Tharamangalam
| Tharamangalam தாரமங்கலம் | |
|---|---|
| city | |
  Tharamangalam | |
| Coordinates: 11°42′N 77°59′E / 11.70°N 77.98°ECoordinates: 11°42′N 77°59′E / 11.70°N 77.98°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Salem |
| Elevation | 275 m (902 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 22,092 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Vehicle registration | TN-30 |
Tharamangalam (also transliterated as Taramangalam) is a panchayat town in Salem district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Geography
Tharamangalam is located at 11°42′N 77°59′E / 11.70°N 77.98°E.[1] It has an average elevation of 275 m (902 ft). It is located in the Salem District in northwestern Tamil Nadu, and about 27 km west of Salem city.
Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[2] Tharamangalam had a population of 0. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Tharamangalam has an average literacy rate of 59%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 66%, and female literacy is 51%. In Tharamangalam, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. Most of the inhabitants belong to the Senguntha Mudaliar community
Attractions and places of interest
Tharamangalam is famous for its beautiful and historic Kailasanathar temple. The temple features exquisite stone carvings of the Yali (mythological dragon), depicted with an actual stone ball inside its mouth (one can even put one's finger inside the Yaali's mouth and rotate the ball). The Kailasanthar Temple also has a carving of Manmathan looking at Siva and Parvathi, where if you look from Manmathan's side both Siva and Parvathi are visible but if you look from Parvathi's side, Manmathan is not visible since he is supposed to be hiding from Siva's view. Also depicted at the temple is a scene from the Hindu epic Ramayanam (Vali & Sukrivan fighting, depicted on one pillar, and Lord Ram with bow and arrow aiming to kill Vali depicted on another pillar).
It is a Siva temple, perhaps the most beautiful of its kind in Salem District. Parts of it existed as early as the tenth century; as it stands now, it is the product of the Gatti Mudhali dynasty of the seventeenth century. Reconstruction and elaboration of the old temple was begun by Mummudi Gatti Mudaliyar, continued by Siyazhi Gatti Mudaliyar, and was brought near completion by Vanangamudi Gatti Mudaliyar.
This west-facing temple is enclosed by a massive stone wall measuring 306 by 164 feet (93 by 50 m) reportedly built in the thirteenth century. The main entrance tower (5 storeys 90 feet (27 m) high) is conceived as a chariot on wheels, drawn by elephants and horses. The huge entrance doors, made of vengai (pterocarpus marsupium) wood, are studded with unrusting iron knobs each of a different pattern. Their panels are decorated with wooden carvings depicting incarnations of Vishnu.
The entrance to the inner sanctum is through a portico supported by six sumptuously carved stone pillars. The scenes of tiger hunting by princes seated on horses and accompanied by footmen are depicted very realistically and with great sensitivity. A pillar of yazhi (a mythical animal combining features of the lion and the elephant) is so ingeniously carved that a stone ball (4' diameter) in its mouth can be freely rolled but cannot be rolled out. The wooden doors of the portico are adorned with twenty four panels of excellent carving, some of which have been vandalized. The motifs for these carvings are drawn from the divine exploits of Siva and scenes from the daily lives of ordinary people.
The great hall is a fine gallery of sculptures of men, women, and gods, among which the sculpture of the voluptuous rishi pathini (sages wife) is notable.
The ceiling is supported by rows of stone pillars from whose capitals hang elegant chains carved out of solid stone. The ceiling in front of the main shrine is covered by a block of stone seven feet in diameter carved in the shape of an inverted open lotus with parrots. This carving is surrounded by the Gatti Mudhali insignia. The outer walls of the inner most sanctum are covered with inscriptions.
Every year on February 21, and the subsequent three days, a great solar and architectural wonder can be seen in the temple. During sunset, the rays of the sun travel down through the front Gopura at the temple's entrance gate and through a small hole in the and travels across the front plane to fall directly onto the statue of Siva. The movement of the sun beam can be witnessed as it progresses across the front of the temple, making the lingam appear to glow.
Several gigantic monolithic pillars of pink granite carved, polished, and ready for erection in the proposed Thousand Pillar Hall lie outside the temple. More are said to be under the ground. Before this project could be completed, Vanangamudi Gatti Mudaliyar was killed in 1667, leaving the foreground of the temple littered with ruins of a noble dream.
A temple tank (about 180 by 180 feet (55 by 55 m)) is one of the finest of its kind in South India. Thirty-six Nandhi sculptures (two feet high) of black stone sit at intervals on top of the parapet wall whose inside holds 365 lamp niches, one for every day of the year. Only once in 1873 the pool was cleaned by the Salem Local Fund Board.
Sri Kaarkisvarar temple, Sri Marriamman and Sri Selliamman temple, Sri Subramaya Swamy temple and Perumal and Sri Iyyappan temple are other major temples.
Education and Economy
Education
Higher Secondary Schools
Sengunthar Mahajana Higher Secondary School
Sengunthar Matriculation Higher Secondary School
Govt Girls Higher Secondary School
Srii Jothi Higher Secondary School
Vethattiri Matriculation Higher Secondary School
Secondary School
Vanniya Kula Shatriyan School.
St Charles Matriculation School
Upper Primary school
Panchayat Union Middle School
Kids College Tharamangalm
Primary Schools
N S Paattappan Vidyalaya
Panchayat Union Elementary Schools
Colleges
Sengunthar Teacher Training Institute.
Sengunthar College of Education
Sri Jaya Jothi College Of Education
Sri Vetrivel College Of Education
The town also has a small public library which is located center of the town.
Business
Tharamanagalam also famous for its textile business and much of the town economy relies on textile-related skills (manufacturing and selling). Almost half of the workers here are power loom(Auto Loom) and hand loom weavers. Hotel business is also famous, parotta made from these hotels are very tasty and cheaper and bakery sweets also very good.
Transportation
BUS
Salem, 18 km away, is the nearest major city to Tharamangalam and is well-connected with public and private bus services.
TRAIN
Salem also has the nearest major train junction (station), from which metropolises such as Bengaluru and Chennai are just a few hours ride away.
AIR
Airport is located on Salem-Bangalore Highway (NH-7)in a place called Kaamalapuram which is about 20 minutes drive from the city. After long time,Kingfisher airlines launched an ATR-72 daily service flight to Chennai on Nov 2009 . Salem Airport is being connected by Kingfisher Airlines from Chennai.
The other nearest major airports are at Trichy (150 km) and Coimbatore (160 km).
References
- ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Tharamangalam
- ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
See also
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