Dharmapuri district

Dharmapuri district
தருமபுரி(தர்மபுரி) மாவட்டம்
Tharumapuri district
District

Hogenakkal Waterfalls on the Kaveri river

Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 12°7′33.6″N 78°9′14.4″E / 12.126000°N 78.154000°ECoordinates: 12°7′33.6″N 78°9′14.4″E / 12.126000°N 78.154000°E
Country  India
State Tamil Nadu
Headquarters Dharmapuri
Revenue divisions Dharmapuri, Harur
Government
 • Collector Thiru K. Vivekanandan , IAS
 • Superintendent of Police Dr J. Loganathan, IPS
Population (2011)
 • Total 1,506,843
Languages
 • Official Tamil
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 636 701
Telephone code 04342
ISO 3166 code IN
Vehicle registration TN-29[1]
Largest city Dharmapuri
Largest metro Dharmapuri
Central location: 12°7′N 78°9′E / 12.117°N 78.150°E
Website dharmapuri.nic.in

Dharmapuri District is a district in Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The district came into existence from October 10, 1965. Dharmapuri is the district headquarters. Dharmapuri town is historically called "Thakadoor". As of 2011, the district had a population of 1,506,843 with a sex-ratio of 946 females for every 1,000 males.

History

The earliest known chieftain who ruled Tagadur (present Dharmapuri) during the Sangam era, is Adigaman Naduman Anji, whose patronage sustained the famous Tamil poetess Avvaiyar. The region is believed to have been controlled by the Pallava regime in the 18th century.

In the beginning of the 9th century, the Rashtrakutas gained power and influenced the history of the district for the next two centuries. The Rashtrakutas were defeated by the Cholas, and subsequently the district came under the Chola sphere of governance.

The present Dharmapuri district was then a part of the Salem district. During the British rule in the country and even till 1947 Dharmapuri was one of the Taluks of Salem District. The Dharmapuri district was formed as a separate district on 02/10/1965 with its headquarters at Dharmapuri. Thiru G.Thirumal I.A.S was the first Collector of Dharmapuri district.

The Dharmapuri district was bifurcated into present-day Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts on 09/02/2004.[2]

Geography

The district is located between latitudes N 11 47’ and 12 33’ and longitudes E 77 02’ and 78 40’. Occupies an area of 4497.77 km² (i.e. 3.46% of Tamil Nadu) and has a population of 2,856,300 (as of 2001). It is bounded on the north by Krishnagiri District, on the east by Tiruvannamalai District and Viluppuram District districts, on the south by Salem District, and on the west by Karnataka's Chamarajanagar District. The Whole district is surrounded by hills and forests.

Climate and Rainfall

The climate of the Dharmapuri District is generally warmm. The hottest period of the year is generally from the months of March to May, the highest temperature going up to 38 C in April. The Climate becomes cool in December and continuous so up to February, touching a minimum of 17 C in January. On an average the District receives an annual rainfall of 895.56 mm.

Governance

Dharmapuri is the district headquarters. The district has been divided into two revenue divisions namely Dharmapuri and Harur consisting 5 taluks.

Administrative divisions

Revenue divisions: Dharmapuri and Harur.

Revenue taluks: Dharmapuri, Harur, Palakkodu, Pennagaram, and Pappireddipatti.

Town Panchayats: Harur, Marandahalli, Bommidi, Palakkodu, Pennagaram, Karimanagalam, Kambainallur, Papparapatti, Kadathur, Pappireddipatti.

Panchayat Unions: Dharmapuri, Harur, Nallampalli, Palakkodu, Pennagaram, Karimanagalam, Morappur, Pappireddipatti.

