Pilavakkal Dam virudhunagar tourist tips and guidelines
The Pilavakkal dam on the river has two sections- the Periyar dam and the Kovilar dam. The areas surrounding the dam sites have been landscaped into beautiful gardens. Facilities like boating are offered to tourists.
Rajapalayam
Rajapalayam is derived from the word Raja's Tamil synonym for Raja and palayam in Tamil a 'contonment' or fort. Rajapalayam is inhabited chiefly by people who came from an old Vijayanagarum State. There are spinning mills, power loom factories, waste cotton plant. wood screw factory, surgical cotton, plaster of paris, bolt and nail, insulated electrical goods, cycle spare parts, sugar-cane crusher rolls. saw mills. electrical motor manufacturing and etc.
Ramana Maharishi Ashram
Sri Ramana Maharishi was born on 30.12.1879 in Thiruchuli. His mother was Tirumathi Azhagammal and father was Thiru. Sundaram Iyer. He lived in the house of 'Sundara Mandhiram". He studied in Sethupathi Primary School. An ashram was established in 1988 on the banks of the river Gundar to propagate his teachings.
Shenbagathope Grizlled Squirrel Sanctuary
A wildlife sanctuary spread over 480 sq. kms. at Shenbagathopu in Srivilliputtur taluk. Animals sighted are tiger, leopard, Nilgri thar, spotted deer, barking deer, sambar, wild boar, porcupine, Nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaque, common langur, slender loris, bonnet macaque: sloth bear and flying squirrel. Over 100 Species of birds have been Identified. The sanctuary is located 86 kms. from Madurai. The best time to visit the sanctuary are throughout the year except for the months of March, April and May.
Sivakasi
An Important industrial town. It is famous for lithographic and Offset Printing, Match and Fire works industries. Next to Sivakasi lithographic and offset printing is done only in Bombay. In and around town, there is a group of fireworks manufacturing units, manufacturing crackers, sparkers, chakkrams.
Srivilliputhur
74 kms from virudhunagar. Sri Andal is a great vaishnavite saint and her pasurams are popular in Tamilnadu. The temple belongs to the 18th century A.D. testified by tile inscriptions in it. Thirumalai Nayak of Madurai and his sister have made intensive additions to the temple. The characteristic feature of the temple is 192 feet high tower which has 12 storeys. The massive wooden car which is several centuries old has 9 huge wheels.
Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirel Wildlife
45 kms off Virudhunagar town. the sanctuary has a composition of dry deciduous forests with patterns of tropical evergreen. semi evergreen forests. moist mixed deciduous forests and grass lands. Grizzled Giant Squirrels are abound. Other interesting species are flying Squirrel, Tree shrew. Elephant. Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, Macaque. Nilgiri Tahr. Mouse Deer. Barking deer and many a species of birds. This sanctuary can be visited all through the year.
Thiruchuli
Thiruchuli which was known as Thiruchulliyal is the 10th of 14 ancient padal petra sthalam in Pandya Nadu. This is the birth place of Sri Ramana Maharishi. Thiruchuli is the Railway station on Manamadurai Virudhunagar line.
Tiruthangal
Tiruthangal is located on the road from Virudhunagar to Sivakasi. Three Sangam age poets - Mudakkorranar, Porkollan Vennahanar and Athireyan Sengannanar were said to have lived at Tiruthangal.
Vembakottai
The Vembakottai Reservoir System receives water from 7 distributaries of the Vaippar. These streams originate in the eastern slopes of the Western ghats.
Other Tourist Places
Bhuminathaswamy temple
Tiruchuli is located on the southern bank of the Gundar. The Bhuminathaswamy temple at Tiruchuli is counted among the 14 famous Shaiva centres in Pandya nadu. Its located 40 Kms. East from Virhdunagar, 45 Kms South from Madurai. Name of God is Bhuminathar, Godess is Thunaimalai Amman. Its deity has been venerated in the hymns sung by Shaivite Nayanar Sundaramoorthy and Sekkilar. The temple has undergone extensive renovations and the present complex accommodates a number of shrines built over time within the high boundary walls constructed during the reign of Muthuramalinga Setupati.
Swami Vivekananda was stayed three days in this temple due to the flood of Gundar river in his yatras.
