Viralimalai

Viralimalai
town

Viralimalai Murugan Temple
Viralimalai

Location in Tamil Nadu, India

Coordinates: 10°36′6″N 78°32′47″E / 10.60167°N 78.54639°E / 10.60167; 78.54639Coordinates: 10°36′6″N 78°32′47″E / 10.60167°N 78.54639°E / 10.60167; 78.54639
Country  India
State Tamil Nadu
District Pudukkottai
Population (2001)
 • Total 38,866
Languages
 • Official Tamil
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 621316
Telephone code 04339
Vehicle registration TN-55
Nearest city Trichy,Pudukkottai
Lok Sabha constituency Karur
Assembly constituency Viralimalai

Viralimalai is a town located 30 km from Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, India. The famous Lord Shanmuganathar temple is situated on the top of the granite hill at Viralimalai. The temple was once a renowned seat of the Bharatanatyam dance form and boasted of a separate dancer for each of the 32 adavus (dance movements).

History

The natural caverns in the hillock show signs of early human habitation and may have shared the fortunes of Kodumbalur, 6 km away. The presence of an early Chola temple suggests that Viralimalai was a prosperous village as early as the 9th century AD.[1] The sides of this hill are covered with non-thorny trees, mainly Wrightia. Viralimalai is home to an exclusive kuravanji dance-drama. The kuravanji named after Viralimalai has had an unbroken tradition of presentation for nearly two centuries. On Maha Shivaratri night every year, till 1993, the Kuravanji was played as an all-night show to large crowds of nobles, officials and ordinary folk, in front of the mandapam below the foot of the hill.[2]

Peacock Sanctuary

Peacocks are abundant in the region and Viralimalai forms a sanctuary for the birds.[3] The town, Temple and Peacock Sanctuary have been declared and funded as a Heritage Place by order of the Governor.[4] [5]

Taluk

Soon to be upgraded as Taluk.

Notes

  1. ↑ Pudukkottai District#Pandya empire
  2. ↑ Sundarsuman center for Arts and Culture, Pudukkottai More details on Viralimalai
  3. ↑ Services International, Viralimalai Sanctuary Viralimalai Sanctuary
  4. ↑ Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (PR.2) Department, G.O. (Ms) No.19, Dated: 23.1.2008 Declaring Viralimalai as a heritage place
  5. ↑ VIJAYA BASKER. C Constituency : Viralimalai Party : AIADMK

Churches in Viralimalai: Trinity Full Gospel Church, east car street, Viralimalai St. Philip Neri Church, MGR Nagar, Viralimalai

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