Pudukkottai
| Pudukkottai புதுக்கோட்டை |
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| Coordinates | 10°23′N 78°49′E / 10.38°N 78.82°ECoordinates: 10°23′N 78°49′E / 10.38°N 78.82°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District(s) | Pudukkottai |
| Population • Density |
1,618,725 (2011[update]) • 342.83 /km2 (888 /sq mi) |
| Sex ratio | 995 per 1000 males ♂/♀ |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
• 87.78 metres (288.0 ft) |
| Website | www.pudukkottai.co.in |
Pudukkottai (Tamil: புதுக்கோட்டை) is a town and a municipality in Pudukkottai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Pudukkottai District was carved out of Tiruchirappalli and Thanjavur districts in January 1974. It is the administrative headquarters of Pudukkottai District.
The well known Tamil actor Gemini Ganesan was born in Pudukkotai.
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[edit] History
[edit] Thondaiman dynasty
The princely state of Pudukottai was created by Raghunatha Thondaiman.
Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati of Ramnad (1673–1708 A.D.) married Kathali Nachiar the sister of Thondaiman, he appointed his brother in law Raghunatha Thondaiman as a chief of the district of Pudukottai. Raghunatha Thondaiman was earlier ruling Thirumayam. In appreciation of Raghunatha Tondaman's services, Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati has given Pudukkottai as an honour for his services.
In later centuries, the Thondaiman rulers, while nominally feudatories of the Ramnad state, often pursued an independent foreign policy, a trend common in all parts of India at that time. After the death of Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati he become ruler of Pudukottai.
After becoming the ruler of Pudukottai, Raghunatha Thondaiman fought against the Nayaks of Tanjore in support of the Nayaks of Madurai and conquered Thirukkattupalli a very important place. Then there was a direct clash between Thondaimans of Pudukottai and the Nayaks rulers of Tanjore. Thondaiman conquered the west of Thirukkattupalli.
The next ruler Raja Vijaya Reghunatha Raya Thondaiman he helped Arcot Nawab against Hyder Ali the ruler of Mysore. He was also loyal towards the British Government. After some time, when Hyder Ali’s army tried to enter into Pudukkottai, Thondaiman's army defeated them and drove Hyder’s army away. Thondaiman captured Kilanilai and Aranthangi. He helped the British Government against Tipu Sultan.
Pudukkotai finally came under formal British protection. This was arguably unavoidable, since the Thondaimans were much menaced in that period by a resurgent Mysore ruled by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan had sought to leverage the power of the French against his British adversaries, and Pudukkotai, in common with its neighbours such as Thanjavur and Travancore, found it expedient to ally with the British.
Raja Rajagopala Thondaiman (1928–1948) the last and ninth in the line of Thondaiman rulers, was selected by the British Government and was crowned when he was six years old. After Indian independence in 1947, the Pudukkottai Princely State was amalgamated with Indian Union on 04/03/1948 and became a division in Tiruchirappalli district. The long history of the Thondaimans rule came to an end.
[edit] List of Thondaiman Kings
- Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman (1686–1730)
- Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman (1730–1769)
- Raya Raghunatha Tondaiman (1769 – Dec 1789)
- Vijaya Raghunatha Tondaiman (Dec 1789 – 1 February 1807)
- Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman (1 February 1807 – June 1825)
- Raghunatha Tondaiman (June 1825 – 13 July 1839)
- Ramachandra Tondaiman (13 July 1839 – 15 April 1886)
- Marthanda Bhairava Tondaiman (15 April 1886 – 28 May 1928)
- Rajagopala Tondaiman (28 October 1928 – 4 March 1948)
[edit] Princely state
Pudukkottai became a princely state of British India under the political authority of Madras Presidency. The state had an area of 4663 Sq.miles and in 1901, a population of 380,000. The Rajas of Pudukkotai were entitled to an 17-gun salute.
[edit] Post-independence
The last Thondaiman raja of Pudukkottai acceded to newly-independent India in 1948, and the state became a division of Tiruchirappalli District of Madras State. The state was reorganised twice in the succeeding decade, taking its present form in 1956; it was renamed Tamil Nadu in 1968. On 14 January 1974, the present Pudukkottai District was formed from parts of Tiruchirappalli and Thanjavur districts.
