Karur

Coordinates	16°48′″N96°09′″N
Native name	Karur (கரூர்)
Modern name	Tex-city
Type	city
State name	Tamil Nadu
District	Karur
Leader title 1	Municipal Chairman
Leader name 1	P.Sivakama Sundari
Altitude	122
Population as of	2001
Population total	76328
Population density	322
Area magnitude	9
Area total	5.96
Area telephone	91-(0)4324
Postal code	6390(xx)
Vehicle code range	TN 47

Karur () is a large town and a municipality in Karur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu situated on the banks of Amaravati. Karur district was formed on 30 September 1995 by trifurcating Tiruchirappalli district. It is the administrative headquarters of Karur District. Karur has a very long history and has been sung by various sangam poets. It has been the battleground of various Tamil Kings like Chera, Chola and Pandya because of its strategic location in Kongu Nadu (Coimbatore). The district has a very rich and varied cultural heritage. The district is made fertile by the perennial flows of the Kaveri River on the northern side(Thavittupalayam, Vangal, Muniyappanur, Kattalai (Where Kaveri River and Amaravati River is joingng) Mayanur, Kulithalai) and also the Amaravati, Nalkasi and Noyyal rivers. Its economy is mainly agrarian. Presently, the district is famous worldwide for its handloom products.

It is located 60 km to the South-East of Erode and 70 km to the West of Trichy, 100 km to the South of Salem, 140 km to the East of Coimbatore and 150 km to the North of Madurai.

It is the Major junction point of three Roadways connecting,

Bangalore & Salem to Madurai & Tirunelveli.

Coimbatore & Tirupur to Trichy & Tanjore.

Mangalore, Mysore & Erode to Trichy, Madurai & Tuticorin.

History

Introduction

Karur was carved out from the Western part of Tiruchirappalli District and Headquartered as Karur District. Karur is good in economy condition its in second place over all Tamil Nadu.Karur is one of the oldest towns in Tamil Nadu and has played a very significant role in the history and culture of the Tamils. Its history dates back over 2000 years, and has been a flourishing trading centre in the early Sangam days. It was ruled by the Cheras, Gangas, Cholas, the Vijayanagara Nayaks, Mysore and the British successively.

Karur was built on the banks of river Amaravathi which was called Aanporunai during the Sangam days. According to the Hindu mythology, Brahma began the work of creation here, which is referred to as the "place of the sacred cow." The names of the early Chera kings who ruled from Karur, have been found in the rock inscriptions in Aaru Nattar Malai close to Karur. The Tamil epic Silapathikaram mentions that the famous Chera King Senguttuvan ruled from Karur.

Epigraphical, numismatic, archaeological and literary evidence have proved beyond doubt that Karur was the capital of early Chera kings of Sangam age. It was called Karuvoor or Vanji during Sangam days. There has been a plethora of rare findings during the archaeological excavations undertaken in Karur. These include mat-designed pottery, bricks, mud-toys, Roman coins, Chera Coins, Pallava Coins, Roman Amphorae, Rasset coated ware, rare rings, etc. Karur may have been the center for old jewellery-making and gem setting (with the gold imported mainly from Rome), as seen from various excavations. In 150 Greek scholar Ptolemy mentioned “Korevora” (Karur) as a very famous inland trading center in Tamil Nadu.

Karuvoor Thevar born in Karur, is one among the nine devotees who sung the divine Music Thiruvichaippa, which is the ninth Thirumurai. He is the single largest composer among the nine authors of Thiruvichaippa. He lived during the reign of the great Raja Raja Chola I. In addition to the famous Siva temple, there is a Vishnu temple at Thiruvithuvakkodu suburb of Karur, sung by famous Kulasekaraazhvaar [7-8th century AD]. The same temple is presumably mentioned in epic Silappadikaram as Adaha maadam Ranganathar whose blessings Cheran Senguttuvan sought before his north Indian expedition.

Rulers

Karur was ruled by different Chera kings. Kongu Cheras (capital:Karur (Vanji), ruling nearly the whole of old Kongu - lineage unclear- Cheran kootam)

Vanavan @ Vanavaramban [430-350 BC].

Kuttuvan Uthiyan Cheralathan [350-328 BC] ruled for 22 years.

