Ambur

Ambur
Ambur Location of Ambur in Tamil Nadu and India
Coordinates	12°47′N 78°42′E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District(s)	Vellore
Population	99,855 (2001)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 316 metres (1,037 ft)

Ambur (Tamil: ஆம்பூர்),(Urdu: آمبور). Ambur is a developed Industrial Town of Vellore District in Tamil Nadu, India. Ambur is located at the 'Palaar' River Bank,on the Chennai - Bangalore Highway, both sides at a distance of approx 180 – 200 km.

Ambur has a diversified population - Muslims, Hindus and Christians living in areas adjacent to one another with harmony and tolerance to one another, since ages. They mingle with one another with so ease in such a way that they surely set a best example for the communal harmony.

The town has a Railway Station, Bus Terminus, Police Stations, Court, Hospital, Market, Colleges and Schools.

It is a historical town and Taluk headquarters for Ambur Taluk in Vellore district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is famous for its modern leather and shoe manufacturing industries. Ambur is also famous for Biriyani, a tasty rice dish; varieties of chicken dishes, etc. Desserts like Mutanjan, Gulab Jamun, Gajar Ka Halwa after the feast have become popular since the reign of Nawaabs of Arcot (Aaru Kaadu which means river and forest in Tamil).

Geography

Ambur is located at 12.78°N 78.7°E / 12.78; 78.7. It has an average elevation of 316 metres (1036 feet).

Ambur is exactly in between Chennai and Bangalore both on roads(NH6) and on rails. It is about 180 km for these two cities. Vellore is 52 km from Ambur towards Chennai.

Climate

Extremely hot and dry during summer when temperature soars to as high as 43 degree C (110 F). Winter is cold and dry with temperature dipping to 10 degree C during the night.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Ambur had a population of 99,855. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Ambur has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 53% of the males and 47% of females literate. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. Though the official population in 2001 recorded around 1,00,000, but there is almost equal number of immigrants from Southern Districts, who have recently moved in to the town. This apart, an approximate 12,000 people visit Ambur everyday for work from nearby villages and also from far off places such as Chennai & Bangalore.

Culture

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Industries

Factories in Ambur manufacture shoes for world's leading footwear brand names like Florsheim, Lumberjack, Cole Haan, Gabor, Primigi, Caterpillar, Clarks, Fretzmen, Coll Hann, Hi-Line, Hugo Boss, Marc, Nunn Bush NXT and many more. Hence, it is also known as a "Leather City". Some of the Indian big names that have set up manufacturing units here are Althaf Shoes, Roshan Carim omer and company, Farida Shoes, SSC, Bonaventure, NMZ, TAW, KAR, Kareema Leather Products, Mohib Shoes, Mohib India Shoes,Shalimar Tanning Co, Harmain Leather Exports, Bliss Shoes etc.; and now FDIs (Foreign Direct Investments) have become very common, to name a few establishments ITARES (Italy Renzi Shoes) of Italy, Allen Solly of Switzerland etc. These companies provide a major chunk of employment to the local population. Traders of supplying shoe materials to these companies have a huge business over here. It has been recognized as 'Town of Export Excellence' for leather products by Government of India Ambur Trade Center To establish Leather and Shoe business under the Leadership of Janab Mecca Rafeeq Ahmed, AEDOL has constructed "Ambur Trade Centre" and Leather Testing services TUV has their Sample Collection office at this premises.

Ambur Trade Center

Ambur Trade Center Conference Hall

Pollution

One of the problems that Ambur faces is polluted ground water which is not potable. This happened due to the chemicals released by the leather tanneries directly into the most-of-the-time-dry Palar River traversing across Ambur before the Common Effluent Treatment Plants that use Reverse Osmosis process were installed. However, with strict measures taken by the State Government, most of the companies have now installed effluent treatment plants to treat the water from harsh chemicals such as hexavalent chromium, trivalent chromium, etc.

