Namakkal
Categories: Cities and towns in Tamil Nadu | Districts of Tamil Nadu
Namakkal (Tamil: நாமக்கல்) is the capital of Namakkal district in Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு) India (இந்தியா).
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Geography
It is located between 11.00’ and 11.36’ in the North Latitude and between 77.28’ and 78.30’ in the East Longitude (Namakkal city: 11.13 N, 78.13 E). It is close to Kolli Hills (கொல்லி மலை) - which is part of the Eastern Ghats (கிழக்கு தொடர்ச்சிமலை). The closest river is Kaveri (காவேரி).
History
Namakkal is a historic town dating back to at least the 14th century. The name Namakkal derives from Namagiri, which is the name of the single rock formation at the center of the town. Over this massive rock is a fort built by Tipu Sultan during his struggle against the occupying British forces.
Gandhi held a public meeting in 1933 in Namakkal under the slope of the Namakkal rock. The rock is enormous - 65 meters high and more than a kilometer in circumference.
Economy
The economy of the district is primarily agricultural. A wide variety of crops are grown within the district. The Kaveri riverside has heavy concentration of Rice, Banana and Sugarcane plantations and fields. There are also poultry farms and a well developed small scale industry for Truck body building in the district.
People and Culture
Art
V. Ramalingam Pillai, more popularly known as Namakkal Kavingnar (நாமக்கல் கவிஞர்), is a well known Tamil (தமிழ்) poet who hailed from Namakkal (born in 1888 in Mohanur). His poems on the non-violent Indian independence movement are popular. His famous patriotic poem is
கத்தி யின்றி ரத்த மின்றி
யுத்த மொன்று வருகுது
சத்தி யத்தின் நித்தி யத்தை
நம்பும் யாரும் சேருவீர்!....
Pottery and sculpture are promoted by way of traditional festivals and temple celebrations. Most villages in the district, like many other south Indian villages, have a temple to a guardian deity at the perimeter of the village. Aiyanar is the guardian deity of the village. Much artistic expression goes into sculpting the Aiyanar statues.
Transport
Namakkal is accessible by road. The nearest large cities are Salem (48km), Erode, Tiruchirapalli. Chennai, the capital of the state is 380 km from Namakkal. The nearest airport is in Tiruchirapalli (74km).
Climate
The temperature ranges from 20 to 44 degrees Celsius throughout the year.
Places to Visit
The Hanuman Temple (நாமக்கல் ஆஞ்சநேயர் சன்னதி) is one of the most famous in South India. The "Narishmmar - Namagiri Amman Temple" (நரசிம்மர்-நாமகிரி தாயார் சன்னதி) was an inspiration of renowned mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujam. Ranganaathar Temple (இரங்கநாதர் சன்னதி), Koolippatti Murugan Temple (கூலிப்பட்டி முருகன் கோயில்) is located in a small hill, which is 10 km from Namakkal.
Institutions and Universities
Tamilnadu Veterinary university, PGP College of Engineering and Technology, Govt College of Arts and Science for Men, Govt College of Arts and Science for Women,
Public Facilities
Recent developments
- AIDS epidemic and control
Taluks
Taluks in Namakkal District
- Namakkal (நாமக்கல்)
- Rasipuram (இராசிபுரம்)
- Thiruchengodu (திருச்செங்கோடு)
- Paramathi-Velur (பரமத்தி-வேலூர்)