Imayavaramban Neduncheralathan [328-270 BC] ruled for 58 years.

Palyaanai Chelkezhu Kuttuvan [270-245 BC] ruled for 25 years.

Kalangaikanni narmudicheral [245-220 BC] ruled for 25 years.

Perumcheralathan [220-200 BC] ruled for 20 years.

Kudakko Neduncheralathan [200-180 BC] ruled for 20 years.

Kadal Pirakottiya Velkezhu kuttuvan [180-125 BC] ruled 55 years.

Adukotpattuch Cheralathan [125-87 BC] ruled 38 years.

Selvak kadungo Vazhiyathan [87-62 BC] ruled 25 years.

Yanaikatchei Mantharanj Cheral Irumborai [62-42 BC] ruled 20 years.

Thagadoor Erintha Perum Cheral Irumborai [42-25 BC] ruled 17 years (unification of Upper and lower Kongu).

Ilancheral Irumborai [25-19 BC] ruled 16 years.

Karuvur Eriya Koperumcheral Irumborai [9-1 BC].

Vanji Mutrathu tunjiya Anthuvancheral [BC 20 – 10 AD].

Kanaikal Irumborai [20-30 AD].

Palai Padiya Perum kadungko [1-30 AD].

Kokothai Marban [30 –60 AD].

Cheran Chenguttuvan [60-140 AD].

Kottambalathu tunjiya Maakothai [140-150 AD].

Cheraman mudangi kidantha Nedumcheralathan [150-160 AD].

Cheraman Kanaikkal Irumborai [160-180 AD].

Cheraman Ilamkuttuvan [180-200 AD].

Thambi Kuttuvan [200-220 AD].

Poorikko [220-250 AD].

Cheraman Kuttuvan Kothai [250-270 AD].

Cheraman Vanjan [270-300 AD].

Mantharanj Cheral [330-380 AD] found in Allahabad inscriptions of Samudragupta.

Poems on Karuvur

Peymakal Ilaveyini, a poetess, has a poem on Karur and the Chera. She says that Vanci on the banks of the cool Porunai river, was a victorious city whose fame was as great as that of the sky. Young and lovely girls with soft hairs in their fore arms, adorned with jewels played on the sands of the river bank. They created figures and sand houses on the banks, plucked flowers to decorate them and sport in the cool waters of the Porunai river. The king Cheraman Palai Padiya Perumkadungo, (who sang the Palai land) was victorious in the battlefield, by destroying the impregnable forts of the enemies. The Patini woman minstrel, who praised his conquests, received from him, enchanting jewels made of gold Kalanjus. The Bana, who sang along with the Patini, in a perfect synchronising voice, received golden lotuses, fastened to silvr strings'(10). This Puram praises the Chera Perum Kadungo and his capital Vanci, on the banks of Porunai. The old commentator on this poem, mentions that the city was Karuvur of great fame. 'Vanai muttiya Pukalaiyum, Venriyaiym udaiya Karuvur'. The verse also indicates that bards frequented the Chera court at Karur and received golden jewels and flowers.

The Chera Celvak Kadungo Vali Adan, who died at Sikkarpalli, was ruling with Vanci as his capital. The waters of the river An Porunai, skirting his fort were splashing against the walls. There were many fertile villages surrounding Vanci, growing paddy. The Chera Celva Kaungo is praised for his sumptous gift by the poet kundukat Paliyadan(11). Among the Chera rulers of Sangam age, Chera Senkuttuvan is the most celebrated for his all round contribution. Paranar, the outstanding poet of the Sangam age has sung about this ruler in ten verses in the Pattirru Pattu collection. The king is praised as the ruler of the confluence of the rivers Kaveri Kudavan aru, and Anporunai Cen Kunakku Olukum Kalush Malirnirai Yanriyum puviri punal oru munrudan kudiya kudal anaiyai(12).

The Chera Antuvan Cheral Irumporai was on the balcony of his palace, in the company of the poet Mutamosiyar of Eniccheri, when he saw the chola Muttitalaik Ko Perunar Killi, entering his capital on the back of an elephant. The poet immediately saw that the Chera mistake the Chola and put him to death. So he pointed out that the Chola's elephant, has inadvertently strayed into Karur and not with any malafide intention and that he deserved to be pardoned. A poem to this effect is found in Puram collection(13). It only shows that Karuvur was very near to the capital of the Chola - which was then at Uraiyur in Trichy.

