Rajapalayam

Rajapalayam
City
Rajapalayam Location in Tamil Nadu, India Show map of Tamil Nadu Rajapalayam Rajapalayam (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 9°27′0″N 77°33′0″E / 9.45000°N 77.55000°E / 9.45000; 77.55000Coordinates: 9°27′0″N 77°33′0″E / 9.45000°N 77.55000°E / 9.45000; 77.55000
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Viruthunagar
Taluka	Rajapalayam
Government
• Type	Special Grade Municipality
• Body	Rajapalayam Municipality
• Municipality Chairman	P.S. Dhanalakshmi
• M L A	Thanga pandiyan
Area
• Total	68 km2 (26 sq mi)
Area rank	28
Elevation	175 m (574 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	130,422 (Suburb : 40,000)
• Rank	34
Demonym(s)	Rajapalayakkaran
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Pincode(s)	626117 626108
Area code(s)	+91-4563
Vehicle registration	TN-84 TN-67
Website	Rajapalayam360.in

Rajapalayam is a town and a special grade municipality^[1]and first largest municipality in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located 85 km southwest of Madurai in the state of Tamil Nadu. Its main attractions are the Ayyanar Falls and the neighbour town of Srivilliputtur. The economy is based on the manufacture of textiles, and there are mills for spinning and weaving cotton, as well as a large cotton market. It's also known for the Rajapalayam breed of dogs. As of 2011, the town had a population of 130,442.

History

The name Rajapalayam derives from Raja and Palayam, which in the Tamil language means a cantonment or fort. It was previously called Palaya Palayam, then Raju Palayam, and finally Rajapalayam.

Rajapalayam is inhabited by people who came from the old Vijayanagaram state. Krishnadevaraya, the Maharaja of Vijayanagara Empire had sent five military commandos to Madurai Nayak kingdom to keep the law and order in the southern part of Nayaka kingdom at Sivagiri region. The Kshatriya Raju team under the leadership of Chinna Raja, a lineage decedent of the king of Vijayanagar belonged to Pasumpatti and other four brothers reached and established good for the Nayaka kingdom of Madurai. After then, they migrated to the south along with his followers and settled at kilarajakularaman(a nearby village of Rajapalayam) at the first instance and then moved their settlements to Palayapalayam in 1483 AD. When Vijayanagaram rule was established in Madurai, the descendents of the original emigrants were said to have served under the Chokkanatha nayak, king of Madurai (1659 -1682) who has recorded his appreciation of the service rendered by Chinna raja and his four sons and has granted 'Sasanam'(King's Free Grant/Charter) to establish a fort there.So the middle of 16th century, they constructed the Palayapalayam fort. Either after the battle of Talaikotta (1565) or on the eve of the same battle more Rajas migrated to the south from the Vijayanagar empire. They settled in Pudupalayam, western portion of Rajapalayam municipality and the town was expanded by purchasing lands from Vijayarenga chokkanatha nayak (1706 -1732).Rajapalayam was constituted as a united board in the year 1885. It became a panchayat board in the year 1930. Railway line was laid in the year 1927 and the town was electrified in 1937.

Geographic

Western ghats passes through west part of the city (12 km from the city). A small hill called "Sanjeevi hills" located closely to the east part of the city.Thus the climate maintained constantly with the help of these land marvels throughout the year.
Main source water got from this mountain range with several water catchment areas. Water stored in the 6th mile Water reservoir.
Also the city surrounded by some major Lakes(Kanmaai) such as Kondaneri, Karungulam, Pirandaikulam, Sengulam Etc.. Government classified the Soil as Red loam.

Climate

The climate of the region is semi-arid tropical monsoon type. Temperature range is 20 °C to 37 °C.It has a high mean temperature

Industries

Initially, agriculture was the principal source of living for the people of Rajapalayam. In the mid 1900s, Rajapalayam gradually evolved into a thriving business community. "Rajapalayam Mills Limited" was the first spinning mill in this region to start industrial revolution in Rajapalayam. After this initiation was successful, the industrial revolution became very fast. Several years later, Rajapalayam Became 3rd largest Textile industrial hub of Tamil Nadu, followed by Coimbatore and Dindigul. In a last two decades, the city is famous for Bandage cloth, Woven cloth and nighties production which gives great contribution to export sector. A neighboring town Chatrapatti(Virudhunagar Dist) is a vast player in producing Bandage Cloths(Technically Surgical Cotton cloth-Gauze). Dhalavaipuram and Muhavoor a small towns producing Nighties with small scale industries.
They are the largest producers and exporters of Nighties in India, occupied number One position for long years.

Demographics

According to 2011 census, Rajapalayam had a population of 130,442 with a sex-ratio of 1,014 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.^[2] A total of 11,604 were under the age of six, constituting 5,927 males and 5,677 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 13.51% and .09% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the city was 77.87%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.^[2] The city had a total of 37797 households. There were a total of 53,913 workers, comprising 380 cultivators, 3,676 main agricultural labourers, 1,375 in house hold industries, 45,223 other workers, 3,259 marginal workers, 34 marginal cultivators, 326 marginal agricultural labourers, 286 marginal workers in household industries and 2,613 other marginal workers.^[3]

As per the religious census of 2011, Rajapalayam had 94.53% Hindus, 3.48% Muslims, 1.75% Christians, 0.02% Sikhs and 0.21% following other religions.^[4]

Transportation

Tourist attractions

Ayyanar Koil Forest Area (Ayyanar Falls)

Water Dam

Ayyanar Fails

Ayyanar Koil forest area is located 10 km west of Rajapalayam on the eastern slope of Western Ghats. The forest area has many of streams, waterfalls, springs and a temple. Hiking in this forest area is one of the main recreations for Rajapalayam residents. Rajapalayam Water Reservoir, which provides water to the entire city, is situated en route to Ayyanar Falls. Rajapalayam Dam and Rajapalayam Water Treatment Plant are also situated adjacent to the Rajapalayam Water Reservoir. The water supply and distribution system are by natural gravitational force without Motor pumps.

References

5.http://virudhunagar.tn.nic.in/statistics_handbook/Agriculture.pdf Soil in Rajapalayam 6.http://indiarailinfo.com/departures/2680?date=0&dd=0&ad=0&co=0&tt=0&ed=0&dp=&ea=0&ap=&loco=&drev=0&arev=0&trev=0&rake=&rsa=0&idf=0&idt=0&dhf=0&dmf=0&dht=0&dmt=0&ahf=0&amf=0&aht=0&amt=0&nhf=-1&nht=-1&ttf=0&ttt=0&dstf=0&dstt=0&spdf=0&spdt=0&zone=0&pantry=0&stptype=undefined&raketype=0&cu=undefined&trn=0&q= Rajapalayam Railway station and trains

External links

• Rajapalayam 360
• Rajapalayam