Dindigul (dĭn'dĭgĕl), city (1991 pop. 182,477), Tamil Nadu state, S India. It is a railroad junction and a trade center for hides, food grains, coffee, and spices. Industries include cotton milling and handicrafts such as jewelry.
Dindigul
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| Dindigul | |
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| Coordinates | 10°21′N 77°57′E / 10.35°N 77.95°E |
| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District(s) | Dindigul |
| Population | 196,619 (2004[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 268 m (879 ft) |
Dindigul (Tamil: திண்டுக்கல்) is a town and municipality in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India.
It is the 13th largest town in Tamil Nadu after the cities, Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Salem, Erode, Tirunelveli, Tirupur, Vellore, Thoothukudi, Thanjavur and Nagercoil. It is the administrative headquarters of Dindigul district.
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Etymology
The Huge Hill at Dindigul resembles a pillow. Thus, the city is known as Dindigul, a portmanteau from the Indian 'Thindu' for pillow, and 'kal' for rock. Also commonly known as the "City of Locks and Tannery", it is a fast growing tier-4 city.
History
The history of Dindigul revolves around the Dindigul Fort built by the Nayaks of Madurai. This was a position of great strategic importance, as it had commanding views of the passes into Madurai from the north side. The fort figured prominently in the military operations of the Madurai Nayaks, Kingdom of Mysore, Hyder Ali, Marathas, and the Polygar War in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was captured by the British thrice, in 1767, 1783 and 1790, Finally, in 1799 it was ceded to British Empire. The existence of this major fort resulted in a considerable population in the area, which eventually became to be known as Dindigul.
Geography
Dindigul is located at 10°21′N 77°57′E / 10.35°N 77.95°E.[1] It has an average elevation of 268 metres (879 feet). It is 130 km from Coimbatore and 100 km from Tiruchirapalli and 64 km from Madurai and 75 km from Karur and 84 km from Kodaikanal hills.
Demographics
As of 2004[update] India census,[2] Dindigul had a population of 196,619. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Dindigul has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 64.8%: male literacy is 84% and, female literacy is 74%. In Dindigul, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Industries
Dindigul is known for its leather tanning Industry. Besides tanning, the city is home to a major textile spinning industry, which ranks second only to Coimbatore in spindlage capacity. During his period or rule, MGR, the them chief minister of Tamilnadu gave away grants to start and run spinning industries in Dindigul to promote the industrial development of the district. Now vedasandur, a suburb of Dindigul has so many spinning mills.
Chinnalapatti, which is located 11 kilometres from Dindigul, is known for its flourishing hand loom industry. Silk art, known as Sarees, and sungudi produced in Chinnalapatti are famous throughout India. More than 1000 families are engaged in this industry.
Another famous manufacturing item from Dindigul is Hand loom sarees. Particularly in Nagal nagar area hundreds of Sourashtra community people are doing hand loom sarees manufacturing. The hand loom sarees looks very rich like silk sarees. But the cost is very low. Keeping these sarees like the silk sarees, it can be used for more years.
Dindigul city is an important wholesale market for onions and groundnuts (peanuts). Panneer Grapes which is a speciality type of black grapes which is specific to Dindigul.
Dindigul is primarily an agro-based town of Tamil Nadu. About 70% of the total population earns their livelihood directly or indirectly through Agriculture. There are about 165 Rice mills in and around Dindigul. Many flour mills such as Naga, Vishalakshi are located there. Anil Semia, Savorite Semia industries are located in Dindigul.
Dindigul Locks
Iron-lock steel safes made in Dindugul are known for good quality and durability. The lock manufacturing in Dindugul is operated as a co-operative sector. Dindugal locks are sold to local, national, and international markets.
Tobacco
Dindigul has been a centre of tobacco trade and a manufacturer of cigars from the time of British rule. A favorite cigar of Winston Churchill, the 'Light of Asia', was produced in Dindigul. The tobacco industry is one of the main sources of employment for the inhabitants of Dindigul.
Sirumalai
Sirumalai hill is very famous hill near to Dindigul city located just 24 km from Dindigul. Travel Direction: Start your journey towards Natham from Dindigul. Sirumalai hill is very famous for it's bananas(known as siru'malai' vaalaipalam). Sirumalai hill's bananas is exported to Foreign countries from past. Another important thing to be noted is many rare herbs are available in Sirumali hill. Hence, Sirumalai hill is very popular among the Sidha medical practioners.
As a tourist spot the developments for the artificial lake is on construction and soon will be opened for boating expected, by mid of 2010. The students from schools & colleges go for treking and for other fun activities. The Hill has totally 20 hair-pin bends and on the middle of the travel you can able to find a church and a view point from where you can watch the beauty of Dindigul city also the "Dindigul Rock Fort" and few lakes. The climate here is enjoyable and it is too cool once you reach top of the hill town.
Dindigul Briyani
Dindigul is very famous for Briyani.[3]. Briyani prepared in Dindigul uses a small rice called seeraga samba and with special ingredients. Some of the famous shops in Dindigul are Thalappa Kattu Hotel(Very famous for over 50 years), Ponram Hotel and Venu Hotel.[4].[5]. Dindigul Briyani is very famous among politicians and tamil cinema stars.[6].Now Thalappa Kattu hotel has branches in Chennai,Batlagundu,Coimbatore while Venu Hotel is having branches in Coimbatore. Ponram Hotel is having nearly 10 branches in Dindigul itself.
