Tiruchengode

Encyclopedia

Tiruchengode is a city and selection grade municipality located in southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

As of 2011, the town had a population of 95,335. As per 2011 population, Tiruchengode is the largest city in Namakkal district. It is also famous for rig business.

Location

Tiruchengode is in northwestern part of Tamil Nadu, approximately 20 km from the City of Erode, 37 km from the district headquarters Namakkal, 46 km from Salem, 120 km from Coimbatore and 407 km from the state capital Chennai.

Demographics

Religious census (2011)
Religion Percent(%)
Hindu
95.88%
Muslim
2.95%
Christian
1.05%
Sikh
0.02%
Buddhist
0.0%
Jain
0.0%
Other
0.1%
No religion
0.0%
Approx. Religious census (2018)
Religion Percent(%)
Hindu
89.30%
Muslim
6.93%
Christian
3.75%
Sikh
0.02%
Buddhist
0.0%
Jain
0.0%
Other
0.0%
No religion
0.0%

According to 2011 census, Tiruchengode had a population of 95,335 with a sex-ratio of 994 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929. A total of 8,901 were under the age of six, constituting 4,495 males and 4,406 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 11.36% and 0.07% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 75.87%, compared to the national average of 72.99%. The town had a total of 26,508 households. There were a total of 42,405 workers, comprising 329 cultivators, 686 main agricultural labourers, 1,279 in house hold industries, 38,804 other workers, 1,307 marginal workers, 7 marginal cultivators, 46 marginal agricultural labourers, 80 marginal workers in household industries and 1,174 other marginal workers. As per the religious census of 2011, Tiruchengode had 95.88% Hindus, 2.95% Muslims, 1.05% Christians, 0.02% Sikhs, 0.0% Buddhists, 0.0% Jains, 0.1% following other religions and 0.0% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference.

District profile

View of the city from Tiruchengode Tirumalai

  • This city has various other names like Nagasalam, Panimalai, Kodhai Malai, Aravakiri, Vayu Malai, Kongumalai, Nagagiri, Vandhimalai, Siddharmalai, Didya and still more.
  • It is a part of Kongu Nadu region of Tamil Nadu. Kongu Nadu includes in it 24 villages, out of which Poondhurai, a suburb of Erode city is one of the important pilgrimage centre. West of Cauvery is Melakarai Pundhurai and East of Cauvery is Kilakarai Pundhurai. Kilakarai Pundhurai is famously known as Thiruchengodu.
  • The word “Thiruchengodu” means beautiful, steeped hill in Tamil Language.
  • Thiruchengodu is famous for its reference in ‘Kandhar Anuboothi’ sung by Arunagirinathar for Lord Murugan -as “Nagasala velava nalu kavi”.
  • Tiruchengodu is famous for its hill and the temple on the top.
  • Ancient and historical Thiruchengodu is crowned with Mummurthies named Arthanareeshwarar, Chengodu Velan and Athikesava Perumal.
  • The average annual rainfall is around 950 mm. The altitude is about 150–200 metres asl.
  • Around Tiruchengode many schools and colleges are there.

Tourist Attractions

It is famous for the ancient hilltop Ardhanareeswarar Temple, Tiruchengode Umaiorubagan (Arthanāreeshwara), dedicated to the unique combined male-female form of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi (see Ardhanarishwara). This important place of pilgrimage is mentioned in the Tamil work Silapathikaram as ‘Neduvelkundru’ and is celebrated in the hymns of Saivite saints. The Chenkottu Velavar Temple, dedicated to Lord Murugan, is situated on the same hill.

It was also known as Thiruchengottankudi Nageswaram. It enshrines the Ardhanareeswarar (man-woman) manifestation of Shiva, representing the unity of Shiva and Parvati, is enshrined in this revered hill temple of great significance, accessible by a motorable road; this is an ancient temple mentioned in the Tamil work, Silappadikaram as Neduvelkunru. The red color of the hill is the reason that it was called Chengode. The image above shows the view of the surrounding area from the top of the Tiruchengode hill. This temple is regarded as the 4th of the 7 Tevara Stalams in the Kongu Region of Tamil Nadu.

Uttsavamurti of this temple is in the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, USA.

Politics

Tiruchengode assembly constituency is part of Tiruchengode (Lok Sabha constituency) until 2008. From the 2009 elections onward it is included in the Namakkal (Lok Sabha constituency).

Transport

Tiruchengode is well connected by state as well as private buses from Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Rasipuram, Karur, Sankagiri, Attur, Kallakkurichi, Paramathi-Velur, Komarapalayam, Bhavani, Edappadi, Dharapuram, Palani, Bangalore, Hyderabad etc., The nearest railway station is Sankari Durg (8 kilometres ) & Erode Cauvery RS (16 kilometres ) The nearest major Railway Junction Erode (23 kilometres ), Namakkal (37 kilometres ) and Salem (46 kilometres ) The nearest sub railway station for Anangur (8 kilometres ).

The nearest airport is at Salem Airport (46 kilometres ), Coimbatore International Airport (120 kilometres ) and Tiruchirappalli International Airport (120 kilometres ).

Mobile and landline communications are well connected in tiruchengode having exchanges in Tiruchengode and Kootappalli. Mobile connection having 4G GSM services of all major networks.