Demographics

According to 2011 census, Dharmapuri district had a population of 1,506,843 with a sex-ratio of 946 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.[3] A total of 167,940 were under the age of six, constituting 87,777 males and 80,163 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 16.29% and 4.18% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the district was 60.9%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.[3] The district had a total of 375,873 households. There were a total of 751,170 workers, comprising 191,080 cultivators, 217,062 main agricultural labourers, 11,308 in house hold industries, 233,546 other workers, 98,174 marginal workers, 10,248 marginal cultivators, 50,283 marginal agricultural labourers, 4,033 marginal workers in household industries and 33,610 other marginal workers.[4] The population of the district is roughly equal to the nation of Gabon[5] or the US state of Hawaii.[6]

Economy

Agriculture & Horiculture

Farm lands, near Pappireddipatti

The district economy is mainly agrarian in nature. Nearly 70% of the workforce is dependent on agriculture and allied activities. The district is one among most backward and drought prone area in the state.

Dharmapuri district also forms a major horticultural belt in the state. As the area is drought – prone it has become essential to switch over to cultivation of drought tolerant perennial fruit crops in this district. Mango is the main horticulture crop of this District. It has the highest area under the fruit crops . The district accounts for nearly one-third area under mango and nearly one-half of the mango yield in the state. Palacode is the main area where tomato is cultivated. Chilli is cultivated mainly at Pennagaram.

Crop Area under cultivation(in hect.) in %
Paddy (Sornavari / Kuruvai / Kar / Samba / Thallady / Pisanam/ Navarai / Kodai) 9,465 5.60%
Millets(Ragi) 18,243 10.80%
Other Minor Millets 69,162 40.90%
Pulses 40,441 23.90%
Sugar Cane 11,971 07.10%
Mango 6,506 03.80%
Coconut 7,037 04.20%
Tamarind 1,197 00.70%
Other Crops 5,067 03.00%
Total 1,69,089 km

Fisheries

Dharmapuri being an inland district, fishing is restricted to inland only here. Main varieties of fish available are katla, rogu, mirgal, common and corp.

Mineral Resources

Dharmapuri district is endowed with sizeable reserves of granite. High quality black granite is available in Pennagaram, Harur and Palacode blocks. Quartz is available at Kendiganapalli Village of Pennagaram Taluk, A.Velampatti of Harur taluk and Pethathampatti of Pappireddipatti Taluk. Another High value mineral available here is Molibdinum, which is identified as a good conductor. It is available in Harur.

Tourism

View of Vaiyar Dam

Tourism in Dharmapuri district is a fast expanding industry. The Kaveri river flows into the state through the district, and Hogenakkal, a town situated 46 km from Dharmapuri is the site where the river drops into as a scenic waterfall.

Another important tourist destination in the state is the hill-temple at Theerthamalai in Harur taluk which is a sacred religious place for the Hindus, and which had been existent right from the times of the Chola and the Vijayanagara empires.[7]

There are temples built by the Ganga Dynasty in Dharmapuri and Adiamankottai. These include Mallikarjuna Temple in Dharmapuri, with special mention of Bhirava, Ashtadig Palakas etc. and an old basadi in Adiamankottai.

Vathalmalai or Vytla Hills (Tamil: வத்தல்மலை) is a Village in Dharmapuri taluk and Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu having an area measuring nearly 225 km². Most of the native flora and fauna of Vytla have disappeared due to severe habitat fragmentation resultant from the creation of the plantations. However, some species continue to survive and thrive in several protected areas nearby, include Sheverayan Hills (Yercaud). These protected areas are especially known for several threatened and endemic species including Nilgiri Thar, the Grizzled Giant Squirrel, the Nilgiri Wood-pigeon, the Gaur, wild pig, the Nilgiri langur, the Sambar, and the Neelakurinji (that blossoms only once in twelve years). It is a small village situated at 3600 ft height (MSL). It is 25 km away from Dharmapuri Town (17 km to reach bottom of the hill and 8 km to hill top).

References

  1. ↑ www.tn.gov.in
  2. ↑ "History of Dharmapuri District". Dharmapuri District Official TN Website. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Census Info 2011 Final population totals". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Census Info 2011 Final population totals - Dharmapuri district". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  5. ↑ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 2011-10-01. Gabon 1,576,665
  6. ↑ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Hawaii 1,360,301
  7. ↑ "Dharmapuri". tamilnadutourism.org. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
8. Dharmapuri- Idhu Namba Ooru Machi

External links