TIRUCHIRAPALLI

'Tiruchirappalli' (Tamil : திருச்சிராப்பள்ளி) also spelt 'Tiruchchirapalli', commonly known as 'Tiruchi' or 'Trichy' (Tamil : திருச்சி) formerly also pronounced as 'Trichinopoly' (under British rule) is the fourth largest city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu (after Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai ). It is situated in the centre of the state, on the banks of the Cauvery River. Trichy city is a Corporation and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirapalli District.
Trichy encompasses Srirangam , the foremost Vaishnavite temple and the biggest functioning Hindu temple in the world. Trichy also emcompasses "ThiruAnaikka" (ThiruvAnaikkaval), one of the five main abodes ("Panchaboodha Sthalam") of Lord Shiva. ThiruvAnaikkaval is the House of Water. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (Sir C.V. Raman) was born in Thiruvanaikaval and his house has been preserved as a museum.
The name of the town, "Tiruchirapalli", originated as a tribute (''thiru'' in Tamil means respected) to a Jain monk called "Chira".[1] There is also a belief that Tiruchirapalli was named after a three headed demon "Trishira" (the son of Ravana) who performed penance at the Siva temple here and obtained boons.
There is yet another belief about the origins of the name Trichy. Apparently the name started out as Thiru Javvandhipuram (Place of Marigold flowers; javvandhi, the Tamil name for the flower Marigold which grew(and still does) in abundance in and around this region and the word puram refers to a place of dwelling) which over time became corrupted to Trichy.

History

The Rockfort Temple at Trichy.

Image:4-19.jpg|thumb|350x|right|frame|The Rockfort Temple at Trichy.
Tiruchirapalli is home to many historic temples, monuments, churches and mosques. Uraiyur (also pronounced as Oraiyur) which is the Old Tiruchy has a long tradition. With over 2,500 years of known history, it was the capital of the early Cholas. The oldest man made dam Kallanai was built by Karikala Cholan across the river Kaveri about 10 miles from Uraiyur. It was an important town in the days of the later Cholas, Nayaks as well as during the early days of the British East India Company. The Madurai Nayak rulers changed their capital from Madurai to Tiruchirapalli and back several times. The conquest of Tiruchirapalli by the British East India Company marked a major step in the British conquest of India.
One famous landmark in Tiruchirapalli is the Rock Fort — a huge outcrop of rock, 83 metres high, which is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat land of the city.
For this reason, the city is also called Rock City. On top of the rock is the Ucchi Pillayar Koil, a temple dedicated to Vinayaka (Ganesha), from where one can enjoy a panoramic view of Tiruchirapalli. The temple was also used as a military fort by the nayaks for some time. On the southern face of the rock are several beautifully carved cave temples of the Pallava period. Around the rock temple is a busy commercial region, specializing in textiles, known as ''Chatram''. The ''Main Guard Gate'' is flooded on festive occasions such as Diwali, Christmas and Pongal.
Trichy is famous for the reason that it is the city with most number of churches in India . It has the most number of chapels in India. The most famous of them are The Holy Redeemer's Church, Lourdes Church and The Cathedral also having many service organization like ROTARACT CLUB OF BHEL CITY.

Trichy city as seen from Rockfort with Kaveri seen flowing in middle.

Transport

Bus-services

Trichy is well connected to various parts of Tamil Nadu, by private and public bus services. The Theppakulam - chathram bus station, near Rock Fort temple, runs local and mofussil (city-to-city) bus services which connect people to nearby towns and villages. Bus services are frequent, once every two to five minutes.
Trichy is also well-connected to the other cities of Tamil Nadu, southern Karnataka and Kerala through private charter buses.
The central bus station runs long distance services to major cities of the State and South India such as Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Erode, Thiruvananthapuram and Tirupathi. One can get buses from Trichy to almost any part of the state, due to its geographical location in the center of Tamil Nadu.
On the road infrastructure front, with the completion of highway projects in Tamil Nadu state, Trichy will have four track highways from the city branching to destination Chennai, Madurai, Tanjore and Coimbatore.[2]
The four-laning of Chennai-Trichy should be completed in mid 2008 and also Trichy-Madurai would be completed at the same time. The widening of Trichy-Tanjore, Trichy-Dindugal, Trichy-Karur and Trichy-Rameswaram should also be completed in 2 years.

Railway

Trichy is the hub of Southern Railway's operation to connect this central part of Tamil Nadu to various parts of India, notably regions in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Bengal, Maharastra, Karnataka, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh. Trichy Railway Junction has five branches leading to Madurai, Rameswaram, Erode, Tanjore and Chennai. Currently few of them are Meter gauge tracks being phased out as of 2006. After the completion of all ongoing gauge conversion projects in Tamil Nadu, Trichy is set to become one of the busiest Railway Junctions.
The Electrification between Villupuram and Trichy is expected to be completed by end of 2007. The railway station code for Trichy Junction is 'TPJ'.

