Chidambaram

Chidambaram
Chidambaram Location of Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu and India
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District(s)	Cuddalore leader_title =
Population	58,968 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 3 m (10 ft)

Chidambaram is a municipality in Tamil Nadu and the taluk (tehsil) headquarters of the Cuddalore district. Located at 11°23′58.87″N 79°41′37.04″E / 11.3996861°N 79.6936222°E / 11.3996861; 79.6936222, it is 11 km from the coast, 20 km from the towns Kollidam and Sirkazhi, and 240 km south of Chennai by rail in the Kollidam River Valley.^[1] It has an average elevation of 3 metres (9 ft).

Chidambaram is a major pilgrimage site for Shaivites as well as Vaishnavites, where one of the holiest and ancient temples of Hinduism is located.

Chidambaram is the birthplace of the winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry - Venkatraman Ramakrishnan.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census^[2], Chidambaram had a population of 58,968. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Chidambaram has an average literacy rate of 80%, significantly higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 84% and female literacy of 76%. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Chidambaram Temple

The ancient Chidambaram Temple (Tamil: சிதம்பரம் கோயில் ) is dedicated to Lord Shiva in His form of the Cosmic Dancer (Nataraja நடராசர்) as well as to Lord Govindaraja Perumal, making it one of the few temples where both the Shaivite and Vaishnavite deities are enshrined in one place. It is one of the panchabhoota sthalam - representing five basic elements. This is the Akasa Sthalam representing 'Space' among the Pancha Bootha Sthalams. The others are - Tiruvannamalai (Thejo sthalam - Fire) Kanchipuram (Prithvi sthalam - Earth) Kalahasti (Vayu sthalam - Air) Tiruvanaikaval (Appu sthalam - Water). The temple houses the Akasha Lingam of Shiva and is one of the greatest Shiva Temples of Tamilnadu. The Govindaraja shrine was opened in 1639 C.E. by a Telugu/Kannada Nayak chief of that area.^[3] It hosts the most ancient set of 108 Karana stone carvings, the key dance movements of Nataraja. The temple complex is spread over 40 acres (160,000 m²) in the heart of the city. Many thousands of devotees come to this auspicious temple to pay homage to the deities.

Traditional crafts

In Chidambaram, one can find a number of families who have been engaged in the gold and silver ornament-making business for a very long time. The art is taught by one generation to the next. Most of the artifacts are hand created and hence are rich in quality and artistry.

Education

Chidambaram is home to the Annamalai University. It is home to reputed medical and nursing schools.

Hospitals

Chidambaram is home to many reputed hospitals such as Government General Hospital, Arul Nursing Home, Dr. Palani Swaminathan Hospital, M.R.V. Medical Centre, and Thillai Nursing Home. Vishnu Nursing Home and Hospitals headed by Dr. P. Venkateswarlu, in nearby Kollidam is a one of the top super-speciality hospitals in the region. It also offers a state of the art maternity ward, pharmacy, charitable wing, and nursing school.

Transport

It is on the Cuddalore-Chennai highway and frequent buses are available from major cities in Tamil Nadu. Buses and taxis are available to the Kollidam-Sirkazhi region. A major rail station is near the city.

Politics

Chidambaram assembly constituency is part of Chidambaram (Lok Sabha constituency).^[4]

Real Estate

Like many areas in Tamil Nadu, real estate in the Chidambaram area is booming. Plots in the center of the city sell for 3-5,000 rupees per square foot. In the nearby Kollidam-Sirkazhi area, prime land can be gotten for 2-3 crores an acre.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Chidambaram

• CHIDAMBARAM ENCYCLOPEDIA சிதம்பரம் பற்றிய களஞ்சியம்
• For the chidambaram temple.
• Cited and adapted from "Chidambaram", Encyclopedia Britannica (1911).
• "Enchanting Tamil Nadu" see Places --> Chidambaram
• cited from "122. Koyil (Chidambaram), Abodes of Shiva," TempleNet
• Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India
• Chidambaram travel guide from Wikitravel

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

See also

• Chidambaram (Lok Sabha constituency)
• Chidambaram

v • d • e State of Tamil Nadu  · Topics: Cinema · Cuisine · Economy · Government · History · Language · Literature · Music · People · Politics · Temples · Wildlife Capital: Chennai  · State bird: Emerald Dove  · State Animal: Nilgiri Tahr  · State Tree: Palm Tree  · State flower: Gloriosa Lily  · Districts: Ariyalur · 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 · Tirupur · Tiruvallur · Tiruvannamalai · Tiruvarur · Vellore · Viluppuram · Virudhunagar Major cities: Chennai  · Coimbatore  · Erode  · Madurai  · Salem · Tiruchirapalli · Tirunelveli  · Tirupur  · Tuticorin · Vellore Protected areas: Biosphere Reserves: · Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve · Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve · Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve · National Parks: Guindy National Park · Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park · Indira Gandhi National Park · Mudumalai National Park · Mukurthi National Park · Palani Hills National Park Wildlife Sanctuaries: Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary · Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary · Vallanadu Wildlife Sanctuary · Bird Sanctuaries: Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary · Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary · Conservation reserves: Tiruvidaimarudur Conservation Reserve Tamil Nadu Portal