Places of worship

The Jamia Masjid is the big Masjid in Ambur town. December 2009 celebrates the 258th Urus of the Great Saint Hazrat Ghaddam Shah Auliya outside the mosque complex.

Muslims perform regular & periodic prayers in all Masjids like Jamia Masjid, Small Masjid, Santhapet Masjid, Chowk Masjid, Khaderpet Masjid,Showkat Masjid, NoorullahPet Masjid,Hashim Masjid, Mohammed Pura Masjid, Mohideen Pura Masjid, Fathima,Khaderpet, Akbari, Rahmaniya, Bilal, Pudumanai Masjid, Neilfield Masjid and Kangartakiya Masjid are oldest Masjids in Ambur. Hashim Masjid, Showkat Masjid, are Newly Built in Ambur.

Lakshmi Pond at Palaandippati Temple

The Arulmigu Samayavalli sametha Naganathar Temple, built by the Cholas in 12th century in Ambur is one of the famous temples.

Arulmigu Kaligambal amman Thiru koil located in Krishnapuram. Its governed by Vishwabrahmins ( vishwakarma ) .

In Tamil Nadu there are many Murugan temples located in the hills like Palani, Thiruthani, etc. The Murugan temple in Kailashagiri hill located near Ambur is one among them.

Periya Anjaneyar kovil is an old temple which was recently renovated. In this temple, Lord Anjaneya (Hanuman) is seen in a Ugra Pose stamping Shani Bhagwan under his foot. The legend goes that whilst Anjaneya was returning after picking up Sanjeevani Hill, Ravan , the demon king wanted Hanuman to be stopped and hence put Shani Bhagwan to this task. When Lord Shani attempted to stop Anjaneya from reaching Lanka, Hanuman - who is on Rama karya became angry and stamped Shani Bhagwan under his foot. Debilitated under Shri Anjaneya's feet Lord Shani granted the wish that those who come and seek Lord Hanuman's blessings by chanting the Rama Mantra would be devoid of the Ill effects of Saturn and in turn would be blessed. The Idol depicting this pose is seen in this Temple. This Temple was built by Vijayanagara Nayak chieftains in the 17th century. Saturday's are special darshan days here.

Ambur Biriyani

Ambur Biriyani is one of the famous biriyani recipes of South India which emerged during the Nawab of Arcot's regime. Prepared mainly in Basmati Variety of rice, both chicken and Mutton are used for this. A full plate of Biriyani with Brinjal curry (Khattay Baigan or Yennai Kathrika) and Onion Raitha (Vengayam Pachidi) makes our feast a delightful one. Such is its very delicious taste, which makes many thousands of passers by in this Golden Quadrilateral track of Chennai-Bengaluru highway to taste it. Apart from this, Pakaathee (Biriyani cooks, as known in this region), are the people who indulge in large scale biriyani preparation and are hired to many places of South India for Biriyani preparation.

Transport

Ambur is well connected by road, on the Chennai- Bangalore National Expressway, and by rail on the Chennai-Jolarpettai line with a number of express/superfast trains to Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode, etc.

Ambur/AB Railway Station NH 46, Ambur, Tamil Nadu Updated: Apr 26 2010 (06:59PM) Elevation: 330 m above sea level

The Nearest Airport is at Chennai 190 km away from Ambur .

Multi Speciality options are available in Ambur Railway Station with New Building.

Three Superfast Express trains run regularly between Chennai city to Bangalore city viz., Ambur. Two Superfast Express trains run regularly between Chennai city to Coimbatore city via Ambur.

One Express train run regularly between Chennai city to Thirupathur via Ambur. One Express train run regularly between Chennai city to Bangalore city via Ambur. One Express train run regularly between Chennai city to Mysore via Ambur. One Passenger train run regularly between Chennai city to Bangalore city via Ambur. One Fast Passenger train run regularly between Mysore city to Tirupathy city via Ambur. One Fast Passenger trains run regularly between Jolarpettai junction to Chennai city via Ambur.

Regular Bus services are available from all Important cities of Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states.