Dindigul

Tamilnadu > Dindigul

Dindigul Fort

Dindigul is an interior region of Tamilnadu. Dindigul lies on the banks of Kudavanar River with a total landscape of 6058 sqkm. In spite of its geographical location there are about 110 tanneries both registered and non-registered in and around Dindigul. This district is well known for the making of locks. The Dindigul district is divided into 7 taluks namely, Dindigul taluk, Natham taluk, Kodaikanal taluk, Nilakkottai taluk, Palani taluk, Oddanchatram taluk & Vedasandur taluk

The Dindigul fort is one of the major Landmarks of the city which is visible from several kilometers. This huge rock hill on which the fort is constructed, looks like Pillow ('Dhindu'), when viewed from one angle (from south east) and hence the City is known as Dindigul. This fort is at a height of 280 ft.

Dindigul is noted for its Locks. Also Iron safe of good quality and durability are made here. A lock manufacturing unit under co-operative sector is functioning here. It is flourishing industry gives employment to vide section of people. Its one of the largest trading center in Tamil Nadu for chewing tobacco and "Roja Supari" are produced in this town and are being sent to various places in and around the Tamilnadu. Dindigul is flourishing with handloom industry at Chinnalapatti, which is located at 11 km away from Dindigul on the Madurai - Dindigul road. Art - Silk sarees and sungudi. Sarees Produced in Chinnalapatti is famous in the district. More than 1000 families are engaged in this Industry.

History of Dindigul

Dindigul is one of the historical cities in Tamilnadu. It plays a significant role in promotion of trade, as a vital trade centre to cater the needs of nearby villages. A Fort over a small hill, the three hundred and sixty year old monument stands gallantly in the west, and this fort stands as a land mark.

Dindigul was famous during the seventh century itself. "Appar" the great poet had visited the city. Thus the city had been noted in "Thevaram". Dindigul was mentioned in the book "Padmagiri Nadhar Thenral Vidu thudhu' written by the poet "Palupatai sokkanathar" as Padmagiri. This was later stated by OO.Ve Saminatha Iyer in his foreward to the above book. He also added that Dindigul was called as Dindeecharam.

Dindigul region was the border of the three great Kingdoms of South India, the Pandiyas,the cheras and the Cholas. Hence Dindigul has its set back in its growth by successive wars among the three. In the ancient time the cheran king Dharmabalan has built temples for Abirami ambigai and Padmagirinathar. After that in the book Silapthigaram it is mentioned as the Northern border of the Pandaya Kingdom whose capital was Madurai. Historian "Strabo" hadalso written in 20 A.D. The Roman Emperor "Augustus Ceaser" has sent a team to the pandya kingdom in 73 A.D., Pillni the great historian of the time has described about the Pandya king in his works we have more proofs that Pandya kingdom was established before the Christian era.

In the first century of the Christian era the Chola king named Karikal Cholan had captured the Pandya kingdom hence Dindigul has been ruled by both Cholas and Pandyan with the change of time. In the sixth century the pallava's took over Southern India, they were in the power until twelth century. Dindugul has been under the rule of Pallavas untill Cholas regained the state in the Thirteenth century. In the fourteenth century Southern India was invaded by the Moguls. The Vijaya Nagar rulers restricted their entry into the part for the time being. Dindigul was safe in the hands of VijayaNagara before cheras take over the Pandya kingdom Chandrakumara Pandyanwon the war against cheras with the assistance provided the Vijaya Nagar Kingdom. The commander of the vijaya Nagar army Kambanna udayar played an important role in the war.

How to reach Dindigul

• Air: The nearest airports are at Madurai (1.5 hours away) and Trichy.
• Train: Dindigul junction is on the main train route from Chennai-Madurai-Kanyakumari and is approximately 440 kilometres from Chennai. Kodaikanal road station is approximately 30 kilometres from Dindigul Junction.
• Road: Dindigul is on the NH7 highway from Chennai to Madurai.