My home town Dharapuram

Dharapuram ( தாராபுரம்) is a town and a municipality in the Tirupur district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Dharapuram one of the Oldest Town in Tiruppur District. Dharapuram, then known as Rajarajapuram was the capital of Kongu Nadu under Kongu Cholas. The Amaravathi River flows through the ancient city of Dharapuram. It's the birth place of Tamil actor Nagesh.

Geography

Dharapuram is located at 10.73°N 77.52°E.It has an average elevation of 245 metres (803 feet). It is strategically located in the line of Palakkad pass from where it gets lot of wind for its numerous windmills. Water scarcity is high here.

Early history

Dharapuram and the region around the town were part of the Chera and Kongu country in ancient times. They had their own Chera and Kongu kings ruling them till 850 A.D. Thereafter (in 1000 A.D. - 1275 A.D.) it was ruled by the Kongu Cholas who renamed Dharapuram as Rajarajapuram (also Viradapuram) and made it as their military and political headquarters because the Cholan capital was under invasion by an hitherto unknown group in South India called Kalabhars during the dark age of Tamilakam. Sometime later, the Pandyan empire took control of the region (from 1276 A.D.). A Pandyan ruler Veerapandian made Kalingarayar, a Kongu chieftain (meaning slayer of Kalinga King's head in battlefield), the Prime minister of the Pandyan empire. During this period, the famous Kalingarayan Channel was dug by this visionary and it continues to irrigate the region.
The Viradapuram Raja built a famous fort in the heart of Rajarajapuram but it is in bad state now and no care is taken by the authorities to revamp it. Then the Muslims (Modern Sulthans) took over the rule after which Nayaks of Madurai ruled. Then Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan had their sway. In 1799 when Tippu fell to the British, the East Indian Company took over the administration. It's famous for its Aanjeeneya Temple. British had their military camp in Therupatti village on the Palani road, regularly practicing rifle firing in the Kannimar Hills. The ancient foundry of the Chera, Kongu Nadu (Kollan Pattari) is also found to be in the same village. In ancient times, Dharapuram was known as Viradapuram with significant links to the events of the epic Mahabharata. Dharapuram and Coimbatore got the status of Municipality on the same day.
Dharapuram Municipality was promoted 1st grade municipality on May 6, 1983. That time Tirupur was a township in 1983. Dharapuram Town is situated along the bank of River Amaravathi with an extent of 9.62 km².The town attained the status of a Municipality in the year 1916 and functioning as the First Grade Municipality from 06.05.1983. The town developments completely depend on the agriculture and textile trade.
During British times, Dharapuram was the Capital of South Noyyal Dt., and Bhavani was the capital of North Noyyal Dt., now it is in Thirupur district.

Demographics

• As of 2001 India census, Dharapuram had a population of 78,137. Males constitute 49.6% of the population and females 50.4%. The majority of the people in the town belongs to the Gounder community

• Dharapuram is one of the biggest Taluks in Tirupur. One side of it is bordered by the Kodaikkanal mountain ranges. It stands on the banks of the holy Amaravathi River, a tributary of the Kaveri River.

• P. Anaipalyam is one of the small villages. Nallathankal Dam is near the village.

• Dharapuram also has a number of Windmills as it gets a large amount of wind through the Palakkad pass. In addition, it is very near the Murugan temple of Palani hills.

• The river Amaravathi flows through the town before joining cauvery. There are many temples around the town like Lord Shiva temple in the banks of the river, Thillapuraiamman Temple in the bank of Amaravathy River, Mariamman temple and Neelambur kaaliamman temple. It is located in karaiyur, karur main road, 10 km from dharapuram. It is one the famous temples in the city. The temple was celebrated on every year Tamil month maasi sivarathri night by kumaraplayam cherran kulam peoples.

Eswaran Malai

A Siva temple at Ponnivadi village on a small hill known as Eswaran Malai very close to Nallathangal Dam.

• The Amaravathi river is one of the very special river in South India coz the flow from the south to north is (Amaravathi reaches their fall in Lord God Shiva's foot Himalaya) is notified. Uppar River, Nallathankal River, Palar (of palani) all join river Amaravathi, temples and village on the banks of river Amaravathi shows the ancient history.

• It also possesses the Kadu Hanumantharaya Swami Temple which one of the sacred temples for Lord Hanuman. This is one of the Akila Bharatha Madwa Shekthram. Every year the month of may car festival celebrating by the devotees. Car festival every year Narashimma Jeyanthi Day. In Tamil Nadu the Hanumath Jayanthi (Lord Anjaneya Swami's Date of Birth) is celebrated on the new moon day of the Markazhi month.