Airport

Trichy has an international airport about seven kilometres from the city, which operates flights to Indian cities, territories, and neighbouring countries (Sri Lanka, Singapore, Gulf countries).
Nowadays, flights are operated to Gulf countries such as Sharjah, Dubai, Fujairah, and Ras al-Khaimah (United Arab Emirates), and to Kuwait. Plans are being made to upgrade it to a full international airport. The Process of expansion of existing runway at the Airport is in completion stage and aiming to make it into a Full fledged operational international airport in the next three Years [3]. Indian airlines going to introduce service to Dubai and Singapore airlines will start service after necessary landing systems are in place. New terminal building also to be constructed very soon.
Air india express operating direct flights to dubai and singapore weekly thrice.
The extended runway (8000ft) was commissoned and further expansion to 12500 ft has started.Also construction of new terminal building is expected to be completed in 2008.
Various airlines including Malaysian airlines, Oman airways, Mihin Lanka, Airasia will soon operate international flights while Kingfisher is planning to connect various Indian cities.
Air India Express will make the dubai and Singapore flights a daily service as soon as the corrections in the extended runway is completed.Soon Trichy will become hub for various international destinations

Airlines and Destinations
Domestic
Carrier	Destination
Air Deccan	Chennai
Indian	Chennai, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram
Kingfisher Airlines	Bangalore
Air-India Express	Chennai
International
Carrier	Destination
Indian	Al-Fujairah, Kuwait, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah
SriLankan Airlines	Colombo
Air-India Express	Dubai,Singapore
Mihin Lanka	Colombo
Air-India Express	Abudhabi,Kulalampur,Mumbai ★ ★
Air Arabia	Sharjah ★ ★
Oman Airways	Muscat ★ ★
Tiger Airways	Singapore ★ ★
Malaysian Airlines	Kulalampur ★ ★
Kingfisher Airlines	Chennai ★ ★
★ ★ Starting soon

Education

Considered an educational town, Tiruchirapalli has schools and colleges that are hundreds of years old. College Road in Chatram has three colleges and five schools. Prominent among the educational institutions in Tiruchirapalli are Bharathidasan University, the National Institute of Technology, TrichyJJ COLLEGE of Engg & Tech, BHEL SCHOOLS ,RSK Higher Secondary School and Campion Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School. The Government Law College, Tiruchirapalli was founded in 1979. Bharathidasan Institute of Management, a top-20 Indian B-school is also located in Tiruchirapalli, adjacent to NIT-T.
K.A.P.V. Medical College is located close to the Central Bus Stand. Another famous college Shanmuga Arts and Science Technological Academy Sastra located in Trichy.
Former Indian President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, writer Sujatha (Rengarajan) studied at St Joseph's College in Trichy.
R.Venkataraman (former Indian President) studied at National College in Trichy. R. Vasantharaja from Tanjore also studied in the same college.
(See also List of Colleges in Trichy.)

Industries

Dam induced drought on Kaveri River at Tiruchirapalli

There are some major industrial houses in Trichy, few among them are BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) which is a prominent Navaratna company (highly profitable PSU), Ordinance Factory, Railway Workshop and Dalmia Cements. The plant of BHEL in Trichy, manufactures High Pressure Boilers.
Number of small scale industries have also sprung up in Trichy, mostly around Thuvakudi and Mathur. Leather tanneries are located on the way to Pudukottai. Viralimalai, considered an industrial suburb on Madurai road has the factories of TVS, India bus body building unit, Cethar Vessels, MM Forgings. One can also find agro-based industries around Trichy city, especially along Karur road and Chennai.
Manachanallur, famous for its numerous rice mills supplying polished rice all over Tamil Nadu and outside is located about 7 km from Main Guard gate.
There are a number of software companies in Trichy.

Planetarium

The Anna Science Centre-Planetarium is 5 km from Trichi Bus Terminal. Anna Science Centre/Planetarium is located on Pudukkottai Road, before the airport. Programmes in Tamil and English are shown daily. Time: In Tamil 10.30am, 1.00pm, and 3.30p.m. In English 11.45a.m., 2.15p.m. and 4.45p.m. Phone: 0431-2331921.

Notable people from Tiruchirapalli

★ Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, Nobel Prize-winning physicist.

