Ambasamudram

Ambasamudram
—  city  —
Ambasamudram Location of Ambasamudram in Tamil Nadu and India
Coordinates	8°42′N 77°28′E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District(s)	Tirunelveli
Population	392,226 (taluk) 32,739 (town) (2001)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 76 metres (249 ft)
Website	municipality.tn.gov.in/Ambasamudram

Ambasamudram (Tamil: அம்பாசமுத்திரம்) is a taluk in Tirunelveli district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The entire taluk had a population of 392,226 as of 2001, with 42.5% classified as rural. The taluk is named for the principal town with the same name. The town of Ambasamudram had a population 32,739 as of 2001.

Geography

This picturesque town is situated in the foothills of western ghats on the northern bank of Tamirabarani (Tamiram = copper, it conatins traces of copper)river with a twin town Kallidaikurichi/Kallidai is situated on the southern bank.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, the town of Ambasamudram had a population of 32,681. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Ambasamudram has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 52% of the males and 48% of females literate. 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

List of towns and villages

• Adaichchani
• AdayaKarungulam
• Alwarkurichi (TP)
• Ambasamudram (TP)
• Athalanallur
• Ayan Thiruvaleeswaram
• Ayansingampatti
• Brahmadesam
• Cheranmadevi (TP)
• Dharmapuramatam
• Ekambarapuram
• Giriyammalpuram
• Gopalasamudram (TP)
• Govindapperi
• Harikesavanallur
• Idaikkal
• Kadayam Perumpattu (TP)
• Kalladaikurichi (TP)
• Karisalpatti
• Kasidharmam
• Kila Ambur
• Kilakadayam
• Kodarangulam
• Koilkulam
• Kuniyur
• Malaiyankulam
• Manapaaranallur
• Manimutharu (TP)
• Mannarkovil
• Mela Ambur
• Melacheval (TP)
• Mukkudal (TP)
• Pallakkal
• Panajadi
• Papanasam R.F.
• Pappakudi
• Pappankulam
• Pappankulam (South)
• Pathamadai (TP)
• Pottal Pudur (I)
• Pudukkudi
• Pungadaiyankulam
• Ravanasamudram
• Rengasamudram — The Tower of the eighteenth century temple of Venkitachalapathy overlooks the village agraharam (street). The Thamirabarani River flowing nearby provides drinking water to the villagers. Public transport buses plying twice a day gives the villagers connectivity to Ambasamudram. The village has a population of 2,297 (2001). A local citizens committee funded school Amrita Vidyapeeth runs classes up to eighth standard of the State Board. The village is served by a branch of the Bhramadesom post office (627 413).
• Sattupattu
• Sengulam
• Singampatti
• Singampatti Zamindar Forest
• Sivanthipuram (CT)
• Sivasaailam
• Tentiruppavanam
• Terku Ariyanayakipuram
• Therku Kadayam
• Therku Kallidaikurichi
• Therku Viravanallur
• Therkumadathur
• Thiruviruttanpuli
• Tiruppudaimarudur
• Udaiyamartandapuram
• URKAD- Most important village in Ambasamudram.(its well known for the famous shiva temple( kottiappar temple,Balaji theatre,rice research station,sudalai madan temple,and more natural scenaries)
• Ulagankulam
• Vadakku Ariyanayakipuram
• Vadakku Karaikurichchi
• Vagaikulam
• Vairavikulam
• Veeravanallur (TP)
• Vellanguli
• Venkatarengapuram
• Vikramasingapuram (TP)
• Virasamudram

Place of Interest

Manjolai Hills

Located between elevations ranging from 1000 to 1500 Metres, the Manjolai area is set deep within the the Western Ghats within the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in the Tirunelveli District. Located on top of the Manimuthar Dam & the Manimuthar Water Falls, the Manjolai area comprises of Tea Plantations, Small settlements around the tea plantations; Upper Kodaiyar Dam and a windy view point called Kuthiravetti

The Tea Plantations and the whole of Manjolai Estates are tea operated by The Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd on Forest Lands leased by the Government of Tamil Nadu. There are 3 Tea Estates within the Manjolai area - Manjolai Estate, Manimutharu Estate & Oothu Estate. The Estates are located on elevations ranging between 2300 Feet to 4200 Feet. The estates, road & the settlements in the Manjolai area are managed by The Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd. Images of Manjolai Hills can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/59865572@N00/sets/72157627351253129/

• Manimuttar Dam
• Papanasam Lower Dam & Hydel power plant 1951
• Karaiyar Dam
• Singampatti Zamin palace
• Servalar Dam & Hydel Project 1987
• Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve[1]
• Agasthiyar Falls fed by lower dam, with its year round bathable water temperature.
• BaaNa Theertham Falls
• Tamirabarani river with year round, bathable and swimable water temperature.