Pallimadam
Pallimadam is situated on the outskirts of Tiruchuli on the eastern bank of the river Gundar. Sundara Pandya, a 10th century AD Pandya ruler, famous for his erudition, died while visiting Pallimadam. He was buried there and his younger brother Vira Pandya (AD 946-966) erected a sepulchral shrine (pallipadai) over his grave. The temple was known as Pallippadai Sundara Pandya Isvaramudayar koil. It is now called Kalainathaswamy koil. The name Pallippadai has over the years been corrupted to Pallimadam. This sepulchral temple is the only one of its kind in Pandya nadu.
Ramana Maharishi Ashram
Sri Ramana Maharishi was born in 30.12.1879 at Thiruchuli. His mother is Thirumathi. Azhagammal, father is Thiru. Sundaram Iyer. He was lived in the house of 'Sundara Mandhiram".
He was studied in Sethupathi Primary School.
Arul Migu Thirumeni Nadha Swamy temple is situated on the State Highways of Srivilliputur to Parthipanur. this temple is ten of the Pandiya's Thalam out of fourteen in Tamil Nadu. This temple has 9 kinds of Theerthas and 8 kinds of lingas.
Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharishi was born at Tiruchuli. An ashram was established in 1988 on the banks of the river Gundar to propagate his teachings.
Aruppukkottai town
Aruppukkottai is a renowned weaving centre. Both handloom and powerloom weaving are undertaken. In the handloom sector both silk and cotton sarees are woven. The powerloom units weave towels, sarees, lungis, bedsheets and bedcovers. Units for spinning yarn as well as units for dyeing yarn have been established here.
Kullursandai reservoir
The Kullursandai reservoir on the Kowsiga mahanadi, a tributary of the Arjuna nadi. Is being developed into a picnic spot. Boasting facilities are offered at the reservoir which also attracts numerous water birds in the months of August to February.
Guhanparai
Guhanparai is located on the road to Kalugumalai from Vembakkottai. A small hillock to the west of the village is called Guhanparai and the village takes on the same nomenclature. There is a small natural cavern at the foot of the hillock, which is believed to have been used as a shelter by Jain monks. A 10th century AD Vatteluttu inscription on a rock of the hillock states that a monastery Munnurruvarperumpalli was established in the name of Munnurruvar kovilpillaigal (servants of the palace).
Irukkangudi
Irukkangudi is located to the east of Sattur, at the confluence of the Arjuna nadi and the Vaippar. The Mariamman koil, located close to the confluence, is a popular spot for devotees. The Panguni Uttiram is an important festival celebrated in the month of Panguni for 21 days
Mariamman Koil
The Mariamman temple in the town was constructed in 1923. The Panguni Uttiram, celebrated in the month of Panguni for 21 days at this temple, is the main festival of the town and its surroundings.
Kamaraj’s House
The house where the great leader Kamaraj was born has been converted into a memorial. The rooms are adorned with photographs of the leader at every stage of his life. A few of his clothes, his watch as well as articles used by him are displayed.
Sivakasi town
Sivakasi is famous for its match and fireworks units as well as for printing. Some of the most advanced printing units in the country are located here offering state of the art, world class facilities. 70% of the total production of matches and fire works in India are manufactured mainly in the towns of Sivakasi and Sattur.
Tiruthangal
Tiruthangal is located on the road from Virudhunagar to Sivakasi. The area around the town has been under almost continuous occupation since 4000 BC. Three Sangam age poets - Mudakkorranar, Porkollan Vennahanar and Athireyan Sengannanar were said to have lived at Tiruthangal. The ancient name of the town was Thangal. The town is mentioned in the Silappadikaram
On top of a low hillock in the town there is a structural temple Ninranarayanaperumal koil originally constructed during the Early Pandya period. The temple is considered one of the 108 sacred sites of the Vaishnava faith. Bhuthathalvar and Tirumangaialvar have sung hymns in praise of the temple. A bronze image of Tirumangaialvar was installed in the temple in the 10th century AD. The Ninranarayanaperumal koil was renovated in the 13th century AD and completely rebuilt in the Nayak period.
Vembakottai
The Vembakottai Reservoir System receives water from 7 distributaries of the Vaippar. These streams originate in the eastern slopes of the Western ghats. The reservoir is a scenic spot ideal for picnics. It is being developed into a tourist spot with landscaped gardens and boating facilities.
