Arcot, Vellore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Arcot | |
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| Coordinates | 12°54′N 79°20′E / 12.9°N 79.33°E |
| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District(s) | Vellore |
| Population | 50,267 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 164 m (538 ft) |
Arcot (Tamil: ஆற்காடு) is a locality and part of Vellore city in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Located on the eastern end of the Vellore city on the southern banks of Palar River at 12°54′N 79°20′E / 12.9°N 79.333°E, the city straddles a highly strategic trade route between Chennai and Bangalore, between the Mysore Ghat and the Javadi Hills. Its population in 1991 was 45,205; the surrounding area had a population of 114,760.
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[edit] Origin of the name
The old name of city is TIHRUVAZHUNDUR in the period of Cholas at 1000AD Its name is commonly believed to have been derived from the Tamil words aaru (River) + kaadu (Forest). However, arkkaTu meant 'a forest of fig trees'.[1]
[edit] History
The town's strategic location has led to it being repeatedly contested and prompted the construction of a formidable fortress. It was captured from the Hindu Marathas by a Muslim Nawab of Karnataka, who made it his capital in 1712. In 1751, Robert Clive captured the town during the conflict between the United Kingdom and France for control of South India. He successfully held it with only 500 men against a powerful opposing army raised by the Marathas, led by the transgendered Commander G.E. Neil Arcot, resisting for 56 days (23 September to 14 November 1751). The enemy army eventually dissolved and its leader, Chanda Shahib, was killed. Mohammed Ali Khan Walajah took over as Nawab, effectively serving as a vassal of the British. His successors soon ran up enormous debts at the hands of English speculators. In 1801, the town was annexed by the British East India Company.
In the 20th century, Arcot declined in importance and was incorporated into the district of Vellore. Arcot has the tomb of famous 18th century Sufi Saint - Tipu Mastan Aulia. The story goes that from the blessings of Tipu Mastan Aulia, Hyder Ali had a son, whom he appropriately named after the saint.
[edit] Economy
Arcot is the principal market for the surrounding agricultural area. It also has a viable local weaving industry and ground nut oil industry.
[edit] Culture-Temples
Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple (around 1000 years old).
Sri Gangai Amman Temple (Seetharamaiyer street).
Sri Sundaramoorthi Vinayagar Temple (Radha Krishnan street).
Sri Kasi viswanather Temple (Kaspa).
Sri Nagamman Aalayam, Sri Siddhi Vinayagar Temple, Sri Poni Amman Temple, Sri Pachai Amman Temple, Sri Ramakrishna Shrine, Sri Devi Karumari Amman Temple, Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Sri Maha Ganapathy Temple, Sri Gangadhara Eswara Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Ratnagiri Murugan Temple. Throwpathiamman tempel
Green stone Mosque
[edit] The Danish Missionary Society
The people who lived in the Arcot region especially in and near the temple town of Tiruvannamalai, belonged to a clan called the Arcots. The Nawabs fought with and ruled over them for a time. With the advent of the Danish Missionary Society, many of these Arcots became Christians. The Danish Missionary Society (DMS, currently Dan Mission) established many schools and hospitals. The first missionary of the DMS was a German Rev. C.C.E. Ochs. He started his first Mission station, Bethanien, at Melpattambakkam in South Arcot in 1861. Now all its activities have been transferred to the nearby town Nellikuppam.
The second mission station of DMS was opened at Tirukkoyilur in 1869 by Rev. P. Andersen and was called "Siloam". Siloam church was consecrated on the 10th of October, 1886 and on the same day the first Indian pastors were ordained and more than 30 persons were baptized. A week later a church was consecrated in an outstation, Sengalmedu. The beautiful church in Pop ham's Broadway in Madras was built in the year 1892.
Saron, a third mission station of DMS, was opened in the year 1882 and situated just outside the town Tiruvannamalai. In 1898 a mission station was built in the town. From 1905 it was called "Carmel." The fourth mission station in the Arcot District, "Bethesda," in Kallakurichi was built in 1893 by Rev. A. Larsen. Later DMS started mission stations at Panruti, Vriddhachalam, Devanampatnam, Darisanapuram, and Servaroj Hills, etc. In the year 1913 a church constitution was inaugurated. This church is serving the Tamil-speaking population in the districts of South and North Arcot, Tamil Nadu.
