Arcot
—  suburb  —
Arcot Location of Arcot in Vellore
Coordinates	12°54′N 79°20′E / 12.9°N 79.33°E / 12.9; 79.33Coordinates: 12°54′N 79°20′E / 12.9°N 79.33°E / 12.9; 79.33
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District(s)	Vellore
Subdistrict(s)	Arcot
Chairman	Eswarappan
Parliamentary constituency	Arakonam
Assembly constituency	Arcot
Civic agency	Arcot Municipality
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 164 metres (538 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 632503 • Telephone • +91 4172 • Vehicle • TN 73

Arcot (Tamil: ஆற்kadu) is a town and suburb of Vellore city in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Located on the southern banks of Palar River at 12°54′N 79°20′E / 12.9°N 79.333°E / 12.9; 79.333, the city straddles a highly strategic trade route between Chennai and Bangalore, between the Mysore Ghat and the Javadi Hills - (Javvadhu malai). Its population in 1991 was 45,205; the surrounding area had a population of 114,760.

Origin of the name[link]

Its name is commonly believed to have been derived from the Tamil words aaru (River) + kaadu (Forest). However, arkkaTu meant 'a forest of fig trees'.^[1] Jainism was flourishing in this part of Tamil Land who were otherwise known as Arugar most probably corrupted form of Arhants or the perfected souls. The word Arugar is found in many ancient literary works and places dominant with arugars were related to them viz Arakonam, Arumbakkam, Aruvur, etc. Not far away from present day Arcot (Anglicized form of Aarkaadu) there is a place called Arungundram. Hence Arcot or Aarkaadu would have derived its name from Arugarkaadu.

History[link]

The town's strategic location has led to it being repeatedly contested and prompted the construction of a formidable fortress. The Nawabdom of the Carnatic was established by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, who in 1692 appointed Zulfiqar Ali Khan as the first Nawab of the Carnatic. In 1740, the Maratha forces came down upon Arcot. They attacked the Nawab, Dost Ali in the pass of Damalcherry. In the war that followed, Dost Ali, one of his sons Hasan Ali, and a number of prominent persons lost their lives. This initial success at once enhanced Maratha prestige in the south. From Damalcherry the Marathas proceeded to Arcot. It surrendered to them without much resistance. Chanda Saheb and his son were arrested and sent to Nagpur. In 1751, The English captured the town during the conflict between the United Kingdom and France for control of South India. English successfully held it with only 500 men against the French and the Nawab, resisting for 56 days (23 September to 14 November 1751). The enemy army eventually dissolved and its leader, Chanda Shahib, was killed. Mohammed Ali Khan Walajah took over as Nawab, effectively serving as a vassal of the British. His successors soon ran up enormous debts at the hands of English speculators. In 1801, the town was annexed by the British East India Company.

In the 20th century, Arcot declined in importance and was incorporated into Vellore District. Arcot has the tomb of famous 18th century Sufi Saint - Tipu Mastan Aulia. The story goes that from the blessings of Tipu Mastan Aulia, Hyder Ali had a son Tippu Sultan of Mysore whom he appropriately named after the saint.

In Kaspa, Sri Vaikunda Varadharaja Perumal Temple is suituated. In that temple Perumal statue posture is different from others perumal statue. Here perumal is sitting center with Sri Devi and Pudevi. This type of posture of Lord Perumal is only present in this temple. More over the three Statues are designed using a Single Stone. This temple has been built under the Pallava era.

Economy[link]

Arcot is the principal market for the surrounding agricultural area. It also has a viable local weaving industry and ground nut oil industry.

