Mecheri

Mecheri மேச்சேரி
Town
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Salem
Founded by	Tamil
Population  (2001)
• Total	21,020
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	TN-52

Mecheri (Tamil: மேச்சேரி) is a panchayat town in Salem district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

General

Mecheri is a minor town panchayat coming-under Mettur taluk, This little town is positioned over the rolling terrain covered by beautiful green meadows, cultivation fields, small mountain ranges with numerous species of tress especially Neem, Asian Palmyra palm, coconut trees etc., which enhance moderate weather condition across the year, this region got a vibrant culture dating back to the ancient Chola Nadu. Mecheri is a major road junction which directs to Salem and Dharmapuri cities from Mettur with a distance of 33 km & 42 km respectively and 20 km from Mettur town.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Mecheri holding a population of 21,020 as per latest survey. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Mecheri has an average literacy rate of 59%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 66%, and female literacy is 50%. In Mecheri, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Temples

• Mecheri is one of the holy sites where the omnipotent goddess in the form of "Vada Bhadrakeli" is showering her blessings to the universe. There are wide conifers and mandapams surrounding the temple. Rajagopuram is main entrance to the temple facing north.
• Temple is situated in south-east direction in the heart of Mecheri town along Salem & Dharmapuri highway on either side. Besides this, there are three rajagopurams in other three directions.
• Arulmigu Eshwaran, Arulmigu Perumal, Arulmigu Murugan, Arulmigu Shakthi Vinayagar and Shakthi Mariamman Temples are also located in the town.

Other Famous Temples around the Town

• Arulmigu Agni mariamman Temple,Thethigiripatti,

• Arulmigu Kamatchiamman Temple,Amaram,

• Arulmigu Murugan Temple,Malligundham,

• Arulmigu Shakthi Vinayagar and Shakthi Mariamman Temple,Pottaneri,

• Arulmigu Shakthi Vinayagar and Shakthi Mariamman Temple,Sevalanoor,

• Arulmigu Madeswaran Temple,Virudasampatti,etc.

Agriculture

Agriculture is the mainstay of this region as about 70% of the population is engaged in Agriculture. Major Field Crops cultivated are

• Cereals & Pulses :Rice,Jowar (Cholam),Bajra (Cumbu),Ragi,Maize,Korra, Varagu, Samai etc. & Bengalgram,Redgram,Greengram, Blackgram, Horsegram, Other pulses etc.
• Fruits & Vegetables :Plantain,Mango,Watermelon,Cucumber,Chikku,Pomegranate,Lemon,custard apple etc. & Tomato, Chillies,Brinjal,Pumpkin,Ladies-finger,Bitter gourd, snake gourd,bottle gourd,Greens,bush-beans etc.
• Cash crops :Turmeric, Sugarcane,Tapioca,Cotton,Groundnut etc.

Livestock & Poultry

• Mecheri is famous for "Kurumbai sheep" livestock a kind of sheep is grown in large numbers, also a major line of work to the people addition to agriculture.
• In order to develop and encourage the sheep farming government of Tamil Nadu started "Mecheri Sheep Research Station", on 05.06.1978 at Pottaneri panchayat of Mecheri block in Salem district with the aim of improving the Mecheri sheep which was considered to be the best indigenous mutton breed of Tamil Nadu. which is 5 km from Mecheri along Mettur State highway-20.
• Major Livestock grown in this region are Cow,sheep,goat,buffalo,Pigs etc. and Nattu-Kozhi (country chicken) is the famous poultry raised in most of the homes, along with few broiler farms are also Kept in this region.

Market

• Wednesday Market is famous people gathering event in the town, where surrounding village Farmers and general public will meet at one point called "sandhapettai",to Sell or Buy the agricultural products & cattle's, includes fruits,vegetable,Chicken,meat,dry fish,pork, all groceries items with a wholesale price.
• Variety of local crispy, delicious eatables like masalapori (Kadalipori),Corns(cholakadhir),Tapioca (maravalli kilangu), Vadas(Bonda,Meduvadai & Masala Vadai) etc.

Industries

• Southern Iron & Steel Company Ltd (joint venture with JSW Steel) the first integrated steel plant of India at a cost of 2,235 Crores, is located in Pottaneri Panchayat, which is 5 km from Mecheri for the production of TMT corrosion resistant bars/alloy steels.,

• Mecheri also contributing for the hand-loom industry is one of the most ancient cottage industries and producing quality sari, dothi and angavasthram out of silk yarn and cotton yarn. In the recent past, home furnishing items are also woven, mainly for export purposes.

Educational Institutions

Mecheri has Government and Private Schools & Colleges for Primary,Higher secondary and graduation studies both arts and science and engineering

Colleges

• The Kavery institutions, famous for engineering, education and Polytechnic colleges, is located 2 km from Mecheri at M.Kalipatti,which is a famous and well know institutions in the entire state, which produces thousands of engineers which excellent Job placement.

