Udumalaipettai

Udumalaipettai Udumalpet
Town
Udumalai bus at Thirumoorthi reservoir
Udumalaipettai Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 10.58°N 77.24°E / 10.58; 77.24
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Tirupur district
Region	Kongu Nadu
Government
• Body	Municipality
Elevation	400 m (1,300 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	61,133
Languages Tamil, English
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	642126
Telephone code	04252
Vehicle registration	TN-78Z
Website	Udumalpet Official Website

Udumalai, also known as Udumalaipettai or Udumalpet, is a town in Tirupur district in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of Udumalaipettai taluk and as of 2011, the town had a population of 61,133. Udumalpet town is under Udumalpet Legislative Assembly constituency.

History

The municipality was established in 1918 and upgraded to second grade municipality in 1970. It was declared as a first grade municipality in 1979 and further upgrades to selection grade municipality in 1984. The extent of the municipality is 7.41 km² of which 6.582 km² is urban and 0.828 km² is rural. The city was part of Coimbatore district until 2008 when it became part of the newly formed Tiruppur district, a change which was opposed by the residents.

Geography

Udumalai is surrounded by Western Ghats on three sides. The average altitude of the town is 1208 feet above MSL. The topography is undulated and general slope is from west to North. Black clay soil is the predominant soil of the area. The town gets major rainfall during the south west monsoon period. The average annual rainfall is 501.40 mm. Black and red soil types are found in the town. The soil contains more of alumina and gypsum. While black soil area is utilized for agriculture, the areas with red soil has more urbanized usages.

Demographics

Religious census
Religion			Percent(%)
Hindu			81.83%
Muslim			14.49%
Christian			3.19%
Other			0.48%

According to 2011 census, Udumalaipettai had a population of 61,133 with a sex-ratio of 1041 females for every 1000 males, much above the national average of 929. A total of 4,939 were under the age of six, constituting 2,489 males and 2,450 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 8.67% and .07% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 83.85%, compared to the national average of 72.99%. The town had a total of 17132 households. There were a total of 24,756 workers, comprising 226 cultivators, 289 main agricultural laborers, 450 in house hold industries, 21,403 other workers, 2,388 marginal workers, 51 marginal cultivators, 70 marginal agricultural laborers, 46 marginal workers in household industries and 2,221 other marginal workers. As per the religious census of 2011, Udumalaipettai had 81.83% Hindus, 14.49% Muslims, 3.19% Christians, 0.01% Sikhs, 0.01% Buddhists and 0.46% following other religions.

Education

There are about fifteen higher secondary schools and a handful of Arts and Science colleges like Vidyasagar College of Arts and Science, Government Arts and Science college, and GVG College for women, and few others. Polytechnic colleges are also available. Access to the advanced or quality coaching for various competitive examinations is limited, thus triggering urban migration to major cities such as Coimbatore and Chennai.

Government is running Higher Secondary School for boys and girls separately along with one co-educational school located in the centre of the town. Many Central Board of Secondary Education schools have mushroomed in recent past.

Sainik school run by The Sainik Schools Society, an organization under the Ministry of Defence, is located in Amaravathi Nagar, about 15 kilometre from the town.

Economy

The town, in the 1980s and 1990s, had a developed spinning industry but it has since declined due to labor shortages and other labor related issues. There are paper manufacturing plants located alongside the Amaravathi River. The surrounding areas has seen a surge in windmill installations because of the location of the town across the Palghat Gap. Areas surrounding Udumalpet are agricultural lands.

Only 1.25% of land to the total area of the town is covered under agricultural usage. Mainly coconut trees and vegetables are grown in this area, where as, agricultural activities are developed mainly in the hinterlands of the town, wherever water facility is available, wet crops like paddy, sugarcane, etc., are grown in those areas. According to 1991 census, 33.82% of the total population of the town constitutes the working force. The Secondary and tertiary sectors were the major components of the working population accounting for 32.22% and 60.27% respectively. The primary sector accounted only for 7.81%. The predominant occupation of the town is trade and commerce activities.

Trade and Commerce, Manufacturing industrial activities and other services accounts to 27.52%, 24.74% and 23.50% respectively of the total working force.

Transport

Udumalpet is connected with Pollachi, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Munar, Palani and Valparai by national highways and Major District roads. NH83 passes through this town which is connecting Coimbatore with Nagapattinam. Udumalpet is 24 x 7 connected by government and private run bus services in Coimbatore - Dindigul highway.

The local (town) bus transit system is frequent from 5 AM to 10 PM. Decent numbers of mini-bus transport system and hireable autorickshaws are available for local transport. One can get scenic views of western ghats once you have a drive in Udumalpet - Munnar road.

The total length of roads, streets within corporate limits are about at 83.022  km. Consisting of 8.983 km of concrete road, 47,772 km of B.T roads and 26.627 km of other types of roads. The street pattern within the town is generally narrow. About 83.022 km of roads are within the municipal area and about 9.0 km belonging to the category of Major District Roads and National Highways.

The town is located in the Pollachi - Palani broad gauge section of the Indian Railways. It is connected with Coimbatore, Chennai, Madurai, Palakkad, and Tiruchendur with daily trains. Currently one express train and two passenger trains are plying in these route.

Coimbatore International Airport (70 KM) serves the air transport needs of the city.

Tourism

Thirumurthy temple

Udumalpet marks one of the important spots in the tourist map of Tamil Nadu. The town is surrounded by hills and has a good weather throughout the year.

Thirmoorthy hills and the temple is well connected by road from the town. Waterfalls in Thirumoorthy hills draw tourists and it takes 15-20 minutes to reach the Panchalingam(5 Lingams) falls by trekking from the Thirumoorthy Temple(Amanalingeswarar temple). The temple is consecrated with Trinities Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu in same sanctum sanctorum. The availability of minor forest made edibles and products are exclusive and artistic. One can also experience a state established swimming pool and facilities that have been made for the boat ride in Thirumoorthy dam. A caution note to be taken while bathing in Panchalinga falls or in the rivulet that follows and also in the marshy dam.

Amaravathi Dam, another dam located in the Western Ghats is endowed with many facilities for a casual picnic. The crocodile park is unique to the place. The park in the dam can be a recreational zone accompanied by fish based foods, readily available. Sainik school, an Indian Armed Forces establishment is located in Amaravathi Nagar. Coracle riding is available in the dam. Amaravathi Nagar is well connected by road from the town.

A drive on the Udumalpet-Munnar road gives picturesque views of the Western Ghats. Chinnar is 25 km (16 mi) from Udumalpet and the reserve forests of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park (now Anamalai Tiger Reserve) and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary are located nearby. The ride is highly potent to witness animal crossings, as they move vertically towards Amaravathi dam for water and care should be taken not to disturb the animals as well as commuters safety. Using Horns are not advisable.

Chinnar river demarcates Tamil Nadu and Kerala states. From Chinnar, a short Off-roading travel, provided by forest department Katttalai Mariamman Kovil (temple) can be reached. Tourists inflow will surge during weekends and during New moon days (Amavasai). A bath in the ever cold and pristine Chinnar river water will be a not to miss experience.

Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park consists of Amaravathi Dam which is 25 km (16 mi) from Udumalaipettai on SH17. The Amaravathi Sagar Crocodile Farm, established in 1976, the largest crocodile nursery in India, is 1 kilometre before the Amaravathy dam site. There are now 98 crocodiles (25 male + 73 female) maintained in captivity here. Three Forest Department personnel manage and maintain the centre.

Decent hotels for accommodation are available in the town. Trekking is possible and the same has to be consulted with the forest department office located in the town.