• Bhagavan Koil which is very famous and Ugadhi is celebrated here in April, nearer to temple small dam is on Nallathankal River and easwaran temple on small hill. Ugathi function is celebrated on every year at the day of Telugu new year. 3 days function is going well on every year. Special buses operate during the festival from Dharapuram and Oddanchathram.

• Bhagavan Koil (called Chinna Bhagavan) in D. Kumarapalayam is also very famous, and it is located around 10 km from Dharapuram. Here also Ugadhi festival is celebrated every year. The devotees mainly are from Gounder and Chettiyar community.
• Shri Angalamman temple is also very familiar for Gounder community which is located at Ponnivadi. Ponnivadi is 15 km away from Dharapuram. The Sevvaya kulam people celebrate Ugadhi every year in this temple.

• Kottai Mariamman Temple in the bank of Amaravathy River near Sankarandampalayam is very famous for cures of eye problems. Sri Rathinamoorthy Samy temple is near by to Kottai Mariamman temple, Thean Easwaran Temple and Sri Periya Nachiamman Temple are also situated on the same river Bank near the village "Kothanoor" (Kotrai Nadu)

• Konguvadukanatha Swami (Bairavar) with Siva, ShivakamiAmman, Perumal and Murugan is very ancient and very famous. It is situated in Kundadam on Coimbatore Road. Saint Kongu Siddhar lived around Oothiyur hill. Konganar siddhar has visited this hill, Shiva temple is in the hill and nearby Vatta malai.

• 'Chakrathalvar Koil in bank of the river Amaravathi at Athukalputhur is also famous temple for God Chakrathalvar. It has a uppar dam which situated 10 km west of city.

• mamangam koilwith sivalingam, amman, ganesh temple is very ancient and famous it is situated in kanchipuram (suriyanallure) on Coimbatore Road. For every 12 years, there was well in temple it will overflow automatically with yellow coloured water. It was very special in that temple. This temple was built in the period of ramayanam. The lingam in that temple was built by sita during the vanavasam.
• Shri Kaliamman Temple located in Angitholuvu is also a famous temple and having Perumal Temple nearby, which is a lotus-like construction (looks like god is inside lotus). It is located about 15 km from the city.

Education

Many Higher Secondary Schools are available

• Government Higher Secondary School for Boys Dharapuram, Started on 1857, now it's age 154.
• St. Aloysius Hr. Sec. School for Girls DPM. (Famous Girls' School)
• N.C.P Municipal Higher Secondary School for Boys DPM
• Veveaham Higher Secondary School Dpm
• Centwin Matriculation Higher secondary school Dharapuram
• CSI Boys Higher Secondary School DPM
• CSI Girls Higher Secondary School DPM
• Govt. High School for Girls DPM
• Thenmalar Higher Secondary School DPM
• Sindhu matric Higher Secondary School & sainik school DPM
• Vishnu Lakshmi Matric Higher Secondary School DPM
• Ponnu Matriculation Higher Secondary School Dpm
• V.M.C.D.V Higher Secondary School, Thayampalayam DPM
• Govt. Higher Secondary School Kundadam DPM
• GHSS Kolathuppalayam DPM
• Manikaswamy Naidu Higher Secondary School Gvp, Dpm, (It is Famous for its discipline & cent percent results)
• GHS (Elugamvalasu) and GHS (Kuppichipalayam) is very famous for getting cent percent pass in SSLC Exams consistently every year.
• Dr. Nallini High School, Dharapuram

Colleges

• Govt ITI DPM and two more private ITIs
• Bishop Thorp College Dharapuram
• Bishop Nursing College Dharapuram
• Sara Nursing College Dharapuram
• TRN Polytechnic College Dharapuram
• Maharani Arts and Science College for Women Dharapuram
• Maharani college of education Dharapuram
• Maharani teacher training institute Dharapuram
• Maharani Polytechnic College Dharapuram
• Dr. Nallini Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dharapuram
• Dr. Nallini College of Education, Dharapuram
• Dr. Nallini Institute of Teacher Training Dharapuram
• Vishnu Lakshmi B.Ed college Dharapuram

Business

• Agriculture, Big Paddy Seeds Farm in Tamil Nadu
• Bricks Like Chamber, more than 25 chambers and hand made sulai will be around 250. more than 10000 worker working in Brick Chamber.
• Famous Bakery, JCB, Finance and Blue metal.
• Textiles like Spinning Mills, Rice and Oil Mills, Seeds company around 30.
• Transport like big Lorry Market and Automobile workshops are main area of business in Dharapuram.
• Jaggery Market is located on Alangiyam Road.