Entertainment
The sole entertainment mean for the residence of Dindigul is the theaters which are present in the city. There were few parks like kumaran park which has reached near fatality due to its ill maintenance.
The theaters in Dindigul are:
- Rajendra-Uma Complex
- Reliance BIG cinemas ( Formerly Naga-Lakshmi)
- Aarthi-Siva Complex
- Vijay
- Sakthi
- Central
- Ganesh
Sports
Football is popular sports in Dindigul, and many professional players have come from Dindigul district. The Dindigul Football Association (DFA) works closely with the Tamil Nadu Football Association to conduct tournaments for both junior and senior levels. Kitti Kambu also is a famous sport.and also St.Mary's Hr.Sec.School has a sports hostel
Education
Dindigul is home to a large number of middle and secondary schools, including Annamalaiar Mills Girls Hr Sec School, St.Joseph's Girls Higher Secondary School, St.Mary's Higher secondary School, SMB Matriculation School, MSP Solai Nadar Memorial Higher Secondary School, and John Paul Higher Secondary School. There are a few C.B.S.E schools as well like Soundararaja Vidyalaya and Maharishi Vidya Mandir, as well as a large number of universities and colleges. Significant colleges include the RVS College of Engineering & Technology, the PSNA College of Engineering and Technology, the link GRUGandhigram Rural University, the GTN Arts & Science College, the Rama Prabha College of Arts & Science, and the MVM Arts and Science College.
Pilgrim centre
There are many temples in and around the city. There is a samadhi, for Siddha Purusha called Odha Samiyar. The number and significance of the temples in the area mean that Dindigul is a major destination for many pilgrims.
In the middle of the city a famous temple for Lord Padmagreeshwarar i.e. Lord Shiva. But, this temple is commonly called as "Abirami Amman Kovil" It has come to know that this temple is situated with in the fort of Dindigul Rockfort and because of war, the temple is shifted to the present place. Another famous temple is Arulmigu Srinivasa perumal kovil which is situated very near to Rockfort. This is also a very old temple. In full moon days, the devotees gather in Abirami amman temple and go "Giri valam" around the Rock fort.A temple for Sri Hanuman stands adjacent to the fort.
Another famous temple situated at the bottom of the Rockfort is Mariamman temple. In Mariamman temple Lordess Mariamman is giving blessings and by which the devotees get solvation for their problems. During the Months of January to February, famous Mariamman festival is celebrated in this temple. Lakh and lakh of people come and participate in this function from various parts of Tamil nadu. Hence, the people come to Dindigul may plan to visit such holy temples also.
Away from Dindigul town, there is a temple for sree chakkarathalwar and one temple for Sree venugopalaswamy in a small mount on the way to vedasandur.
Dindigul town has a very huge church located in the heart of the town. Apart from that, there are many other small churches and prayer halls located all around the town.
The "Big Mosque" in Begambur can be considered as the biggest mosque in the town as the name insists. Apart from that there are few other mosques and darkas in round road and other places of town.
On December-2009, a temple for Sai Baba is also opened in the town.
Travel & Connections
Dindigul town is well connected by both rail and road. Dindigul is en-route NH-47 which is considered to be the important NH in India. Dindigul bus stand is called as Kamarajar Bus stand. It was named so to honour Tamilnadu's then CM kamarajar. There are direct buses plying to Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, Theni, Karur, Palani, Pollachi, Coimabtore, Erode, Bangalore.
Dindigul railway station is a major Junction located in Southern Railway's Madurai Division. Dindigul Junctionn has connections to Madurai Junction in south, Karur Junction in North, Trichy Junction in East. Connection to Pollachi Junction in west is under renovation as gauge replacement work is going on.
The nearest airport is Madurai airport and the nearest international airport is in Chennai.
Politics
Dindigul assembly constituency is part of Dindigul (Lok Sabha constituency).[7]
Colleges
- PSNA Engineering College (Palani Road)
- RVS Engineering and Polytechnic College (Karur Road)
- NPR Engineering,Arts & Polytechnic College (Natham Road)
- M.V.M Arts college (Vedasandur Road)
- GTN Arts College (Karur Road)
- Parvathy Arts College (Madurai Road)
- Ramprabha Arts college (Natham Road)
- PVP College (Pannikadu Veerammal Paramasivam College, Banthalagundu)
- Christian Engineering & Polytechnic College(Oddanchatram)
References
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Dindigul
- ^ "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. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.thalappakatti.com
- ^ http://coimbatore.justdial.com/dindigul-venu-biriyani_gandhipuram_Coimbatore_qiydfwbDTSjhfPeraq.htm
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biryani
- ^ "List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies" (PDF). Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India. http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S22/TN_ACPC.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dindigul |
- Information about Dindigul - thedindigulonline.com
- Peaceful accommodations near to Dindigul: Some eco-friendly resorts are along the northern boarder of the Kamrajar Lake - 22 km South of Dindigul on the way to Kodaiknal- not far from Athoor village [2]
See also
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