Hospitals and nursing homes

Like most villages have a history of going to a particular nursing home for ages,one nursing home seems to get attraction from most of the people living in ambasamudram and surrounding areas."seetha lakshmi nursing home" is run by Dr.B.Seethalakshmi .Dr.B.Seethalakshmi has been running the nursing home for more than 4 decades,and her main goal was to provide medical attention to those deserving underprivileged women and children who and cannot afford medical treatment.She is a very dedicated doctor with immense love for her patients , that she runs her nursing home 24 hours a day.The nursing home mainly focuses on maternity care,obstetrics and gynecology,and general medicine.

Churches

Pr. Philip, Good Samaritan Church at Kalchundu Colony, Agasthiarpatti (p.o), Ambai.

Temples In the Area

Like many towns in southern India Ambasamudram also boasts of many temples. Geographic location of this town has virtually protected these temples from all invaders, so they have been preserved in their original form. Though many of these temples are in sad state of disrepair, they are still every bit worth studying for their artistic, religious and historical value.

• One of the few temples for Saint Agasthiyar or Agastya
• Mannar Kovil Temple. This temple is one of the few ones with an ashtanga vimana. On the ground floor it has a sanctum for Vishnu, standing with his two Consorts. A narrow flight of stairs leads to the first floor where He is seated with his two Consorts.
• Brahmadesam kailAya nAthar - a temple built during the reigns of Raja Raja Chola.
• Papanasam Temple, it's a temple situated near agasthiyar falls, it is believed that after taking bath in this river, going to this temple is alleged to give you relief from all your sins^{[citation needed]}. The place is called Papanasam because of this.
• Next to Papanasam, there is a village town by name Vickramasingapuram.
• There are several temples for Mutharamman, Suadali Madan and Ayyanar temples nearby and Kodai Vizha in these tempels very famous and inspiring.
• Navaneethakrishnan Temple at Melasevel, is 700 Years old. The deity is believed to grant boons for the childless couples. There are two more temples in the same village, namely Megalingeshwarar and Venugopalaswamy.

Some interesting pointers

• Ambasamudram is famous for its "Kai Murukku" which is crispy and tasty.
• Singampatti Zamin palace http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/04/29/stories/2005042902390300.htm
• "Rice Research Station" - Est. 1937, currently associated with "Tamil Nadu Agricultural University".
• Kallidaikurichi is famous for its appalam.
• Pathamadai is famous for fine grass mats called "Paai" "Grass mats still hold their own here" in Tamil.
• Ambasamudram with its Tirunelveli flavour Tamil spoken along with its natural beauty and historic attractions have captured the imaginations of Kollywood movie makers in the recent decades. Movies like "Dum Dum Dum!, Ayya were set in Ambasamudram and its surrounding areas.
• Mahalinga Nadar - Packiammal Trophy State-level football tournament is organized here annually at Nadar Sports Club ground, Ambasamudaram.
• Thirthapathi High School is in the northern part of the town. It was started by contributions from Thirthapathi family of Singampatti Zamin. Sadasiva Iyer, Venkateswar Iyer, and E.H.Parameswaran were the Headmasters in the earlier days. Mr.Anantharamakrishnan of Simpson Group was a student of Sadasiva Iyer.
• Unique mineral assembalge of clinohumite—humite—chondrodite—norbergite—Mgcalcite—dolomite—spinel found in the marbles of the area, associated with the Achenkovil Shear Zone
• Brahmins from this town, around 150 Years back relocated themselves in a small village by name Gadi Bero in Purulia District, West Bengal on the request of the then Raja of Kashipur. They have been given vast Agricultural lands for cultivation and living. Raja got attracted with the vedic scholarship of few Brahmins when they visited Varanasi where they were met by the Raja and requested them to settle down in his Kingdom with as many Brahmins as they can bring with them. Krishnan Temple was built for these Brahmins by the Raja.
• Empee Sugars& Chemicals Ltd., under the ownership of EMPEE group, is investing Rs. 515.00 Crores in the Ambasamudram Greenfield Sugar Project in Ambasamudram.

Politics

Ambasamudram (State Assembly Constituency) is part of Tirunelveli (Lok Sabha constituency).