★ M. K. Tyagaraja Bhagavadar, the Tamil film industry's first super star

★ G.M.Vridhachalam an eminent trial lawyer and a living legend in the legal fraternity.

★ Nalluswami Annavi, former national high jump champion

★ Sujatha (Rengarajan), writer

★ Hema Malini, actress

★ Valentine Munbee McMaster, Victoria Cross recipient born in Tiruchirapalli

★ Kavingnar Vali (Rengarajan), poet & Lyricist

★ Dr Joseph Gnanadickam

★ V.V.Subramaniya Aiyer, famous freedom fighter

★ T.S.S.Rajam, Famous freedom fighter

★ Thiru.Anbil Dharmalingam, One of the founders of DMK party

★ Thiru.AdiArangarasanar - Teacher (Headmaster) by profession, One of the notable founders of DMK Party & a staunch follower of EVR Periyar

★ Padmabhushan N. Ramaswami Ayyar, Lawyer and Educationist

★ V.S.Ramachandra iyer of woraiyur ,famous astrologer

★ P.U.Aiyoob, Founder President of Trichy Arivalar Peravai; former Director of AIR & Doordarshan

★ Karthikeyan Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai Educationist[4]

★ LV, Lakshaman Venkatraman, lawyer and former president of the Rasicka Ranjana Sabha

★ A. Xavier Mathew, President of St. Mary's Social Service Association

★ Thiru .Manikandan

★ Shri. Arun Chidambaram

★ K. Subburaj, Industrialist

★ Lalgudi Jayaraman, Famous for Kadam (Kind of musical instrument)

Trichy tourism

The spectacular Rock Fort Temple, the landmark of the city, is on the shores of the Kaveri. It is perched on a massive rocky outcrop at an altitude of 83 m above sea level. The Thayumanaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva (the destroyer in the Hindu trinity), is situated halfway to the top. It has a 100-pillar hall and a vimana covered with gold. On the southern face of the rock are several beautifully carved rock-cut cave temples of the Pallava period.

Photograph from 1927

The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, situated 6 km north of the city, is among the most revered shrines dedicated to Lord Vishnu in South India, and is the largest temple complex in the world. Shrouded in a haze of coconut palms away to the north, the temple is built on an island in the middle of the Kaveri and covers an area of 2.5 km². Enclosed by seven rectangular walled courtyards, this temple has 21 gopurams, the largest of which was completed in 1987 and measures 73 m in height. Srirangam is connected to the mainland by a bridge. The temple is replete with excellent carvings and numerous shrines dedicated to various gods.
The Jambukeshwara Temple (Thiruvanaikaval), dedicated to Lord Shiva, is situated just 2 km east of Srirangam and houses five concentric walls and seven gopurams. Legend has it that an elephant once worshipped the Lord under the holy Jambu tree, and hence the name Jambukeshwara. The principal deity is the Shiva lingam, almost submerged in water, which flows from the subterranean spring in the sanctum sanctorum.
The Samayapuram Mariamman Temple is located 12 km north of the city junction on Trichy-Chennai NH 45.The Maariamman Temple is one of the most visited shrines in Tamilnadu, dedicated to Maariamman, a manifestation of the primeval energy Shakti as the mother Goddess. The offerings are in various forms. The most common offering is the Mavilakku Mavu made of jagery, rice-flour, dhal and ghee. Mariamman is believed to be a form of Shakti associated with prosperity and health. Local beliefs associate the deity with cures for diseases such as small pox and chicken pox.
Samayapuram was a local capital of the Vijayanagar rulers in the vicinity of Tiruchirappalli, and was known as Vikramapuram.
Thirunedungalanathar Lord Shiva temple (Thirunedungulam), is located 6 km east of BHEL, & 4km from NIT Trichy , dedicated to Lord Shiva , bears witness to the glory of Chola architecture. It has been referred in one of the Alvars-Thirugnana Sambanthar poetry.
Other temples in and around the city include Vayalur Subramniya Temple, Anbil, Appakudathan and Thiruvallarai Vishnu Temples, Uraiyur Nachiyaar Temple, Uraiyur Vekkali Amman Temple, Thiruppaigeeli Siva Temple, Gunaseelam Vishnu Temple, Cantonment Iyyappan Temple,Kaatazhagiya Singar Perumal Koil at Srirangam, Brahma temple at Thirupattur and Thirupparaithuraishiva temple.
The Architecture of the St. Joseph's College Church situated within the St. Joseph College Campus on College road is awe inspiring

Lesser Known Places

Kollam pond in Crawford lies along the Trichy-Madurai Railway line. This pond is home to different types of bird varieties including ducks and Kingfisher. One could also see few fisherman spreading nets naviagating with the help of vehicle tyre tubes