Famous

• In temple it is Anjayanar kovil, Easwaran kovil, Murugan kovil and Durgaiamman Temple.
• Sava kattu in Pongal Time, Rackla race, Jalli kattu in Dhalavoipattniam near Dharapuram.
• C.S.I Ellis Memorial Church was one of the old churches in the town. In 1929, Rev. James John Ellis started to build the Church with Rev. W.J. Noble.

• A SIVA temple at Ponnivadi village near Pallapalayam on a small hill known as ESWARAN MALAI very close to Nallathangal Dam. It is 10 km from DHARAPURAM. Famous for PRATHOSAM.

Transport

• Dharapuram is the major junction point of Roadways connecting(Mid point) major cities Coimbatore-Madurai, Trichy-Cochin, Tirupur- Madurai, Palani - Salem (Via Erode), Coimbatore - Theni, Dindigul-Tiruppur and Karur -Pollachi, via road connects.
• Every 5 minutes once buses available for Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Palani and Madurai, midnight time every 15 minutes once buses available.
• 78 km from Erode,34 km from Palani, 80 km from Coimbatore. 48 km from Tirupur, 150 km from Trichy, 72 km from Karur, 243 km from Neyveli, 118 km from Madurai. Buses are available to all these cities 24 hours.

• Nearly 76 KM from Dindigul - southern city famous for ancient locks and Thalappakatti Biryani (typical South Indian Non Veg Dish)
• 34 km From Palani.
• 58  km from Pollachi
• 38 km from Udumalpet and Thirumoorthy falls
• No train facility is yet available in Dharapuram.
• Nearest Airport is Coimbatore (80 km)
• The nearest Railway Station to this town is Palani. Though Palani is nearby railway station, now the train route is being converted from meter gauge to broadgauge. Palani is not connected with State Capital Chennai by train. It may take another couple of years. The next nearby railway station is Tirupur (railway code: TUP) located at a distance of 48 km from Dharapuram. Tirupur is well connected with Chennai, Trivandrum, Cochin, Mangalore, Calicut, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkatta, New Delhi, Rajkot, Hyderabad and other important cities. But some trains don't have stops in Tiruppur, so the next nearest railway station is at ERODE (Railway code: ED) at a distance of 78 km from Dharapuram. Though Tiruppur and Erode is in same railway line, Erode is a major junction of southern railways where all the trains stop for loco changing, coach cleaning etc.
• TNSTC and Privaters operate daily buses to Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, Nagapattinam, Ooty, Theni, Tiruchendur, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Rameshwaram, Sengottai, Devakottai, Sathyamangalam, Gobi, Mettur, Salem, Dharmapuri,Hosur, Bangalore and Mysore from Dharapuram.
• Two TNSTC UD buses start from Dharapuram to Chennai every day. One is Karur, Trichy Route, another is Erode, Salem Route. The Karur Trichy bus won't go to Trichy if it is full. Instead, it will go via Kulithalai, Musiri, Perambalur, Chennai. The Karur via Chennai bus will start at 7:00 PM. The Erode via Chennai Bus starts at 6:45 PM.
• Two private bus services are also available for Chennai at 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Its name is Vivegam Travels and Mettur Bus services (A/C).

Famous Persons

• Actor Nagesh
• Sundararajan, Director
• Dharapuram Mr. Sundararajan Singer
• Late Mr. A. Senapathi Gounder EX Palani M.P
• Mr.S.K. Karvendhan B.SC B.L Member of National Backward Department & EX Palani M.P
• Mr. K.V. Ramalingam B.A. PWD Minister, Current TN Govt 2011
• Mr. Best S Ramasamy Gounder, Industrialist & President - Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam
• Mr. K.S.N. Venugopalu, M.A, M.L.A, Palani Constituency S/o. Late A. Senapathy Gounder,
• Mr. Thaniarasu, MA, MLA, President of Kongu Ilaignar Peravai
• ChaplinBalu Actor

Administration and Politics

Dharapuram has been reserved constituency from 1967 to still day its assembly constituency (SC) is part of Erode Lok Sabha constituency.

Member of Parliament

Mr. A. Ganeshmurthi - Dharapuram comes under Erode Constituency. Previously it came under Pollachi.

Member of Legislative Assembly

Mr. Ponnusamy from ADMK

Revenue Division

1.Dharapuram:

Revenue taluk

i)Dharapuram Taluk ii)Kangeyam Taluk