SALIENT FEATURES OF VELLORE DISTRICT

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Chester McDowell
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1 SALIENT FEATURES OF VELLORE DISTRICT Vellore District which formed part of the region Thondaimandalam in days of yore is associated with many thrilling events in the history of South India. It contains many Historical places like vellore and Arcot which were scene of many a war-far. PHYSICAL FERTURE : The geographical area of vellore District is 6077 Sq.Km. and the inland area lies between and of northern latitude and and of the Eastern longitude. It is bounded on north by Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, on the South by Thiruvannamalai District and on the west by Krishnagiri District, and on the East by Thiruvallr and Kanchipuram Districts. The western parts of the district are endowed with pleasing hilly sceneries like Yelagiri Hills. While the Eastern side of the District is mostly covered by rocky bases. HILLS : The loftiest mountains in the district are the JAVADU which covers the part of Thirupathur Taluk. The elevation of the Javadu is 2,500 feet from mean sea level with peaks raising upto 4,200 feet. The Yelagiri Hills lies in the central part of Thirupathur Taluk and is an ideal tourist centre situated on a hill top at an altitude of 3,200 feet. It has a circuit house and also a beautiful part at the bottom of the hills. The other highest peaks are Swamimalai in Thirupathur Taluk. RIVER : The major rivers of the district are the Palar and Ponnai. In a year, these rivers will almost be dry and sandy and may not be of much for sustained irrigation as these are seasonal.

2 FOREST : The area under forest in the district is ha. prominent forest area of the district area in the Taluks of Vellore, Vaniyambadi, Thirupathur and Gudiyatham. CLIMATE AND RAINFALL : Generally the temperature and rainfall in the district are moderate. Especially, Arakkonam Taluk enjoy moderate climate throughout the year. On the other hand Vellore, Walajah and Gudiyatham Taluks, which are surrounded by hills, are subjected to extreme climate conditions either being very hot during summer of very cold during the winter season. In Thirupathur taluk the climate is cold during winter but moderate during the other seasons. The district receives rainfall during the south west and north east monsoon period. The region get maximum rainfall during the south west monsoon period only. The actual rainfall received during this year is presented in the table appended. VELLORE FORT: Dating back to the 13th Century this ancient Fort is the main attraction for tourists. This historically famous fort retains the past glory with its ramparts, barlements, turrets, posts, and sally gates and with perennial water supply. Double walls fortify it and the main walls are of made massive granite blocks laid one over the other without using mortar. The fort houses a church, Jalagandeeswarar Temple, and many buildings. Many Government offices are located in these buildings. KAVALUR TELESCOPES Kavalur in Vaniyambadi Taluk has an array to telescopes of various apertures 15 inches (38 cm) and 30 inches (75 cm) 40 inches (1metre) commissioned in 1972 and the new Computer controlled 2.3 metre aperture telescope, whose tube is mounted at the centre of a yoke attached on its North side to a massive horse-shoe. The telescope can easily resolve a 25 paise coin kept forty kilometres away. A VAZ 11/780 Computer is at hand for on-line analysis of data including image processing. The small 38 cm telescope made in the backyards of Kodaikanal observatory using a mounting

3 borrowed from a 90-year-old telescope is the one that in 1968 brought astronomy to the sleepy little hamlet of Kavalur in the Javadu hills. From it to the sophisticated 23-metre telescope that would have done any country proud, Kavalur has indeed come a long way in a span of 18 years. MUTHU MANDABAM Muthu Mandabam was inaugurated on by the then Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Mr. M. Karunanidhi. Vikrama Raja Singhan, the last Tamil ruler to rule Kandy (Sri Lanka) was originally named Kannuswamy. He belonged to the Nayak dynasty of Madurai. The Britishers fought with him for 16 years from 1815 and Vikrama was arrested and imprisoned in the Vellore fort jail. He died in Only in 1983 his cemetery was found. In his memory the MUTHU MANDABAM was established here in Vellore. His samadhi was erected by his son, A. Vikrama Raja Singham on There are six cemetry of which three have their names written on it. One of them is the cemetry of Vikrama Raja Singhan. To the right of it is the samadhi of his great grand son, Thiru C.K. Narasimhala Raja who died on To the left is the samadhi of great grand daughter Sow. Raualakshmi Devi, wife of Shri. V. Rangarajah (direct great grant son of the last ex-king of Ceylon who died at Tanjore on ). The Govt. of Tamil Nadu was appreciated for preserving the truth of the last Tamil king of Ceylon. The building construction was started on and was finished on CENTRAL JAIL The Central Jail, Vellore was established on with 160 convicts. It is the largest Jail in the dist. The prison has historical importance. Political leaders like former president SRI R.VENKAT RAMAN, DR. ARINGER C.N ANNA DURAI, late Tr.V.V.GIRI, late Tr. KAMARAJ and SRI VINOBA BHAVE were confined in this prison. Convicts sentenced to imprisonment are confined in the jail from various districts of the Presidency as well as from Burma. Many prisoners sentenced to transpiration by the courts of this Presidency are retained when considered physically unfit for deportation toandaman. The expenditure in the jail is recovered by the value of the convict s labour