Culture and places of worship[link]

1. Gangadharar Eswaran Temple

2. Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple (around 1000 years old)

3. Sri Gangai Amman Temple (Seetharamaiyer street)

4. Sri Sundaramoorthi Vinayagar Temple (Radha Krishnan street)

5. Sri kailasanathar kamatchiamman Temple (Chetti Theru)

6. Sri Maha Ganapathi Temple famous for ganapathi festival(Seshannan street)

7. Sri Kasi viswanather Temple (Kaspa)

8. Nagamman Koil

9. Anjaneyar Temple ( Next to Library )

10. Pillayar Koil (Thoppukana)

11. Green Mosque

12. Pearl Mosque

13. St Antony's Church

14. CSI Church (Kalavai Road)

15. Sri Vaikunda Varadharaja Perumal Temple (Kaspa)

16.Muthu mari amman koil(chairman munusami st,annampalayam)

The Danish Missionary Society[link]

The people who lived in the Arcot region especially in and near the temple town of Tiruvannamalai, belonged to a clan called the Arcots. The Nawabs fought with and ruled over them for a long period. With the establishment of the Danish Missionary Society, many of these Arcots converted Christians. The Danish Missionary Society (DMS, currently Dan Mission) established many schools and hospitals. The first missionary of the DMS was a German Rev. C.C.E. Ochs. He started his first Mission station, Bethanien, at Melpattambakkam in South Arcot in 1861. Now all its activities have been transferred to the nearby town Nellikuppam.

The second mission station of DMS was opened at Tirukkoyilur in 1869 by Rev. P. Andersen and was called "Siloam". Siloam church was consecrated on the 10th of October, 1886 and on the same day the first Indian pastors were ordained and more than 30 persons were baptized. A week later a church was consecrated in an outstation, Sengalmedu. The beautiful church in Pop ham's Broadway in Madras was built in the year 1892.

Saron, a third mission station of DMS, was opened in the year 1882 and situated just outside the town Tiruvannamalai. In 1898 a mission station was built in the town. From 1905 it was called "Carmel." The fourth mission station in the Arcot District, "Bethesda," in Kallakurichi was built in 1893 by Rev. A. Larsen. Later DMS started mission stations at Panruti, Vriddhachalam, Devanampatnam, Darisanapuram, and Servaroj Hills, etc. In the year 1913 a church constitution was inaugurated. This church is serving the Tamil-speaking population in the districts of South and North Arcot, Tamil Nadu.

Geography[link]

Arcot is located at 12°54′N 79°20′E / 12.9°N 79.33°E / 12.9; 79.33.^[2] It has an average elevation of 164 metres (538 ft).

Demographics[link]

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[3] Arcot had a population of 50,267. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%.

Tourism[link]

Places of interests in and around Arcot:

1.Ameen Beran Darga (Near to the Bus stand) 2.Delhi Gate 18th Century Architecture (Built by Robert Clive for his victory) 3.Raja Rani pond (Build by Nawabs) 4.Green Mosque 5.Pancha Pandavar Mountain 6.Bear hills 7.Natham hills 8.Ratnagiri Temple 9. Palar Dam 10. Tipu aulliya Darga at Bazzar in Arcot. He is the sufi saint who lived in Hyder Ali period at Arcot and he is the great advisor and well-wisher of Tipu Sultan 11. Thimiri Murugan Temple 12.Arcot Government Museum 13. Karim Ul Shah Dargah & Dadapeer Dargah Mosque. Ezpecially on First month of Thursday Shrine & devotees come for worship it is near Arcot Government Hospital & Raja Rani Palace

People and living[link]

People over here follow the traditional Tamil culture. The common language of communication is Tamil, but English is widely understood by the locals.

The primary source of income is agriculture and small scale industries. A lot of people in Arcot are employed with Industries in SIPCOT (RANIPET), a large Industrial Park.

The primary entertainment for people are movie theatres and temples. If you are fond of shopping, you can visit Vellore (District Headquarters) which is 21 km. away. Frequent bus services are available by both government and private operators.

Transport[link]

The main mode of transport is by bus since it is economical, and well connected by road. A national highway and two state highways pass through Arcot.

