Sholinghur

Sholinghur
—  town  —
Sholinghur Location of Sholinghur in Tamil Nadu and India
Coordinates	13°07′N 79°25′E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District(s)	Vellore
Population • Density	126,597 (2009) • 6,330 /km2 (16,395 /sq mi)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	20 square kilometres (7.7 sq mi) • 155 metres (509 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 631102 • Telephone • +01472
Website	sholingur.com

Sholinghur (Tamil: சோளிங்கர்) is a town under Walajapet taluk in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, India. Sholinghur is very famous for the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. Sholinghur was ruled by the Chola Empire, Nawabs of Arcot and Tippu Sultan.

Legend and Name origin

According to the legend of Sholinghur, Lord Narasimha not only took several incarnations in this world to reform people, but also sent His messengers as preceptors to perform this function. One such preceptor was Doddacharya of Chozha Lingapuram (சோழலிங்கபுறம்), now known as Sholinghur, who lived nearly 470 years ago performing service to Lord Yoga Narasimhar.

Sholinghur also has a historical significance. It was here that Sir Eyre Coote fought against Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali in the Second Anglo-Mysore War.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Sholinghur had a population of 1,26,597. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Sholinghur has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 86%, and female literacy is 76%. In Sholinghur, 12% of the population is under 5 years of age. A sizeable number of people were engaged in Weaving occupation. Agamudaya Mudaliars and Senkuntha Mudaliars are the dominant communities in Sholinghur

Industries in Sholinghur

1. Bharathi Group of Bus services.
2. Brakes India Ltd - TVS group of companies
3. Sholinghur textiles
4. Small scale powerloom industries.

Educational Institutions

Distant view of the temple town from the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple

Distant view of the temple town and the steps that lead to the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple, view from temple

Colleges

1. Saraswathi Velu college of Engineering
2. Saraswathi Velu college of Arts & Science
3. C.M.Annamalai Polytechnic
4. Meera Teacher training institute
5. Kalaibarathi Teacher training institute
6. Sivaranjani Teacher training institute

Schools

1. Ashwini Matriculation school
2. Ayyan Vidhyashram Matriculation School
3. Goodlet Higher Secondary School
4. Govt.Boys Hr. Sec school
5. Govt.Girls Hr.Sec School
6. Hayagreevar Primary school
7. Mary Mclein Middle school
8. Sengunthar High school
9. Sri Diya Chaitanya Matriculation School
10. Unity Matriculation school
11. Vedhathiri Maharishi Matric Hr.sec school
12. Vidya Peetam

Hospitals

1. Government Hospital, Sholinghur
2. Kalpana Hospital
3. Bharathi Venkatesh Hospital
4. TVS Hospital.
5. Best Hospital

Temples and Tourist attractions

A view of the Lakshmi Narasimha Swami temple from mid-way up the climb to the temple

Sholinghur is famous for the temples at its outskirts of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy (1305 steps) located on the top of the hill Ghatikachala and Sri Yoga Anjaneya Swamy hill temple (550 steps). Thirukkadigai is one of the 108 Divya Desams - sacred places in Hinduism. The temples are located on two hillocks. The Thakkan Kulam, here is a big pond with 45 feet Anjaneyar statue & temple. Also, the town has war monument built by Tippu sultan at 1784 A.D during Second Anglo-Mysore War. One of the biggest lakes in Tamil Nadu, Kaveripakkam lake of length 14 km is situated here.

Facilities

Sholinghur has a railway station (which is about 13 km away from Sholinghur in a place called Banavaram). Sholinghur also has a government hospital that was awarded for Tamil Nadu's Best Maintenance in the year of 2006-07) and an engineering college.

In recent years, Sholinghur is emerging as an industrial town with Brakes India and associated companies operating from this town. It also houses the TVS Motor industrial production unit which employs more than 8000 employees.

Government and Private bus facilities to Vellore, Tiruttani and Arakkonam are available every 15 minutes.

Politics

Sholinghur assembly constituency is part of Arakkonam (Lok Sabha constituency).

Current M.L.A (Mr.P.R.Manohar) from DMDK and M.P (Mr.jagathrakshakan) from DMK.

See also

• Thirukkadigai
• Hanuman
• Narasimha
• Divya Desams

Monkeys at temple

Monkeys are found all along the steps to the temple and in the temple premises. They take the fruits and eatables given by the devotees. At times they are aggressive and grab the bags from the pilgrims as well. Here are two pictures of such monkeys at the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple.

• 

  Close up of one monkey at temple

• 

  Couple of monkeys munching eatables given by devotees

External links

• Sholinghur temple website
• Songs about the Sthala and its presiding deity Lord Narasimha