4 The chief industry carried out in the jail is weaving. A great variety of clothes of various patterns as well as table clothes, gunnies, choir mats, carpets etc are woven. Central jail is famous for its carpets. The manufacture was first taught to the convicts by a carpet weaver of Ellore. The fabrics are excellently woven and find ready sale in England. Carpentry, shoe making, iron and brass work and tent making are also carried on and the prison is wellworth a visit. By extreme hard work and good conduct, convicts may earn a remission not exceeding 1/6 th of the total period of imprisonment awarded them. There is a small sub jail attached to the central prison to accommodate the remand and under-trail prisoners of this dist. They will be sent to the concerned courts on the dates under Police Escorts. GOVERNMENT MESUEM Location Of Govt. Mesuem: Inside the Fort, Vellore Importance: This is a multi purpose museum maintained by the Department of Museums of Tamil Nadu Government. It treasures ancient and present day curios relating to anthropology Art and Archaeology, Botany, Geology, Numismatics, Pre-history, Zoology etc., The historical monuments of the erstwhile composite North Arcot District are gracefully depicted in the Gallery. This Museum is kept open on all days between 9.30 am to 5 pm except on holidays. AMIRTHI ZOOLOGICAL PARK: Amirthi zoological park is situated under the Javadu Hills of Tellaiacross Amirthi river which is 25 kms away from vellore. It also is atourism spot. This zoo logical park was started in the year 1967October. The area of the park is 25 hectares and one can findbeautiful water falls. There are also different kinds of birds andanimals. Swings, Seesaw etc., are there for children to play.numerous kinds of herbal plants and trees and sandal wood treesalso grow here. There are 2 rest houses and five members can stayis one dormitory. There is a meditating hall where one can have fullconcentration and be in serenity. The inflow of tourists is more only during the holidays. This zoological park has been recognized recently and so the state Government has taken initiative to develop this area. The entrance fees is only Rs 2/- per head, for cycles Rs.3/- for van Rs.5/- for motor cyclesrs.2/-. The Government earns Rs.6000/- per month and Rs.72,000/- per year by this entrance fees. The tribal people reside in this area.

5 There is a range office at Amirthi headed by the forest ranger, Mr.Deendayalan at present 2001.) There is also a hill tribe society at Nimmiyambattu near Amirthi. The main aim is to give employment opportunities to the hill tribals in that area. GOLDEN TEMPLE Narayani temple or Mahalakshmi temple whose Vimanam and Ardha Mandapam have been coated with gold both in the interior and exterior.the temple is located on20 acres of land and has been constructed by Vellore-based Sri Narayani Peedam, headed by spiritual leader Sri Sakthi Amma. The temple, covering 55,000 sq ft, has intricate carvings and sculptures in gold. The lighting is arranged in such a way that the temple glitters even during night.the Sripuram is the biggest structure made out of gold.even the Sadari, a crown with feet of the lord engraved on it, is made of solid gold weighing 1 kg.the outer pathway of the temple is made out in the shape of a Star. The walls of the pathway have inscriptions of teachings of Sakthi amma, Gita, Bible Quran and the {Guru Granth Sahib Ji]. Only people who believe in more than one god are allowed to enter the temple. All people have to go through the Star shaped pathway to reach the sanctum.the Inner praharam of the temple resembles the circular structure of the Parliament of India. The temple is at the southern end of the city of Vellore, at Tirumalaikodi.It is located on the way to Anaicut, on Usoor Road. It's under Corporation limits. ELAGIRI HILLS Location: Elagiri Hills in Tirupathur Taluk. 75 Kms from Vellore Considered as the Ooty of Vellore District, this stands eloquent amidst four mountains, at a height of 3500 feet above sea level is gifted with natural scenic beauty(lakes, lush green forest) cool & pleasant climate and convenient location.. A solemn summer resort, this place has comfortable lodging house, rest houses, and Government Travellers Bunglows. A church with exquisite craftsmanship and a beautiful park adorn these hills as an ideal tourist spot. Other places of interest are Poly Garden House (Lake side), Sericulture Farm (Mangalam Village), Jalagamparai Water Falls, Mangalam Fishing Pond, Nachiamman Koil, Murugan Koil and Valley View point, Thayalur Horiculture Farm (YMCA Boys camp), Telescope House. JALAGANDEESWARAR TEMPLE The Temple inside the fort, is dedicated to Lord Siva named as Jalagandeeswarar and is noted for its sculptures, which speak volumes of the exquisite craftsmanship of the highly skilled artisans of that period. The sculptures in the Porch on the left of the entrance are connoisseurs. It has a big marriage hall adorned with elegant engravings and monolithic sculptures. The Temple was used for long as an

6 arsenal and remained without deity. A few years back it has been sanctified with a deity Lord Siva which is worshipped by pilgrims and tourists. JALAGAMPARAI WATERFALLS Magnificent Jalagamparai Waterfalls is created by the River Attaaru running through the valleys of Yelagiri Hills. It is a good picnic spot as well as an ideal destination for day long trek.waterfall's view is best in the days of November to February as they are fully loaded with water but the waterfall is little dry in the times of summers. Contents Owned, Maintained and Updated by AD(Statistics), Collectorate, Vellore

ITINERARY SUMMARY. Shore Temple. Sculpture Museum. Ideal Start time Total Visiting Places 08

ITINERARY SUMMARY. Shore Temple. Sculpture Museum. Ideal Start time Total Visiting Places 08 ITINERARY SUMMARY Trip Starting Point Chennai City Mode of Travel Car (or Cab) Trip Duration One Day Ideal Start time 08 am Total Visiting Places 08 Shore Temple At a distance of 2 Kms from Mahabalipuram