At the same item, it was also frequently captured by the Cholas of Uraiyur. The Chera Yanaikkat cey Mantaran Cheral Irumporai had his capital at Karur. The Pandya ruler Nedun Celian, the victor of Talaiyalankanam, captured and imprisoned his opponents. The Chera Mantaran Cheral was one of those who was thus imprisoned at Madurai. Soon the Chera escaped from the prison, returned to his capital and ascended his throne(15). Even while he was in prison, his enemies were afraid of him. The commentator says that the Pandya could gift even Uraiyur (of the Cholas) and Karur (of the Cheras) thus conforming that Karuvur was the capital of Mantaran.

Another Chola - Nalam Killi also captured Vanci. Vanci is mentioned as Puva Vanci - (Vanci that is not a flower, meaning a city)(16). A third Chola who captured Karur was Killivalavan The Chera was besieged and never stirred out. The Chola army destroyed the protective forest around Karuvur fort. The trees so cut fell on the sands of An Porunai river. The Poet Alattur Kilar who was an eyewitness to the siege(17) of Karuvur by the Chola gives a description of the war. This siege of Karuvur was seen by another Sangam poet Nappasalaiyar of Marokkam(18). He mentions that 'Karuvur is surrounded by a deep moat with full of water and crocodiles. The Chera is indeed a great ruler, who embossed his royal bow emblem on the lofty Himalayas. He is known for his great chariot. The Chola is now destroying his capital Karuvur, which never witnessed destruction'. The Chera suffered worst defeat in this war.

Imayam cuttiya ema virpori Manvinai Nedum ter Vanavan tolaiya Vada Vanci Vattu nin pitu.

Another Chola Killivalavan, who died at Kurappalli, also captured Karuvur.

Vanci murram Vayak Kalanaka Anca marvar atpor Palittuk Kantanai Peruma.

In these poems the Chera capital is called Vanci, which the ancient commentator, invariably mentions at Karuvur. Thus, Karur continued to be respected as the capital of the Cheras, though it changed hands now and then, the Cholas more often and the Pandya, once invading it. But soon the Chera recaptured it and established his rule.

Poets of Karuvur

Among the Sangam poets, two groups of poets deserve attention (a) those who hailed from Karur and (b) those who sang Karuvur and the ruling Chera. A large number of poets have hailed from Karuvur and their poems are seen in Kuruntokai, Ahananuru, Narrinai, and Purananuru. The following are the poets.

1) Karuvur Kilar - Kuruntokai 170.

2) Karuvur Kannampalanar - Ahananuru 180, 263, Narrinai 148.

3) Karuvur Katappillai Cattanar - Ahananuru 309, Narrinai 343, Puram 168.

4) Karuvur Kalingattar - Ahananuru 183.

5) Karuvur Kosanar - Narrinai 214.

6) Karuvur Cheraman Cattan - Kuruntokai 268.

7) Karuvur Nanmarbanar - Aham 217.

8) Karuvur Bhutam Cattanar - Aham 50.

9) Karuvur Pauttiranar - Kuruntokai 162.

10) Karuvur Perum Catukkattu Bhuta nathanar - Puram 219.

Another point of great interest is that all of them took the title Karuvur and none claimed Vanci, though they themselves sang Vanci. Among the poems that extol the Cheras, the Patirru Pattu(21) collection of verses occupies an important position as each group of ten verses is dedicated to one Chera ruler.

Modern Vanji

After the Sangam Cheras, Kongus (Gangas), a Chera related native clan ruled Karur. The history of modern Kongu Nadu dates back to the 8th century. The name Kongu Nadu originated from the term "Kongu", meaning nectar or honey. Kulasekhara known as Kongar Kon (the king of the Kongu people) ruled Kongu Nadu from Karur during this period. The arch rivals Cholas conquered Karur and ruled it for forty years. The Kongus (Gangas) again conquered Karur as vassals of Hoysalas. Malik Kafur ended the Hoysalas and Vijayanagara empire absorbed Karur.