[edit] Geography and climate
The state consists mainly of an undulating plain, nowhere of great fertility and in many parts barren; it is interspersed with rocky hills, especially in the southwest. Granite and laterite are quarried, red ochre is worked, and silk and cotton fabrics, bell-metal vessels and perfumes are among the principal manufactures. There is also some export trade in groundnuts and tanning bark.
| Summer | Winter | |
|---|---|---|
| Max. | 38 °C (100 °F) | 34 °C (93 °F) |
| Min. | 21 °C (70 °F) | 18 °C (64 °F) |
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Annavasal | Tiruchirappalli | Thanjavur | |
| ponnamaravathi |  |
Alangudi | ||
 Pudukkottai  |
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| Thirumayam | Karaikkudi | Aranthangi |
[edit] Tourist places
- Government Museum, Thirukkokarnam, Pudukkottai
- New Pool (Pudhu Kulam)
- Sittannavasal (Famous for cave paintings)[1]
- Kudimiyanmalai
- Thirumayam (Fort Uoomayan Kottai)
- Narthamalai
- Sastharkovil (Preserving Deities)
- Anna Pannai
- Avudaiyarkoil (Temple of Athmanatha, utsavamurti of the temple is Manikkavasakar)
- Thirugokarnam (It is the tutelary deity of Thondaiman rulers of Pudukkottai.)
- Kodumbalur (ancient place mentioned in Silappadikaram)
- Avur (The old chapel here was constructed in 1547 A.D. by Father John Venantius Bouchet)
- St. Santhanamatha church amaradakki.
- St. Sabastiyar church kolendiram.
- Setti kulam Alangudi.
[edit] Infrastructure
[edit] Roadways
Pudukkottai Revenue District is spread over an area of 4649.93 km2. The Highways Department is maintaining 3550.95 km of Government roads as abstracted below:
| Class | Length (km) |
|---|---|
| National Highways/Expressways | 148.40 |
| State Highways | 278.40 |
| Corporation and Municipalities Road | 125.75 |
| Panchayat Union and Panchayat Road | 2998.40 |
| Town Panchayat and Townships Road | Nil |
| Others (Forest Roads) | Nil |
| Total (approx) | 3550.95 |
[edit] Railways
This district has 84 Kilometers of Broad gauge railway lines with 12 Railway stations connecting Pudukkottai to Major centres in the state like Chennai, Trichy, Karaikudi, Rameswaram and Tirunelveli as well as Quilon in Kerala State. Pudukkottai District is well served by the Trichy Railway Junction which has been connected by long distance express trains.
[edit] Port and Airport
The nearest seaport for this district is Tuticorin, which is situated 350 km from this district. The nearest Airport is Tiruchirapalli Airport, which is about 50 km from Pudukkottai. Regular air services available between Trichy, Colombo, Sharjah, Chennai, Kuwait, Singapore, Malaysia and Cochin.
[edit] Economy
The SIPCOT Industrial Complex is located on Trichy - Rameswaram National Highways (NH 210). This Industrial complex is well connected by Road, Rail and Air. It was established in 1980. The allotment of land commenced in 1982 to accommodate Engineering and General Industries. The total extent of complex area is 421.10 acres (1.7041 km2).
[edit] Agriculture
Pudukkottai district is predominantly an agricultural oriented district. Generally a dry and hot climate prevails in this district and this district's agricultural production depends mainly on the rainfall. The normal annual rainfall of Pudukkottai district is 922.8 mm. Out of which 52.2 mm is received in winter, 124.6 mm is received in hot weather period, 351.9 mm is received during South West Monsoon and 394.1 mm is received in North East Monsoon.
[edit] Irrigation
There are 5,385 Irrigation tanks available in this district out of which 172 tanks are system tanks fed by Grand Anaikat Channel and the remaining are rain fed tanks. There are about 55,137 wells in the district catering an area of 7791 Ha.
[edit] Major Crops
Paddy is the major crop of this district. 90000 Ha. of area is covered under paddy, out of which 135000 Ha. of area is fed with Cauvery Mettur Project through G.A. canal. The remaining area is well and tank fed. The present productivity level is 4.985 Mt. of Paddy /Ha.Other than Paddy, Groundnut is the major crop in this district which is mainly cultivated under rain fed condition. Groundnut is being cultivated in 36000 Ha. as rain fed crop and 8000 Ha. under irrigated condition Millet, Pulse, Cotton, Sugarcane, Gingelly are the other crops cultivated in this district.
[edit] Important religious structures in Pudukkottai District
- Arulmigu sri Papathi Amman Alayam,Pachikkottai
- Sri Kathali Vaneshwarar Temple, Thirukkalambur.
- Sri porpanai kottai muneeswarar kovil- porpanaikottai,pudukkottai.
- Arulmigu Nei Nandeeswarar Temple, Venthanpatti
- Dharma Sastha Kovil - Kannankarakudi, Pudukkottai.
