloom weaving industry. Nowadays, we can hardly see any in-house handloom machines (Thari in Tamil) except for few pure Kanchipuram silk handlooms. Weaving industry in Aruppukottai serves mainly the Tamilnadu Governments Free Waistie, Saree Campaign. Agriculture is also a main concern in surrounding areas.

[edit] Worship Centres

'Temples'

  • Sokkanathar swami Temple
  • Shri Amuthalingeswarar Temple
  • Shri Muthumariamman Temple
  • Ayirangan Mariamman Temple
  • Vazhavandamman Temple
  • Malaiarasan Temple
  • Ramar Temple
  • Vinayagar Temple
  • Iyappan Temple
  • Ramalinga Sowdambika amman Temple


Churches

  • CSI
  • Roman Catholic
  • AG church
  • IPC
  • TPM
  • Baptist
  • LEF
  • others

Mosques

  • Main mosque near New Bus stand

[edit] Education

Municipal Schools

  • Municipal Primary School, South Street
  • Municipal Primary School, Ramasamypuram
  • Municipal Middle School, Weavers Colony
  • Municipal Middle School, Madurai Road
  • Municipal Middle School, West Car Street

Government Aided Schools

  • C.S.I. Primary School, Puliampatti
  • C.S.I. Town Primary School, Pandalgudi Road
  • C.S.I. Boarding Middle School, Madurai Road
  • S.B.K. Primary School
  • Hindu Nadar Middle School
  • Devangar Primary School, South Street
  • Devangar Middle School, Puliampatti
  • Devangar Town Middle School, Telephone Road
  • Devangar Middle School, Chokkalingapuram
  • Sengunthar Thirunagaram Primary School
  • Sengunthal Vellakkottai Primary School
  • Velayuthapuram Saliar Mahajana Middle School
  • Vellakkottai Saliar Mahajana Middle School
  • Kammavar Primary School, Puliampatti
  • Kammavar Ramanujar Middle School, Puliampatti
  • Prince of Wales Institute Primary School, Pandalkudi Road
  • MECA Primary School, Valavandapuram street, Madurai Road

High Schools

  • S.T.R.N. Government High School, Pandalkudi Road
  • Sengunthar High School, Thirunagaram

Higher Secondary Schools

  • SBK Higher Secondary School
  • SBK Girls Higher Secondary School
  • Devangar Higher Secondary School
  • Devangar Girls Higher Secondary School
  • CSI Girls Higher Secondary School
  • Saliar Mahajana Higher Secondary School
  • Al-Ameen Muslim Higher Secondary School
  • Senghunthar Higher Secondary School, Vellakottai

Nursery, Primary, Convent and Matriculation Schools

  • Lions Junior Nursery and Primary School
  • Sri Sowdambiga Convent Matriculation School
  • Junior Cambridge Primary and Matriculation School
  • Joseph Carmel Convent Matriculation School
  • Seventhday Adventist Primary and Matriculation School
  • Sivananda Vidyalayam Matriculation School
  • K.S.S Thiagarajan Memorial Primary and Matriculation School
  • Ambigai Vidhyalaya Nursery And Primary School Gandhi Vidhyalayam Matriculation School, Ramasamy Nagar
  • Bharathi Balar Primary School, Ramasamy Nagar
  • Venkateswara Vidhyalaya Nursery and Primary School, Rajiv Nagar
  • B.P.V. Sala Middle School, Palayampatti

Colleges

  • Devanga Arts College
  • SBK College
  • Sowdambiga College of Engineering

Polytechnic

  • Sowdambiga Polytechnic

ITI

  • Sri Jayavilas Memorial Subburaj Industrial training Center, Gandhi Nagar
  • Vivekanda ITI, Kalkuruchi
  • Vinayaka ITI, Peria Vallikulam

[edit] Transportation

Aruppukottai acts as a hub connecting Madurai, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, and Ramanathapuram. Virudhunagar town, which is well connected by roads, is 16 km from Aruppukottai. Madurai, the second biggest city in TamilNadu by population, is only 48 km away. NH 45-B, an important freight-route, connecting Madurai and Thoothukkudi[4 way road in progress] runs through Aruppukottai.

There are many private bus operators who ply the routes to nearby villages. Madurai is one of the most profitable competitive destinations.

1. Jayavilas 2. Chandra Transport 3. Shanmugam Transport 4. Jaya Roadways 5. Amarnath Travels 6.Meenambigai Transport

[edit] Railways

Aruppukottai has one non working Railway station because its having meter gauge only. Thousands of people are travelling to Madurai, it is better to have metro train every 30 mins.

[edit] Current issues

Although it's one of the main routes for connecting the Southern Tamilnadu with Madurai city, the road facilities within the town are poor. Roads are very narrow and riddled.

There was a chronic shortage of drinking water until the year 2005. After plan to bring water from Tamirabarani river has been successfully implemented, this shortage has eased to a great extent.

Although the towns schools produces a lot of top tier students who graduate in top Professional Schools every year, it still lacks any development in industrial sector.Even now one can see a student from Aruppukottai in all top professional colleges. All of them migrate to cities. This can be attributed to the lack of natural resources and water scarcity, or to the urbanization in general. These may be reasons for slow development.

[edit] Festivals

[edit] Thai Pongal

Kolam taken in a house in Aruppukottai during Thai pongal festival
Kolam taken in a house in Aruppukottai during Thai pongal festival

During the Pongal festival kolam is very famous in Aruppukottai. The month of "Margazhi" was eagerly awaited by young women, who would then showcase their skills by covering the entire width of the road with one big kolam! It was indeed a test of mastery, as one cannot repeat a pattern for 30 days.

On Bhogi night, young women will be drawing kolam by spending their entire night. Next day morning they will be roaming their closest streets to see kolams in all houses.

[edit] Panguni Thiruvizha

Every year Panguni Agni Thiruvizha town festival(Similar to famous Chithirai pongal in Maduari) is celebrated here. It features month long exhibition, people carrying Agni Chatti (fire pots) walking on fire (பூக்குழி) and many. Some peoply use to carry 21, 51 or 101 fire pots.During this period many migrated families to other towns and cities too return to native town to participate in the mass celebration.

Exhibition During the Panguni Thiruvizha, exhibition will be conducted in S.B.K. Higher Secondary School's playing ground which acts as a meeting ground for various relatives and friend to share their social aspects and participate and witness local tamilnadu's good cultural programmes. The exhibition serve to bring better bond among the various social groups of Aruppukottai town. This is being organized by Aruppukottai Nadar Uravinmurai Trust.

[edit] Car Festival

Car festival is celebrated on month of june end or july first week. People go with family to temple and enjoy the festival.

[edit] Theppa Thiruvizha

Aruppukottai Theppa Thiruvizha
Aruppukottai Theppa Thiruvizha

Aruppukottai has two theppam (artificial pond to replenish ground water) in the center of the town. one is close to SBK schools.another one is near to sowdambika polytechnic. If these theppam are filled during the kaarthigai month (mid-November to mid-December), theppa thiruvizha will be celebrated here. This festival is celebrated during the Kaarthigai day in Kaarthigai month. God in a car will be floated in the theppam.

[edit] Cinema

Some of the cinema theatres in Aruppukottai include:

  • Tamil Mani(DTS)
  • Illaya Rani(A/C & DTS)
  • Rani(DTS)
  • Maha Rani(DTS)
  • Lakshmi
  • Queens Nachiar

[edit] References

  1. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Aruppukottai
  2. ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.

Mariammn temple