The British broke Kongu Nadu after the defeat of Tippu Sultan in 1783 and the defeat of Dheeran Chinnamalai. There is a memorial at Rayanur (Rayanur Fort) near Karur for the warriors who lost their lives in the fight against the British in the Anglo-Mysore Wars. There after Karur became part of British India and was first part of Coimbatore District and later Tiruchirappalli District.

Karur District

Karur district, with headquarters at Karur, is the most centrally located district of Tamil Nadu. It is bounded by Namakkal district in the north, Dindigul district in the south, Tiruchirapalli district on the east and Erode district on the west.

Karur district has 4 Municipalities (Karur, Inam Karur, Thanthoni, Kulithalai) 10 Town Panchayats, 158 Village Panchayats and 203 Revenue Villages. Karur District has 4 Assembly constituencies of which Krishnarayapuram is a reserved constituency. Karur Parliamentary constitutes 6 Assembly constituencies, 2 from Tiruchirappalli revenue district, namely Marungapuri and Thottiam and 4 assembly constituencies from Karur.

Politics

Karur assembly constituency is part of Karur (Lok Sabha constituency).

Geography

Karur is located at . It has an average elevation of . It is about 371 km south west of Chennai (Madras), the capital of Tamil Nadu.

Climate

The highest temperature is obtained in early May to early June usually about 34 °C, though it rarely exceeds 38 °C for a few days. Average daily temperature in Karur during January is around 23 °C, though the temperature rarely falls below 17 °C.

The average annual rainfall is about 855 mm. The city gets most of its seasonal rainfall from the north-east monsoon winds, from late September to mid November.

Demographics

India census, Karur had a population of 1,54,328. Males constitute 49.5 % of the population and females 50.5 % (1008 females for 1000 males). It is one of the female dominated district in the state.

Karur has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%, male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 72%. In Karur, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Economy

Agriculture

Utilization of land area in Karur district is up to 44.59%. 4.76% of the land area remains as other uncultivated land. 2.74% is forest area in Karur district.

Black soil is the predominant soil type in this district accounting for 35.51% followed by lateritic soil for 23.85%. The remaining 20.31% is alluvium soil.

The main crops are Paddy, Banana, Sugarcane, Beetle leaf, Grams & Pulses, Tapioca, Kora grass, Groundnuts, Oil seeds, Tropic-Vegetables, Garland Flowers, Medicinal Herbals etc.

Home textiles

Karur a tex-city is famous for its home textiles.Karur has a niche in five major product groups — bed linens, kitchen linens, toilet linens, table linens and wall hangings. Overall Karur generates around Rs.6000 crores ($300 million dollars a year) in foreign exchange through direct and indirect exports. Allied industries like ginning and spinning mills, dyeing factories, weaving etc. employs around 300,000 people in and around Karur.

On the international textile map Karur has become synonymous with hand-loom “made-ups” first as Tirupur in the hosiery product. The weaving industry of Karur and has earned a reputation for its high quality hand-loom products today. Hand-loom Exports from Karur began on a modest scale with just 15 exporters in 1975 and today Karur has thousands of exporters and the products are supplied to world leading chain stores like WalMart, Target, IKEA, JC Penny, Ahlens etc.

The hand-loom products being exported have been broadly classified under three heads viz., kitchen, bathroom and bedroom furnishing items. Some of the hand-loom made-ups exported from Karur are Bedspreads,Sheet sets, Towels, Floor rugs, Tea towels, Napkins, Aprons, Kitchen towels, Pot holders, Plate mats, Bathmats, Tea mats, Curtains, Pillow, Quilt covers, Shower curtains (above 500 classified varieties).

Paper

TNPL is promoted by the Government of Tamil Nadu with loan assistance from the World Bank. Today TNPL is the 2nd largest producer of bagasse (sugarcane waste from Sugar mills) based paper in the world and the largest paper producer in Asia. TNPL produces 230,000 tons of Printing & writing paper and consumes 1 million tones of bagasse every year.

Bus body building

Karur is a hub for bus body building industries. Most of the South Indian private bus bodies are built in Karur. The total business from building bus bodies is estimated to be around Rs.324 crore per annum.