[edit] Geography
Arcot is located at 12°54′N 79°20′E / 12.9°N 79.33°E.[2] It has an average elevation of 164 metres (538 ft).
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[3] Arcot had a population of 50,267. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Arcot has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 54% of the males and 46% of females literate. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Tourism
Places of interests in and around Arcot:
1.Arcot Government Museum
2.Delhi Gate 18th Century Architecture (Build by Robert Clive for his victory)
3.Raja Rani pond (Build by Nawabs)
4.Green Mosque
5.Pancha Pandavar Mountain
6.Green Thunder - Water Theme Park.
7.Bear hills
8.Natham hills
9.Ratnagiri Temple
10. St. Antoy's Church
11. Palar Dam
12. Tipu aulliya Darga at Bazzar in Arcot. His tomb is in Darga. He is the sufi saint who lived in Hyder Ali period at Arcot and he is the great adviser and welvisher of Tipusultan.
13. Thimiri Murugan Temple
14. Siva Vishnu Temple, New Street
[edit] People and Living
People over here follow the ancient Tamil culture. One can find people speaking Tamil, English. The main source of income is from agriculture. Most of the people are employed with Industries in SIPCOT (RANIPET). The main entertainment for people are movie theatres and temples. If you are fond of shopping, you can visit Vellore (District Headquarters) which is 21 km. away. Frequent bus services are available by both government and private operators.
[edit] Transport
The main mode of transport is by bus since it is economical. There are frequent buses to almost all parts of Tamil Nadu. Buses depart every 15 minutes from Vellore Bus Stand(21KM from Arcot) to Chennai and there are also buses to Hosur, Bangalore, Tirupathi, Puducherry (Pondicherry) etc.
Private Buses are providing good service rather than Tamil Nadu Government Bus service.
Nearest Railway Station: Walaja Road
[edit] Famous Things
Arcot is well known for rice, sweets and biryani.
Arcot dishes is called as Royal dishes in Nawabs time. The Rice 'Arcot kichalli samba' is famous rice for Biryani. Chicken Kawab with Semiya is also popular dishes in Arcot.
world famous sweet is called Makkanbeda. World famous Seetharamiyer Panchangam
[edit] Colleges
- Adhiparasakthi College of Arts and Science
- Adhiparasakthi Engineering College
- C.Abdul Hakeem College of Arts and Science
- C.Abdul Hakeem College of Engineering
- Ranipettai Engg College
- Arcot Sri Mahalakshmi Women's College
- SSS College of Arts and Science
- Sri Sitheshwarar polytecnic college, Poongodu, Arcot.
[edit] Schools
- Sri Ramakrishna Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- Annai Sarada Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- Government Boys Higher Secondary School
- Government Girls Higher Secondary School
- Sarswathi Dhanakoti Primary School.
- PNR Matriculation School.
- Varadharaja Chettiar Elementary School
- Varadharaja Chettiar Secondary School
- Shanthiniketan Matriculation School
- Gangadhara mudaliyar matric higher secondary school
[edit] Landmarks
- Arcot Paddy & Rice Merchants Association ( Sangam )
- Library
- Thirvalluvar Statue
- Anna Statue (Turning)
- Kannamangalm Road Junction
- Thiruvalluvar Statue
- Gandhi Statue
- Govrn. Hospital Kaspa
[edit] Movie Theatres
- Lakshmi DTS (Kamalam)
- Sivan Qube DTS
- Sakthi Qube DTS
- PNR (Murali)
[edit] Politics
Arcot (State Assembly Constituency) is part of Arakkonam (Lok Sabha constituency).[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Without knowing the actual meaning of the name of a town ArkkaTu (Arcot), the Sanskrit scholars translated it Sataranyam, which literally means six forests, whereas the Tamil word arkkaTu literally means a forest of fig trees. See Prof. M. Varadarajan, "A History of Tamil literature", (Translated from Tamil by E.Sa. Viswanathan), Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, 1988, p.1- 17
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Arcot
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ "List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies". Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India. http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S22/TN_ACPC.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
[edit] External links
- "Arcot." Encyclopædia Britannica (2005)
- "Arcot." The Columbia Encyclopedia (2004)
- "Arcot (S. India)". The Companion to British History, Routledge (2001)
- "Arcot." The Hobson Jobson Dictionary" (1902) [1]
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