Vandavasi

Vandavasi
—  Town  —
Vandavasi Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 12.5°N 79.62°E / 12.5; 79.62
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Tiruvanamalai
Elevation	74 m (243 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	52,612
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	604408

Vandavasi (Tamil: வந்தவாசி) or Wandiwash is a city and a municipality in Tiruvanamalai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Vandavasi was the scene of a decisive battle in the 18th-century war between France and the United Kingdom for the control of South Asia. The Battle of Wandiwash was a watershed in Indian history as it cemented British supremacy in South Asia. On January 22, 1760, a British force led by Eyre Coote defeated a French force led by General Lally.

Geography and climate

Vandavasi is located at 12.5°N 79.62°E / 12.5; 79.62. It lies 110 kilometres South-West of Chennai City, South of famous temple city Kanchipuram and 80 km north-east of Thiruvannamalai. The town is well connected with Chennai by road. It has an average elevation of 74 metres (242 feet). Vandavasi climatic condition is similar to that of Chennai, lying on the thermal equator and close to the coast, most part of the year climate is hot and humid.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Vandavasi had a population of 52,612. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Vandavasi has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 68%. In Vandavasi, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. Hindu, Muslim, Christianity and Jainism are the major religions followed here.

As a capital town

According to one version, Chennapattanam [now called Chennai (British Madras) was named after Damarla Chennappa Nayakudu, Nayaka of Kalahasthi and Vandavasi, father of Damarla Venkatadri Nayakudu, from whom the English acquired the town in 1639. The ruler of the area, Chennapa Nayak, the Nayaka of Vandavasi, granted the British permission to build a factory and warehouse for their trading enterprises. The region was then primarily a fishing village known as "Madraspatnam"

Places of interest

Vandavasi fort would have been a famous tourist spot but for its negligence by the authorities. It witnessed the decisive Battle of Wandiwash, it even is said to have an underground passage to gingee fort.

Vandavasi fort.

There are more number of temples in and around Vandavasi Hindu Temple

• Venkundram Thavalagirishwarar temple is more than 3000 years old historical hill temple. It might have had a big fort on top of the hill. Nowadays we may see only compound walls, caves and dhyan places adjacent to sonai.
• jai anchaneya hanuman - fort temple at Wandiwash
• Jalakandaeshwara temple is more than 2000 years old.
• Kamatchi Amman Temple (with Asta Buga Kalabairavar, Nava Gragas with their wives & etc.)
• AdhiRanganatha Swamy temple

Those three temples are as old as 500 years. Among these Kamatchi Amman temple was rebuilt by a team of members along with public on 14 July 2008. Reconstruction works of Jalakandeshwarar & Adhi Ranganatha Swamy temples are going on.

• Venkunram kalani perumal koil temple since 100years old. very famous(Near by 1.5 km kanchipuram road)
• Vazhur is a village located 8.9 km from Vandavasi having the Sri Sundaravadana Perumal temple. This village is the birthplace of Seshadri Swamigal, the saint who brought Ramana Maharishi to light.
• Panduranga temple at Thennangur
• Sreenivasa perumal temple at Navalpakkam
• Narasimmar temple at Sogathoor
• Adhikesava Perumal Temple at Kil Kovalavedu – 7 km from Vandavasi on the way to Arni
• Kilsathamangalam Village British used Toppu (beerangi)
• Kilsathamangalam mariyamman temple very famous
• Seeyamangalam cave temple
• sri Nethaghi Kumaran Kundru(Balamurugan), Embalam . (12 km From Vandavasi)
• Near Vanthavasi 6 km Marudadu village in most popular temple in lord purantharishvarar temple
• Mavalavadi village 18 km from vandavasi and from Theresapuram koot road(Vandavasi to Tindivanam road) 9 km distance Poonthugilammai sametha Picheswarar a siva temple of 200 year old where the siva lingam consist of 8 strap structure which not seen any where in Tamil Nadu also a famous Selliyamman temple which has equally famous as Melmaruvathur at the time of 1970's in "kuri solluthal".

The famous Athiparasakthi Temple (Melmaruvathur) is located South-West of Vandavasi (28 km)

Jain Temple

• Akkjsc, Kund Kund Nagar, Ponnur Hills, Vandavasi,

Jain temples as old 1400 years are found in the nearby village ponnur.

• Kilsathamangalam Village Jain temple
• Birudur Village Jain temple
• Ponnurmalai Jain Temple, around 10 km from Vandavasi
• Arahanthgiri Jain Math

Main article: Arahanthgiri Jain Math

Arahanthgiri Jain Math is a Jain Math that was established at the ancient Jain site of Tiruvannaamalai in August, 1998. The complex includes 3 Jain caves, 4 Jain temples and a 16 meter high sculpture of Neminatha thought to date from the 12th century that is the tallest Jain image in Tamil Nadu.

Church

• Sacred Heart Church is more than 100 years old. There are 3 schools around the campus educating many of the poor people.
• Prince of Peace Church, 35 year old Protestant Church.

Education

Schools

There are many major schools situated in the heart of the Town.

• Venkateshwara Matric higher secondary school,
• Kingston Matric higher secondary school,
• Sacred Heart Girls Higher Sec School
• Agasthiya Vidyalaya Matriculation School,
• Sannathi Higher secondary School,
• Govt. boys higher secondary school,
• Govt. girls higher secondary school,

• RCM high school of education,
• RCM primary school of education,
• Sri Bharath Vidhyalaya N/P school,
• Bharatha Matha Matric School,
• St mary's English Medium School,
• Green Park matriculation school,
• Arunachal city matric school,
• Venus Vidyalaya nursery and Primary school
• Annai Therasa nursery and Primary matriculation school

Colleges

• Sri Akilandeshwari women's college
• Thiruvalluvar college of engineering and technology
• SRI polytechnic college
• SRI Engineering college
• KRS Engineering college
• AMJ college of catering and hotel management
• King Nandhivarman college of arts and science
• Swamy Abedhanandha Polytechnic College
• Sacred Heart Teachers Training Institute for Women.

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Nearby Villages

There are many agricultural villages near the town of Vandavasi forming the epi-center for them. Upload By Rupakumar, Son of Rajaram Sarma, Vandavasi

Village

• Elangadu
• Mottur
• Kizhvellore
• Pathiri
• Mummuni

106,karani

• Sembur
• Chennavaram
• Mambattu
• Madam
• Arasur
• Eramalur
• Nallur
• Ramachamuthiram
• Ulundai
• Endal
• Mazhaiyur
• Kilsathamangalam
• Vazhur
• Thellar
• Mavalavadi(Poonthugilammai sametha Picheswarar siva temple)
• Desur
• Nadukuppam
• Pazhanjur
• KilKuvalaveedu
• Thennangur
• Melma
• Vachanoor
• Alathur
• Vengodu
• Then Ellapakkam
• Veerambakkam
• Thethurai
• Thuraiur
• Pinnathur
• Alathurai
• Sivanam
• Ariyathur
• pallaechur(sram),vandavasi from 7 km

Near Town

• Cheyyar
• Chetpat
• Arni
• Kancheepuram
• Tindivanam
• Uttiranmerur
• melmaruvathur

Politics

Vandavasi assembly constituency is part of Vandavasi (Lok Sabha constituency).

See also

• Tamil Jain

External links

• Vazhur, the birthplace of Seshadri Swamigal
• About Tamilnadu other places
• Municipality of Vandavasi
• Vandavasi Business Directory
• Map of Vandavasi

External links

• Vandavasi (Lok Sabha constituency)
• Battle of Wandiwash