Cement

Karur is also home to Chettinad Cements. It has an installed production capacity of 600,000 tons per annum, with another 1.1 million tons expansion in the pipeline.

Sugar

EID Parry has a sugar factory in Pugalur, Karur. It has a capacity of 4000 TCD per year. It also has a 22 MW co-generation Power plant, with TNPL.

Banking

Karur is the home town of India's oldest private scheduled banks, The Karur Vysya Bank and The Lakshmi Vilas Bank.

HDPE Monofilaments

HDPE monofilament and associated product manufacturing. Its mainly for manufacture of Mosquito Nets. Above 80% of plastic nets in India are made in Karur.

Gem Stones

The Karur belt also produces some very good Cats eyes, Feldspar, Moonstones, Aquamarines, Quarts, Sapphires, Jasper and Beryls.

Tourism

Karur District Museum

Sri Kalyanapasupatheeswarar Temple

Sri Kalayanavenkatramana swamy temple Thanthonrimalai

Sri Karuvur Mariyamman temple

Naagampalli Sri Sellandiamman & Anaikkaruppana samy Temple, Malaikovilur.

Vennaimalai Shree Balathandayuthapani temple

Mayanur - Kaveri bed regulator, River side park

Chettipalayam - Amaravathi bed regulator, park

Nerur - Sree Sadha Siva Bramenthral - sacred Math, Meditation, River side park

sripudhuvangalamman Temple, Vangal (http://www.sripudhuvangalamman.net)

sri solliamman temple, Athur

kalliamman kovil, Manmagalam

Thottakkurichi Shree Malaiyamman Temple,Karur

Noyyal Shree Selaandiyamman Temple, Karur

Sree meghabhalishwar temple, Pugalur

Pugazhli Murugan Temple, Velayuthampalayam

Murugan temple,Paalamalai

Sri Annakamatchiamman Temple,kannamuthampatti.

Sri Sellandiyamman Temple, sanappiratti

Sri Mosquito net company, industrial Estate.

Sri Sakkarathalvar temple, karur (town).

Thirumukkudalur (Kaveri and Amaravathi rivers are joining here.)

Malaikovilur (Amaravathi avd Kudagaaru rivers are joining here.)

Health

Karur district has 29 Primary Health Care centres, 168 health sub-centres and Government General Hospital in the city. In recent years, it has gained notoriety as one of the districts with the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the country. In response to the epidemic, a massive district-level communication campaign (DLCC) was launched in 2006 by the USAID-funded APAC-VHS project in the district. In 2007, the district received its own ART (Antiretroviral drug therapy) Centre, located at the Government General Hospital. Also in 2007, Karur was selected as an IMAI pilot district by the World Health Organization and Solidarity and Action Against the HIV Infection in India, with support from the District Collectorate and Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society. The IMAI initiative aims to facilitate decentralization of HIV care to the district and sub-district levels.

Transportation

ROAD

Karur is well connected with rest of India through all modern means of transportation. There are 2 National highways NH-7 North South Corridor(Kashmir to Kanyakumari) Varanasi - Kanyakumari) and NH-67 (Nagapattinam - Trichy - Karur - Coimbatore - Ooty that ply through Karur.

TRAIN

Karur (Station Code - KRR) is connected to the Indian Railways network. Trains from Mysore to Tuticorin, Mangalore to Chennai, Coimbatore to Mayiladuthurai Janshatabdi Express and Mysore to Mayiladuthurai, Nagercoil to CST Mumbai, Rameswaram to Okha and Tirunelveli to Jammu Tawi via New Delhi, Rohtak, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Pathankot (Chakki Bank) travel via Karur. Karur is also connected by rail to major towns like Trichy, madurai, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Tirupathy, Mumbai.

AIRPORT

The nearest airports are in Tiruchi (78 km), Salem (100 km), Coimbatore (122 km) and Madurai (135 km).

SEA PORT

The nearest major sea port is at Cochin (280 km), Tuticorin (344 km) and Chennai (332 km).

References

External links

Karur District Official Website

Karur Textile Manufacturer Exporters’ Association (KTMEA)

Karur Online Directory

Karur Today - News

District Museum

See also

Karur (Lok Sabha constituency)

Category:Cities and towns in Karur district