• Sri Balamurugan Arts and Science College is a Dynamic Institute of Higher Education run by Sri Balamurugan Educational and Charitable Trust. The College was started in June 2004 with a view to imparting higher education to students who come from rural areas.The College is making a stride in providing comprehensive Arts and Science education

Schools

• Government Boys Higher Secondary School,Mecheri,
• Government Girls Higher Secondary School,Mecheri,
• Meenampark Matriculation school,Mecheri,
• SSV-Matriculation and CBSE Schools,Kuttapatti,
• SRV-Matriculation and CBSE schools, Pottaneri,
• Vivekananda Matriculation,Mecheri,
• Swamy Vivekananda Nursery School,Mecheri etc.

Banks

• State Bank of India
• Indian Bank
• Axis Bank(ATM Only)
• Corporation Bank (ATM Only)

Transport Facilities

Road

• Mecheri lies on State Highway -20,which is Bhavani-Thoppur connection, Thoppur is 20 km from mecheri, Which further leads to Dharmapuri Via National Highway -44 (National Highway 7 (India)(old numbering)) (major North - south connection from Kashmir - Kanyakumari). Bhavani is 60 km away, which connects to Erode and Coimbatore Via NH-47.

• Another MDR (Major District Road) from Mecheri is Dstine to Omalur (20 km away) to reach salem, after omalur its will join with NH-44 till salem city. Direct Bus facility is available to Salem and Mettur (To and Fro) for every 5 Mins and frequently to Dharmapuri.

• For Better network connectivity for the entire village road network, government and private buses are also plying between all nearby town like Pennagaram,Tharamangalam,Nangavalli,Jalakandapuram,Thoppur,Vellar etc. and across major village settlements from mecheri.

• Scheduled Government available Chennai,Bangalore,Erode,Coimbatore, MelMadeswaram,Mysore etc. and Omni Buses are available to Chennai, Bangalore etc.. operated by MSS and KPN bus services.

Rail

• Rail connectivity is available 4 km from Mecehri town at Mecehri road railway station, which is Salem -Metturdam railway section, Trains starting from mettur are destine to Salem and Erode Junction, from there rail connectivity is available for entire India.
• Link train facility is available to connect with Chennai – Salem Superfast Express, which is daily service to Chennai Egmore starting from Metturdam,similarly on return direction.

Air

• Salem Airport (India) (IATA: SXV, ICAO: VOSM) is sited 20 km from Mecheri, along Salem-Bangalore Highway (NH-7) in a place called Kaamalapuram near Omalur.
• Though the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had spruced up the airport and made it ready for operation in 1993, airlines did not show interest to fly fearing low patronage.
• Kingfisher Airlines did provide a service from Chennai, but terminated the service in 2012 owing to its financial problems.
• In recent times however, SpiceJet has shown some interest in starting flights to Salem.

Rainfall

Mecheri receives scanty rainfalland has moderate-dry weather throughout except during the monsoon season. Generally, the first two months of the year are pleasant, with summer beginning around March. The highest temperatures normally occur during May. This period of time sees scanty rainfall. The climate becomes more temperate during June–July period. During this pre-monsoon period, the mercury reverses its upward trend, and by August, the sky becomes overcast, heavily, but the rains are meager. The northeast monsoon sets in vigorously during September–November; by December, the rains disappear, rendering the climate clear and pleasant.

Climate data for Mecehri, India
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	29 (84)	30 (86)	33 (91)	37 (99)	42 (108)	38 (100)	36 (97)	35 (95)	33 (91)	32 (90)	30 (86)	28 (82)	34 (92)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	19 (66)	20 (68)	22 (72)	26 (79)	28 (82)	27 (81)	26 (79)	26 (79)	25 (77)	24 (75)	22 (72)	21 (70)	24 (75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	14.0 (0.55)	12.0 (0.47)	24.0 (0.94)	44.0 (1.73)	75.0 (2.95)	48.0 (1.89)	59.0 (2.32)	73.0 (2.87)	122.0 (4.80)	161.0 (6.34)	197.0 (7.76)	92.0 (3.62)	1,266.9 (49.88)
Source: Indian Meteorological Department

Recreation

• Yercaud Yercaud is the nearest hill station of about 55 km from mecheri, Salem District.It is located in the Shevaroys range of hills in the Eastern Ghats; .It is situated at an altitude of 1,515 metres (4,970 feet) above sea level, the highest point in Yercaud is the Servarayan temple, at 5,326 feet (1,623 m)

• About 50 km from Mecheri wonderful water falls is situated in a place called Hoganakkal,which is a channel line of cauvery river water from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu,lies in dharmapuri district.

• Male Mahadeshwarabetta, Karnataka is a hill temple of Lord Eswaran,which is 68 km from Mecehri a famous pilgrimage center for people around the town.

• Mettur Dam Park is another scenic recreational center close to Mecheri.

• 10 km from Mecheri a village called Koonadiyur gets the cauvery river water as a back water from Stanley reservoir is a lovely river side location.