Andal , Vadabadrasayi koil
Godha, or Naachiyaar or Andal was born in Srivilliputur - Thiruvilliputur - a beautiful village slowly turning into a town. Srivilliputur is on the Virudhunagar - Thenkasi train route, about 65 km. south of Madurai, very well-connected by road with Madurai, Tenkasi, Tirunelveil, Sivakasi and Sattur.
The Lord of Srivilliputtur is known as Vatapatrasayi or Rangamannar. The banyan tree leaf - which is known as Vatapatram, on which the Lord rests in the form of a baby during deluge.
Srivilliputur is one of the 108 sacred Vaishnavite kshetras. The town is famous for the Vadapadrasayi temple, Which houses the Andal temple. The Nayak Kings constructed the Vatapatrasayi temple. But its story goes a long way back to Pandiya times, when moved by her devotion, Lord Krishna married the poetess-devotee Andal.. The Vadapadrasayi temple consists of three major portions. The northern portion hasthe Pallikonda Perumal shrine (Vishnu in reclining posture). The Andal shrine occupies the southern portion. The garden(Tulsivanam) where the infant girl was believed to have been found by Perialvar lies between the two. The Vadapadrasayi temple has a double storied garbagriha. The lower floor houses a seated Narashimha idol while the reclining Vishnu idol is on the upper portion. There is a separate shrine for Periyalvar in the complex. A lofty gopuram, has 12 tiers and 192 feet high, built in the 17th century AD, forms the gateway to the shrine. This tower is said to have been built by Perialvar, father-in-law of the Lord with the gold won in debates held in Pandiya king's palace Vallabhadeva at Madurai. This gopuram is the symbol of the Tamil Nadu State Government. Also noteworthy is the temple Chariot, which is decorated with carvings from the scriptures. The chariot (Car) Festival attracts a large number of Devotees.
Every day Six worship services are carried out. The Tamil months of Aadi and Margazhi are auspicous months.
The kumbabishekam for the Vadabadrasayi koil and Andal koil was celebrated on 10th February 2000. The entire temple complex was renovated at the cost of 2.28 crores before the event.
Shenbagathope Grizelled Squirrel Sanctuary
The forests are found on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. Only 6.3% of the total geographical area is under forests. Many rare and endemic varieties of flora and fauna are found along the mountain slopes. A wildlife sanctuary, spread over 480 sq. kms. was established in 1989 at Shenbagathopu in Srivilliputtur taluk.. This sanctuary is contiguous with the Periyar tiger reserve on the south-western side and the Megamalai reserve forest on the north-western side. The altitude varies from 100m to 2010 m above sea level. The sanctuary is home to the endangered, arboreal grizzled giant squirrel Ratufa macrora. This greyish brown squirrel weighs 1 to 1.8 kg. and is the size of a small cat. It measures about 73.5 cms. from nose to tail with the tail being 36 – 40 cm. long. They construct drays at forked branches where the crowns of neighbouring trees meet. This enables the squirrel to move away from the site by jumping from tree to tree when threatened. The home range of an individual is between 0.197 hectares and 0.611 hectares.
The sanctuary also hosts a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies. Resident and migratory elephants are common. Other animals sighted are tiger, leopard, Nilgiri thar, spotted deer, barking deer, sambar, wild boar, porcupine, Nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaque, common langur, slender loris, bonnet macaque, sloth bear and flying squirrel. Over 100 species of birds have been identified. The rare Great Indian horn bill is also found.
Special steps have been taken to conserve the forest areas in the sanctuary. The annual leases given for the collection of fruit and other minor forest produce has been stopped. Fruit bearing trees and other trees have been planted. This will increase the food sources as well as ensure continuity in the canopy. Soil conservation and water harvesting measures have been undertaken to improve the habitat.
The forests of Alagarkoil valley in Srivilliputur taluk and Saduragiri are known for rare medicinal plants. The medicinal value of 275 plants has been recorded and reported. The forests host a rich variety of orchids and ferns.
The sanctuary is located 86 kms. from Maduari. The best time to visit the sanctuary are throughout the year except for the months of March, April and May.
Pilavakkal Dam
The Pilavakkal dam on the river has two sections- the Periyar dam and the Kovilar dam. The areas surrounding the dam sites have been landscaped into beautiful gardens. Facilities like boating are offered to tourists. This is an ideal picnic spot.
Ayyanar falls
Ayyanar falls is located on the eastern slopes of the western ghats. The falls located in the midst of scenic green vegetation is a popular location for picnics. The best season to visit the falls is from September to January.
