Denkanikottai

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?Denkanikottai Tamil Nadu • India
Coordinates: (find coordinates)
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
District(s)	Krishnagiri
Population	19,331 (2001)

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Denkanikottai is a panchayat town in Krishnagiri district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is an agrarian economy depending on the agricultural output of surrounding villages in its taluk. Pettairaya Swamy Temple (Bettaraya Swamy Temple) and Holy Dharga are popular sacred shrines in Denkanikottai.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Flora and Fauna
4 Demographics
5 References

[edit] History

In 1654 A.D., Kantirave Narasa Raja of Srirangapatinam seized Denkanikotta from Gathi Mudaliars. The territory later moved into the hands of Hyder Ali. Later it was part of the struggle between the British and Hyder.

[edit] Geography

Denkanikottai is located at 12°31'11"N 77°46'48"E. It is situated on the south-western extreme of the Deccan plateau, east of the western ghats. The forest area of Denkanikottai forms the prime elephant habitat in the district. It is part of the Cauvery Elephant Reserve (450 sq km). It has dry but pleasant weather conditions throughout the year.

[edit] Flora and Fauna

The district is a paradise for nature lovers. The flora include a variety of timber trees like Rose wood, Teak, Sandal etc. Hundreds of medicinal herbs, minor forest plants like nelli, kadukkai, cheekai, pungam, etc. The following trees like 'Charakkonnai' ('Cassia histula'). Since pungam trees are found in abundance in this forest pungam oil is extracted from the seeds of this tree, creating a non-polluting Bio-fuel.

The major wild animals include Elephants, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Gaur, Wild boar, Panther, etc. The forest area of Denkanikottai Taluk forms the prime elephant habitat with lot of bamboos and this area constitutes the Cauvery elephant reserve, which is constituted over an area of about 450 sq. km. The bird population is also attractive with beautiful birds like the Paradise flycatcher. Big lakes in Anchetti and Hosur areas also attract large number of migratory birds like Painted storks, Teals etc. In addition to these birds and mammals, there are variety of butterflies, giant spiders etc. that are coming under endangered list. Kodakkarai shoal forest in Denkanikottai Taluk is known for large scale migratory butterflies during a particular season; then one can observe thousands of migratory butterflies passing through this forest like a passing cloud.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census^[1], Denkanikottai had a population of 19,331. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Denkanikottai has an average literacy rate of 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 70% and, female literacy is 57%. In Denkanikottai, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age. It was once primarily inhabited by the Irula tribes. A lot of Kannada speaking people are resident here.