- sri Putradi Mahasakthi Mariyamman kovil - Bharathiyar Nagar, Pudukkottai
- Sri Periyanagi Ambal Sametha Arangulanathar Temple - Thiruvarangulam, Pudukkottai.
- Sri Pitari Amman Temple - Thiruvarangulam, Pudukkottai.
- Sri Vetriyaandavar temple Venkitakulam
- Murugan Temple,Kumaranmalai(Pulvayal)
- Ulaganayaki Ambaal Temple,Kollampatti,Pulvayal
- Sri Chithi Vinayagar Temple,Namakkottai
- Arulmighu Malaiyandi Temple,Valayapatti
- Arulmigu Dharmasamvarthini Sri Namapureeswarar Temple, Alangudi
- Sri Perungaraiyadi Meenda Ayyanar Temple,Kulamangalam
- Sri Muthumariyamman Temple, Vadakadu
- Sri Muthumariyamman Temple,Kothamangalam
- Subramaniya swamy thirukovil, Viralimalai
- Admanathaswamy Temple, Avudayarkoil
- Kokarneswarar Temple, Thirukkokarnam
- Sri Bragadhambal Temple, Pudukkottai
- Sri Thiruvapur Muthumariyaman Temple,Pudukkottai
- Sri Viruthapureeswarar Temple, Thiruppunavasal
- Veeramakali amman Temple, Aranthangi and Perambur(Andakulam)
- Meiyyanathar Temple, Thirumayam
- Mariyamman Temple, Thiruvappur
- Mariyamman Temple, Naarthamalai and Senthakudi
- Bhuvaneshwariamman Temple, Pudukkottai
- T.E.L.C Church, Machuvadi, Pudukkottai
- Fire Prayer Vision Ministries, Ashok Nagar, Pudukkottai
- The Mountain Of Jesus Church, Ashok Nagar, Pudukkottai
- Sacred Heart Church, Marthandapuram, Pudukkottai
- Moovar and Ivar Temple, Kodumbalur
- Sri Naadiyaman Temple, Keelathur and Alangudi
- Sri Dharma Sastha Temple, Kannankarakudi (Sastharkovil)
- Sri SelvaVinayagar Koil, Maligaipunchai (Aranthangi)
- Sri MuthuMariyamman Koil, Silattur (Aranthangi)
- Jagadeeshwara temple Manamelkudi
- Arulmigu Shree Kudikathaamman koil,Maravanpatti & Silattur
- sri alagambal thirukkovil alagambalpuram.
- Sivan Kovil, Arimalam
- Perungkaraidi meenta Ayyanar temple,kulamangalam south
- Sri Muthumariyamman Kovil, Konnaiyur .
- Poi Solla Meyyar and Ponniah Temple, Moolangudi.
- sri sithi venayagar temple [sammattivituthy] pudukkottai[dist]
- arulmigu kamakshiamman temple [melappanaiyur]pudukkottai[district]
- muthumariyamman temple konnaiyur
- Periya Pallivasal, South 2nd Street, Pudukkottai.
- Noor Masjid, South 3rd Street, Pudukkottai.
- Mela Pallivasal, Mela raja veethi Pudukkottai.
- kalif nagar masjid,kalif nagar 3rd street, pudukkottai.
- Sri Varadharaja Perumal koil, pudukkottai
- Sri naaganadhaswamy kovil, Peraiyur Pudukkottai[District].
- Sri Kamatchiamman and peatchiamman Thirukkovil, Malukkanpatti, PudukkottaiDistrict.
* Sri Ilangudi Ayyanar Kovil, Ilangudipatti, Pudukkottai.
[edit] Education
Pudukkottai is home to many schools and colleges. The arts and science college HH The Rajah's college (Autonomous) was established in 1857 by maharaja of pudukkottai. It is a autonomous college run by government with a motto "Thamasoma Jyotirgmaya" (Irulil irunthu oliyai nokki) sighifying "Darkness to light", this college is working hard to fulfilling the needs of higher education at the regional level.
[edit] References
- ^ Ancient Indian History and Civilization By Sailendra Nath Sen
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
[edit] Further reading
- Nicholas B. Dirks, The Hollow Crown: Ethnohistory of An Indian Kingdom, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1987, ISBN 0-521-32604-4.
- Edward Duyker & Coralie Younger,Molly and the Rajah: Race, Romance and the Raj, Australian Mauritian Press, Sylvania, 1991, pp. xii, 130, ISBN 0-646-03679-3
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pudukkottai |
- Pudukkottai District web site
- Genealogy of the Tondaiman dynasty
- Pudukkottai Virtual Heritage Tour
- Pudukkottai Discussion Forum
- Silattur Engineers Association PUDUKKOTTAI DIST
[edit] See also
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