Viluppuram

Tamilnadu > Viluppuram

Ginger Fort

Viluppuram is the district headquarters of the Viluppuram District, which was bifurcated from the erstwhile composite Sourt Arcot District from 30th September, 1993. It is the Second largest District in the State which lies in the middle of the Tiruchirapalli to Chennai National Highways No. 45. It is well connected by the rail road and it is major junction. From here one can go to any corner of the Tamil Nadu as well as to other part of India. This district is having variety of tourist spots which are more than 100 years old. The district has temples, masques and churches which are very old and famous.

Villupuram is a municipality in Villupuram District, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It serves as the headquarters of Villupuram District, the second largest district in the State. National Highway No. 45, from Chennai to Dindigul via Tiruchirapalli, goes through the town. Villupuram also has a major train station. The town's main source of income is agriculture. Its literacy rate was low until the early 1980s, but has since improved constantly and is currently about 75%.

History of Viluppuram District

Viluppuram District was earlier a part of Cuddalore District. It was then bifurcated from Cuddalore and became a separate district on 30th September 1993. Because of this, the history of Viluppuram district closely resembles that of Cuddalore.

The Cholas were the early rulers. Among these rulers, Karikala Chola was the most famous and powerful.

For a short period, the Cholas were overthrown by Simha Vishnu Pallava and the Region came under the Pallava rule for sometime. Vijayalaya Chola again revived Chola rule. This was the beginning of great Chola Empire. The later Chola rulers were weak and the power passed on to the hands of Eastern Chalukyas.

Cholas regained their lost position but with the rise of Jatavarman Sundara Pandya-1 (1251 A.D), Chola supremacy came to an end. The sway of Pandyas lasted for over 50 years, followed by Muslim domination from 1334 to 1378 A.D. By 1378, the region came under the rule of Vijayanagar Kingdom and Nayaks were appointed as the rulers of the region.

In 1677 Shivaji took Ginjee area with the assistance of Golkonda forces. Then came the Mughals. During the Mughal regime, both the English and French acquired settlements in South Arcot. During the Anglo-French rivalry, the entire district was turned into a war land. After sometime, the entire area came under the control of East India Company. It remained under British authority till 1947 when India became independent.

Transportation of Viluppuram

Road

Villupuram town is well connected by road to major cities and to the rest of the state. Two National Highway passes thru or originates from this town.

NH45 - Chennai - Villupuram -Tiruchirapalli - Dindigul

NH45A - Villupuram - Pondicherry - Nagappatinam

Other than national highways several State Highways also runs through the district and town.

Viluppuram town is also the head quarters of the TamilNadu State Transport Corporation-Villupuram division(erstwhile Thanthai Periyar Transport Corporation). It is one among the 4 Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation divisions serving the state. Villupuram division covers a vast area comprising of revenue districts of Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore and Kanchipuram.

Rail

Villupuram is very famous for it Railway Junction. The railway junction at Villupuram serves as the distribution point of rail traffic from Chennai (the state capital of TamilNadu) towards the southern part of the state.

Air

Nearest airport is Pondicherry(Puducherry), approximately 40 km from Villupuram. (No commercial flights operates out of here as of now).

Nearest functional domestic and international airport is Chennai Domestic and International Airport(MAA), approximately 155 km from the town and Tiruchirapalli Airport ,approximately 160 KM from the town