Namakkal district

The district is situated in the dividing portion of two watersheds between Cauvery and the Vellar System with the Taluks of Attur, Rasipuram and Namakkal on the East and Salem, Omalur and Mettur on the West. Mettur East Bank canal irrigates Pallipalayam Block with an area of 4,585 Ha. Rajavaikal canal irrigates an area of 4,215 Ha. Mohanur vaikal irrigates about 355 Ha. Kumarapalayam vaikal irrigates about 1,146 ha (2,830 acres) and Poiyeri vaikal irrigates about 323 ha (800 acres).

The main occupation for most of the people in the district is agriculture, with a gross cropped area of around 336,700 Ha, out of which about 60,939 Ha are irrigated and about 80,598 Ha are rainfed. The cultivation generally depends on monsoon rains, wells, and tanks. Major soil in this district is red soil (77%). Nearly 90 percent of the cultivated area is under food crops. The principal cereal crops of this district are paddy, cholam, cumbu and ragi. Panivaragu, Kuthiraivali, Samai Varagu and Thinai are some of the millets cultivated. Among pulses, the major crops are redgram, blackgram, greengram and horsegram. Among oil, seeds, groundnut, castor, and gingelly (sesame) occupy important places. Of the commercial crops, sugarcane, cotton and tapioca are some of the important. Using tapioca as raw material about 350 factory units are engaged in the production of Starch and Sago in Namakkal District. Around 800 jaggery manufacturing units were located around ParamathiVelur.

Namakkal district is noted for truck and lorry external body building industry which dates back to 1956. Nationwide Namakkal is known for body building for truck, trailer, tanker and rig unit. Throughout India, Tiruchengode is known for its body building industry for trucks, trailers, tankers, and rig units. Finished trucks and rig units are exported to foreign countries from Namakkal. Nearly 25,000 people are employed, both directly and indirectly, in truck body building activity and about 300 units in Namakkal and 100 units in Tiruchengode are engaged in this activity.[3]

Ashok Leyland's Driver Training Institute in Namakkal (right in the trucking heartland of Tamil Nadu) was the first of its kind and has served as a beacon to lead the way in the training of drivers. Easily accessible from Erode, Salem and Trichy, and spread over 25 acres, the campus includes a driving range with every conceivable road configuration. A spacious building accommodates large classrooms, a library, a model room, a laboratory and a cafeteria with an open-air theatre attached. The roads come with electronic signals, signs, markings and streetlights for night driving – everything, in fact, that drivers will encounter on the highways.

Poultry plays an important role in the economy of Namakkal[9] which has an astounding number of 29.3 million fowls and 32.4 million eggs produced every day,[4] accounting for a bulk of supply of poultry products to neighbouring industries. Namakkal produces about 65% of the total egg output of Tamil Nadu.[10] About 1,500 Poultry/Cattle Feed manufacturing units are also in existence. Mostly every poultry unit has put up their own feed manufacturing unit.

Nearly 176 Sago factories are located in and around the Rasipuram Taluk.[9] Bore-wells and textile are the main business in Tiruchengode. Nearly 37 spinning mills and more than 10,000 powerlooms are functioning in Tiruchengode. One sugar mill and one paper mill were functioning under Private Sector.

The town of Namakkal is built around a rock fort. The rock fort is on the summit of the rock, and the remnants in brick and stone still bear the brunt of the skirmishes to lay siege to the fort by the Cholas in the 9th century.[3] There are two rock–cut cave temples located on both sides of the hill dedicated to Narasimhaswamy and Ranganathaswamy. The caves were constructed by Adhiyaman rulers who ruled over Kongu Region during the 7th century. The Temple has been declared as monuments under the preservation of Monuments and sites Act 1958 and being administered by the HR&CE department of Government. A temple dedicated to the Goddess Namagiri Amman is situated within the temple complex of the Narasimha Swamy kovil.[11]

The famous Namakkal Digambara Anjaneyar Temple, housing an 18-foot-tall Hanuman statue is located opposte to the Narasimhaswamy temple. It is believed that the Hanuman statue keeps growing and to stop the growth a priest put a magic needle at the top of the statue's head. Hanuman statue carved out of a single stone at this temple.[11]

Tiruchengode is 35 km from Namakkal. It is one of the seven Sivasthalams in Kongunadu. The Ardhanareeswarar temple is located on a hill. The presiding deity is depicted as half-male and half-female, vertically to represent Shiva and Parvati worshipped as one form. It is considered one of the oldest temples in this region.

Tiruchegode is the olden Poondurainadu in Kongunadu. Tiruchengode olden name is Thirukodimadachengondurur.

Water falls in Kolli Hills

Kolli Hills are at an altitude of 1,200 m (3,900 ft) in the Namakkal District and are 45 km from Namakkal town. The Kolli hills are featured in several works of classical Tamil literature such as Silappathigaram, Manimekalai, Purananuru and Ainkurnuru. The region was ruled by Valvil Ori whose valor and marksmanship are sung by several poets, and his exploits are a popular part of folklore.

There are three reserved forests that are controlled by the Government of Tamil Nadu, namely Ariyur Solai, Kundur Nadu and Puliancholai. It is not correct to regard the name Kolli Hills (Tamil: kolli noi- killer disease) as being due to the incidence of deadly diseases. It is because early literature records the existence of a deity called Kollippavai on top of these hills.

The hills are known for medicinal herbs and plants that grow in abundance on their slopes. The Arapaleswarar Temple, the Horticulture Farm, the herbal farm, Agaya Gangai waterfalls, boat house, Peryaswamy Temple, Ettukai Amman Temple, Pineapple farms, View Point, and the Telescope House are the places to visit for the interested tourist. Attukalkilangu soup and raw was sold in this hills. The Valvil Ori festival is organised there every year during the month of August.[11]

The Arapaleeswarar temple is believed to have a secret path to the Shiva temple in Rasipuram. This Shiva temple is said to have been built by Valvil Ori king in the 1st or 2nd century CE when he ruled this area. "Arappaleeswara Sathakam" is the poem which praises the Lord Arappaleeswarar.

Jedarpalayam Dam is located in Kabilarmalai Panchayat Union of Namakkal District. It is located about 36 km from Namakkal. The dam is constructed across the River Cauvery and it is constructed by The king Allala ilaya nayagan, a Vettuvan king and also he make a vaaikal called Raja vaaikal. This dam is having a water storage area for boating.[11]