Town Profile
- Kallidaikurichi Town Panchayat Located 40.00 K.M distance from Tirunelveli District.
- Nearest Railway Station Name : Kallidaikurichi , This Railway Station Located 0.50 k.m Distance from kallidaikurichi
- Nearest Airport Located in : TUTICORIN
- Bus Route Details : : TIRUNELVELI - PAPANASAM
- ADHIVARAHA PERUMAL KOVIL - Ward No : 19 - Street Name - SANNATHI STREET
- AGASTHIYAR KOVIL - Ward No : 10 - Street Name - AGASTHIYAR SANNATHI STREET
- KUMARAR KOVIL - Ward No : 2 - Street Name - KUMARAKOVIL CAR STREET
- MANENTHIAPPAR KOVIL - Ward No : 1 - Street Name - THALACHERI
- PAGAZHI KOOTHER KOVIL - Ward No : 20 - Street Name - PAGAZHI KOOTHER KOVIL STREET
- VEMBADIAMMAN KOVIL - Ward No : 1 - Street Name - VEMBADIAMMAN KOVIL STREET
- PAGAZHI KOOTHER KOVIL - Ward No : 20 - Street Name - PAGAZHI KOOTHER KOVIL STREET
- SAI BABA TEMPLE - Ward No : 19 - Street Name - VEERAPPA PURAM STREET
- VAZHAVANTHA AMMAN KOVIL - Ward No : 19 - Street Name - KANTHAPPA PURAM STREET
- RAMAR KOVIL - Ward No : 18 - Street Name - RAMACHANDRA PURAM STREET
- ST.ANTHONIYAR CHURCH - Ward No : 4 - Street Name - VADUVAKUDI STREET
- CSI CHURCH - Ward No : 13 - Street Name - MELMUGA NADAR STREET
- JUMMA MOSQUE - Ward No : 21 - Street Name - PERIYA PALLIVASAL STREET
Festival Name | How many Days Celebrated | Which Month Celebrated | No of Peoples Participated | Notified/Non Notified |
---|---|---|---|---|
CAR FESTIVAL | 1 | APR | 1000 | NOTIFIED |
CHITTHIRAI 7TH DAY | 1 | APR | 5000 | NOTIFIED |
THAI POOSAM | 1 | JAN | 3000 | NOTIFIED |
Nearest City Name | Direction | Distance from Town Panchayat |
---|---|---|
TIRUNELVELI | East | 40.00 K.m |
- | West | 0.00 K.m |
TENKASI | North | 40.00 K.m |
NAGERCOIL | South | 90.00 K.m |
TIRUNELVELI
DISTRICT
KALLIDAIKURICHI
TOWN PANCHAYAT
TOWN PROFILE
1. History
Kallidaikurichi is aptly named. 'Kal + idai + kurichi' meaning
exactly, a village in the midst of hills. In Sanskrit it has been faithfully
translated in the 'Bhojanadi' (an astrological treatise) as 'Shilaa - madhya -
Hariswam'. In the Thamrabarani Mahatmya of the Matsya Purama, it has been
translated as 'Shila - Shalipuram'. Kallidaikurichi must have existed as a
hunting village for centuries. Prior to the construction of its famous
irrigation canal, the Kannadiyan canal, it might have been just a humble,
hunting place for wild animals. Therku Kallidaikurichi (South Kallidaikurichi)
in the revenue village still remains mostly a forest of palm trees, within
which are patches of rain fed dry lands, interspersed with a few, low and rocky
hills. One testimony to the richness of its economy, culture and traditions, is
the fact that the people of this hamlet seem to have celebrated many weddings,
the streets resonating with the customary Nadaswaram Music. This garnered it a
new appellation, given by the Sankaracharya of Sringeri Sri Narasimha Bharathi
Mahaswamigal, who called it "Kalyanapuri"—Kalyanam, meaning, wedding
in the Tamil language.
Kallidaikurichi is on the border between the Pandya and the
Chera countries of the past. The distance, as the crow flies between
Kallidaikurichi and Thiruvananthapuram is less than fifty miles (75 km
approx.), although the road, either from south via Nagarcoil or from north via
Shencottai takes about 100 miles (150 km). A determined and sturdy person
can easily climb the bridle paths and move between hills, without undue
exertion. The boundary between the Pandya and Chera Kings was subject to
frequent changes, this way or that way, depending on who felt the more powerful
between the two of them, at any point of time. At times the Pandyas drove deep
into Kerala and reaching up to Kanetti near Karunagapally. At other times the
Cheras went up to Madurai and beyond. At one point the Cheras held in their hands
the entire south India, for a tantalizing brief period of five years.
Kallidaikurichi got accustomed to these changes to her fortune, and readily
absorbed the characteristics of both streams of culture and language.