Places around Trichy

Kaveri in its full spate near Mukkombu

The capital of the imperial Chola dynasty a thousand year ago, Thanjavur is situated 54 km from Trichi. The magnificent Brahadeeswarar temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, bears witness to the glory of Chola architecture, sculpture, and painting. A museum in the temple courtyard has interesting Chola artifacts. The ''Thanjavur Art Gallery'' has priceless collection of bronze icons and granite sculptures dating from the 9th century AD. Thanjavur is famous for souvenirs like Thanjavur Art Plates, handicrafts, hand-woven silk, bronze icons, intricately inlaid brass work and bejeweled paintings.
'Pudukkottai town' (58 km) was once a princely state also famously known as Pudukkottai Samasthanam. The area, which comprises the district of the same name, is of absorbing interest to historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, and lovers of art. The numerous dolmens, stone circles, and other forms of megalithic burials in the district indicate the antiquity of this region dating back to pre-historical times. The rulers of Pudukkottai have built several beautiful palaces and constructed tanks and canals. Sri Brahadambal temple is one of the famous cave temple buit 900 years before by Pallavas. The rulers of Pudukkottai often called in the name of Brahadambal Das as a tribute to the native deity Sri Brahadambal. As the district was a dry place, the erstwhile rulers built lots of water tanks and improved the state much. Other sights include a Museum at Thirugokarnam, Pudukkottai, and famous temples like Bhuvaneswari Temple, Thiruvappur Mariamman Temple, and Santhanatha Sivan Temple. The Bhuvaneswari temple lies near Pudukulam and is an Adishtanam developed by Judge Swamigal. The Bhuvaneswari deity is considered more powerful and huge numbers of people pay obeisance on important days.
'Gangaikonda Cholapuram' is located at a distance of 100 km from Trichy. The Siva temple called ''Gangaikondacholesvaram'' here was conceived and constructed by the Chola king Rajendra I after his victory over the kingdoms in the region of the river Ganges. Apart from the huge Nandi, there are some beautiful sculptures including a dancing Ganesha, a lion-headed well, and a stunning piece depicting Rajendra being crowned by Shiva and Parvati.
The 'Grand Anicut' at Kallanai (24 km) is an ancient dam built (according to legends) by Karikala Chola across the river Cauvery in the 1st century CE. is still in use as part of the district's irrigation system.
'Mukkombu' (18 km) is a wonderful picnic spot where the river Kollidam branches off from the Cauvery.
At 'Viralimalai' (30 km) is a temple dedicated to Lord Subramanya, perched atop a hill. It is also the site of a peacock sanctuary.
'Sittanavasal' (58 km) is the site of an ancient Jain monastery with exquisite fresco paintings in a cave. It is also noted for its pre-historic burial grounds.
'Puliancholai' (72 km) is water falls on the foot hills of Kolli hills. It is a nice picnic spot.
'Pachamalai (Green) hills' is a low lying hill station with gentle plateau falls inside Trichy district. Though the altitude of these hills is only average, it always has a pleasant climate and many parts of the hills are heavily wooded. The presence of other remarkable hill stations in Tamil Nadu has led to less improvement of this place.
Kodumbalur (42 km) and Avudayar Kovil are some other nearby sites worth visiting.
Urban Population

Year	Population	Type	Source
1991	711,257	census	official
2001	847,131	census	official
2006	937,642	estimate

Tiruchirappalli District

Tiruchirappalli District has an area of 11,075 square kilometres. It is bounded to the north by Namakkal District, to the northeast by Perambalur District, to the east by Thanjavur District, to the southeast by Pudukkottai District, to the south by Sivaganga and Madurai districts, to the southwest by Dindigul District, to the west by Karur District, and to the northwest by Namakkal District.

Educational institutions

Engineering and technological institutions

★ NIT Tiruchi (earlier REC Tiruchi)

★ J.J.College of Engineering and Technology, Trichy 9

★ SASTRA University

★ Mookambigai college of engineering

★ Saranthan College of Engineering and Technology, Trichy

★ Oxford Engineering College, Tiruchi

★ Government Polytechnic Tiruchi

★ MIET Engineering College

★ JCET - Jayaram College of Engineering & Technology

★ Shri Angalamman College of Engineering & Technology

★ School of Engineering, Bharathidasan University
★ School of Engineering, Bharathidasan University

★ Seshasayee Institute of Technology

★ Welding Research Institute (WRI), BHEL, Trichy.

★ School of Advanced Engineering and Information Technology, BHEL, Trichy

★ MAM College of Engineering, Trichy

External links

★ Tiruchirappalli District

References

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