Tiruchirapalli District
Tiruchirapalli district is located on the banks of the river Cauvery, Tamil Nadu, and is at distance of 150 km from Madurai. It is situated at the center of this South Indian state. Trichy city is the corporation and administrative head quarter of Tiruchirapalli district. The name of Tiruchirapalli was originated as a tribute to a Jain monk called `Chira`. There is also belief that the city was named after a three-headed demon `Trishira`, who performed penance at the Shiva temple here and obtained boons.
History says that Uraiyur, a part of the present day Tiruchirapalli, was the capital city of Cholas from 300 BC onwards. After that it is ruled by various dynasties including Pallavas, Hoysalas, Pandyas, Vijayanagar Rulers, Mughal, Nayakas and French before coming in the hands of Britishers. Till Indian independence Tiruchirapalli was ruled by Britishers.
Tiruchirapalli district is located at 10 to 11-30`N latitude and 77-45` to 78-50`E altitude. Total area of elevation is 279 feet. The maximum temperature of Tiruchirapalli is 32°C and minimum is 20.6°C. The annual rainfall of the city is 746.8mm.The topology of Trichy is flat. The river Kaveri or Cauvery and the river Coleroon or Kollidam flow here and the latter form the northern boundary of the city. There are a few hills located within the city among which Golden Rock, Rock Fort can be named. The southern and the south-western part of the district is specked by several hills which are thought to be an offset of the Western Ghat Mountain range. The soil of this area is considered to be very fertile. Tiruchirapalli has a moderate and pleasant climate and the humidity is slightly above than the normal. The people of the city go through mild winters and humid summers.
The Tiruchirapalli district is the amalgamation of a multi-cultural society with a substantial presence of Tamil, English, Marathi, Telugu, Hindi, and Malayalam-speaking population. However, Tamil is the main spoken language in Tiruchirapalli. Almost all kinds of cultural celebrations are enjoyed here including the `Thamizhar Thirunaal`, Ugadi, Holi and Onam festivals. Including these, `Jallikattu` is an important festival celebrated during the Pongal time. It is mere bull catching celebration in Suriyur Manama and in few villages around Trichy. Stick fights function named as Saliambattam is also celebrated during this festival. All these functions are considered symbols of prestige. Moreover, Samayapuram mariyamman festival is celebrated through out the year with three main festivals named as Poothorithal, Pancha Prakaram, and Brahmotsava. This festival of this goddess is given prime importance because she is believed as the Goddess of poor people. Poothorithal is the festival celebrated in Chittirai month at which large volumes of flowers from all over the places in and around Trichy showered for all the 24 hours a day. Among the other celebrations, Brahmotsava is celebrated in the month of April. During this festival, devotees from different country perform prayer and give their offerings as a reciprocation of the things they earn with love and grace of goddess Mariamman. A Float and a Chariot festival also celebrated during this Brahmotsava. And the other main festivals are Mohini Alangaram, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Garuda Sevai, Flower festival and Float festival.
Though the cuisine of this district is predominantly South Indian with rice as the main-ingredient, North Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines and the typical Anglo-Indian, Andhra and Kerala cuisines are also the added flavour of the district. `Jelebi`, `Mysorepa` (a sweet made from lentil flour and ghee), `idly`, `dosa`, `halwa` (a sweet made of milk, wheat, and rice), `parotta` and `biryani` are popular among the locals.
Sri Ranganatha Swamy TempleThe tourist places of Tiruchirapalli district include temples, museums, sanctuary, darghas, churches, planetariums etc. Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple is just seven kilometer away from Trichy. Lord Ranganath Swami is another form of Lord Vishnu. This is one of the largest temples of India. Another place of interest is The Rock Fort Temple which is the collection of three temples, The Manikka Vinayakar temple, the UchhiPillayarKoyil and the Taayumaanavar Koyil temple. Apart from these most visited temples there are other well known temples like Tiruvanaikkaval also called Jambukeswara temple, where Lord Shiva is worshiped, Samayapuram Mariamman Temple, The Jambukeshwara Temple etc.
Viralimalai Sanctuary Peacock Park Tiruchirapalli district has a host of other places to visit like Viralimalai Sanctuary Peacock Park, Viralimalai Sanctuary which is famous for its Murugan temple and the Peacock Park. There are some historical buildings that are still preserved for their creative excellence and Gangaikondan Cholapuram is one of them. This is located at a distance of 100 km from Trichy. Rajendra I, a Chola ruler established this place as his capital city and built a beautiful temple and dedicated to Lord Shiva. Kallani is one of the greatest engineering marvels of India that glorifies the district. The Grand Anaicut built by Karikalan Chola in the second century A.D. to harness the waters of the Cauvery River. The dam is made of stone and 329m long and 20 m wide and till now it is very strong. This is also a picnic place now days. A few darghas, churches, Jain monasteries, mosques are the evidences that this district is the place where the different cultures are admixtured.
One of the churches that exhibit the architectural splendour of the ancient history include St. Joseph`s College Church, St. John`s Church, Poondi Madha Basilica church. In addition to that there is Netravali Dargha and mosques that have been remaining the places of interest for the people who come for pilgrimage tour to Tiruchirapalli. This city also has some excellent visiting places like Mukkombu which is a beautiful excursion centre, Museums, Science centres, sanctuaries like Viralimalai peacock sanctuary, Sittanavasal, Puliancholai waterfall, Kolli Hills, Kollam pond etc.
Tiruchirapalli is also considered as an Educational town. It has schools and colleges of hundred years old. The prominent educational institutions of Tiruchirapalli are Bharathidasan University, the National Institution of Technology, Trichy RSK Higher Secondary School, Champion Anglo Indian Higher Secondary High School, The Government Law College, and K.A.P.V Govt. Medical College, Trichy. The Tiruchirapalli district is also popular for industrial hub where different types of industries were built up and this have solved the problem of unemployment to some extent. The industries like Boiler Manufacturing Industries, Cement Factories, Light and heavy engineering, Leather Tanneries, Food processing Industries, Sugar Mills, Cigar Making Industries and Hosiery and garments have been flourishing in the district. There are so many Industrial houses in Tiruchirapalli. BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited) is one of the major industries of India situated in this city. This industry is among the Navratna Industries of India. Numbers of small-scale industries have emerged mostly in the areas of Thuvakudi and Mathur. As the exportation, population and economical background are suitable for the growth of the industries; many businessmen are opting for this place to establish new companies like IT companies or BPOs. Even now the city is advanced with number of software companies, which is producing a large number of employments for its people.
The rivers Cauvery and Coleeron start branching out to form the Cauvery delta irrigating vast tracts of land in the district. Due to the fact that the riverside soil is very fertile the agriculture of the district has grown vastly in the district. The agriculture includes the cultivation of rice, sugarcane, banana which is cultivated in vast tracts and coconut, cotton, betel and corn are cultivated in small tracts.
The Tiruchirapalli district is considered as a place that is flooded with temples, churches and buildings that are of historical importance and lot of other places of interest and amusing locations that has encouraged the travel and tourism of India.