2. Physical Socio-Economic Feature :
Kallidaikurichi is a Selection grade Town
panchayat in Tirunelveli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in Ambasamudram
Assembly Constituency and Tirunelveli Parliament Constituency. Kallidaikurichi
is located at 35 Km from Tirunelveli and 45 Km from Tenkasi. It is in the foot
hills of Western ghats. It is situated in the bank of upper river which is one
of the source of water for the river Tamirabarani. Kallidaikurichi town is
located at South Latitude and East Longitude. This town is main centre for
around 10 hamlets. The total area of Town Panchayat is 6.56 Sq.Km. This Town
Panchayat consists of 21 number of Wards.
3. Demographics :
As of 2011 census, Kallidaikurichi
had a population of 26398. Males 12853 and Females 13545. Kallidaikurichi has
an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 62.5%:
male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 74%. In Kallidaikurichi , 10% of
the population is under 6 years of age.
4. Historical Significance of the Town :
Kallidaikurichi, endowed with a
rich heritage, is dotted with many ancient Hindu shrines
in each street in each gramam of
the village. These are of ancient temple architecture style having high-rise gopurams (ornamental
gateways of temples) with intricate sculptures, heralding the past glory of
this region. Muthuswami Dikshitar,
the Great carnatic composer,
whose songs abound with geographic and iconographic references,
sings of the curative properties of the river Thamiraparani. To him, the
Goddess at Tirunelveli, is Hima-saila-sutaa (daughter of the mountain snow).
The local language is Tamil. Adivaraha
Perumal temple
represents the principal deity of the present day Kallidaikurichi.
Adhivaraha Perumal Temple :
Aadhivaraga moorthy temple which
was dedicated to Lord Vishnu are
ancient temples of this place. Muthuswami Dikshitar, the Great
carnatic composer sung song (Gupera pathistitham...) on the Aadhivaraga moorthy
swamy. Chithirai Brahmmotsavam in April-May, Swing festival
in connection with Aadi Pooram in July-August, Navarathri in September-October
and Vaikunda Ekadasi in December-January are the festivals celebrated in the
temple.
As a tradition, Thayar and Sri
Andal have their shrines separately in prakara on both sides in Perumal temples. Here, Mothers Sridevi and Bhoodevi are
in separate shrines in the prakara. Great
celebrated musician and composer Sri Muthuswami Dishithar had authored many
Keerthanas-Songs on Adhi Varaha Perumal. The temple has many Garuda Sevas as
many devotees organize this event as their prayer commitment. Devotees perform
special Tirumanjanam for Lord offering sweet pudding-Sarkarai Pongal- and
arrange Garuda Seva – Lord appearing on His eagle vehicle Garuda. Lord Varahamurthi blesses the devotees with His consort
Mother Bhoomadevi on His lap. Tirumanjanam is performed to Lord with water
drawn from Tambiraparani river only. The priest fetching the water from
Tambiraparani is accompanied by auspicious music.
5. Festivals of the Temple at
Kallidaikurichi
Festivals are conducted at Kallidaikurichi temple mostly
through out the year – The important ones being follows:
-
Name of the Festival |
Duration |
Month |
Thai
Poosam |
10 days |
Jan – Feb |
Chitra
Pournami |
10 days |
Mar – Apr |
Vaikasi
Visakam |
1 day |
May – June |
Kanda
Sasthi |
6 days |
Oct – Nov |
Karthigai
Deepam |
1 day |
Nov – Dec |
6. Trade :
Rice
is the main crop here. Other crops are groundnut (peanuts), chilies (red
pepper) and cotton, though these are seen less frequently nowadays.
Kallidaikurichi and appalam are
almost synonymous. Appalam making is a major cottage
industry here.
It is nationally known for its quality and taste and is sent almost all over
India.
7.
Nearby Places :
Thamiraparni River :
The perennial river Thamiraparni flows through Kallidaikurichi. Originating
from the Pothigai nearby,
it flows down to Bay of Bengal after traveling for about
125 kilometers. In the hills there are many beautiful water falls - Courtallam
Falls, Banatheertham Falls, Agasthiar Falls, Manimuthar Falls and a few more.
All these are very enjoyable tourist spots. Bathing under these falls is very
exhilarating and is considered very good for health.
Manjolai Hills :
The Manjolai Hills are about 40 km from this village. This place is rich in natural beauty with tea plantations adding to its greenery. With elevations ranging from 1000 to 1500 Metres, the Manjolai area is set deep within the Western Ghats within the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in the Tirunelveli District. Located on top of the Manimutharu Dam & the Manimutharu Water Falls, the Manjolai area comprises tea plantations and small settlements around the tea plantations, the Upper Kodaiyar Dam and a windy view point called Kuthiravetti.