There are frequent buses to almost all parts of Tamil Nadu. Buses depart every 15 minutes from Arcot to Chennai and there are also buses to Hosur, Bangalore, Tirupathi, Pondicherry (Puducherry) etc.

There are lot of private bus operators as well, who provide services on local and short-distance routes. The nearest railway station to Arcot is Walaja Road, which is around 7 km from Arcot. There are buses (Route 202) Between Arani and Chennai very frequently. On the Timiri to Arcot route, there are so many residential layouts. One is near Arcot (Tajpura or Dasipuram) on the left side, called as Rajiv Nagar. This layout is more than 50 acres, very well planned, with 40 and 30 feet streets, with reserved places for PARK and SCHOOLs in future. Now, as per the TN Chief Minister's order, there is a new plan for BYE PASS ROAD to VELLORE, which will go on this RAJIV NAGAR STREET (Opp to the closed petrol Bunk or next to the ODAI . Stream), next to a huge rice mill . The arasangam has already marked the road with yellow stones. This new Bye pass road, will go into Rajiv nagar, and connect the NH, via Arcot-Kavanoor Road. Once this new byepass comes up, the people dont need to go via Arcot and this will save time to reach Vellore or even Chennai.

Colleges[link]

1. ISS College of engineering and Tech

1. C.Abdul Hakeem College of Engineering
2. C.Abdul Hakeem Arts and Science College
3. Arcot Sri Mahalakshmi College for Women
4. Sri Sitheshwarar polytecnic college
5. SSS college of Arts and Science
6. Global engineering & technology

Schools[link]

1. Government Boys Higher Secondary School
2. Government Girls Higher Secondary School
3. Municipality High School (Thoppukana-North)
4. Municipality High School (Thoppukana-South)
5. Municipality Middle School (Masapet)
6. Thiru G.Varadharajalu Chettiar Higher Secondary School
7. Annai Sarada Matriculation Higher Secondary School
8. Sri Ramakrishna Matriculation Higher Secondary School
9. Shanthiniketan Matriculation School
10. Gangathara High School
11. Morning Star Matriculation School.
12. Vedhanikethan Matriculation School.
13. Saraswathi Dhanakoti Primary School.
14. ISS CBSE School

Landmarks[link]

• Thoppukana
• Boopathi Nagar
• Kaspa
• Arcot Public Library
• Arcot Police Station
• Thirvalluvar Statue
• Anna Statue (Turning)
• Kannamangalam Road Junction
• Gandhi Statue
• Govt Hospital
• Devi nagar
• Kummadam
• Housing Board (Phase-I & Phase-II)
• Sivan Sakthi Theatre
• State Bank of India
• Palar Bridge
• S.S.S College
• Basha Street
• Khader jhanda street

Movie Theatres[link]

• Lakshmi DTS
• Sivan Qube DTS
• Sakthi Qube DTS
• PNR DTS*
• Kabadi Theatre

Small villages near Arcot[link]

1. Kizh minnal (Ratnagiri)
2. Muppathu vetti (muppanthotti)
3. Veppur
4. Thakkankulam
5. Kalar
6. Tajpura (Dasipuram)
7. Vannivedu
8. Puduppadi
9. Uppupettai
10. Palayanur (timiri)
11. Ramanathapuram(mottur)
12. Vilappakkam
13. Masapettai
14. Rendadi
15. Raandham
16. Chakkaramallur
17. Krishnapuram
18. Varagur
19. Kavanur
20. Kivisharam(Rasathipuram Village)
21. Melvisharam
22. Ladavaram

Festivals[link]

Mayana Kollai is celebrated here. People paint themselves and appear as gods having goat flesh in their mouths and drumsticks in their hands. They walk over the bazaar street towards the burial ground. Eassayanoor Valavanoor

Ramzan and Bakrid festivals celebrate in grand mannar

Cable Tv Networks[link]

Golden Wind Links, C.MuthuKrishnan , 14A,New Vellore Main Road , Arcot

1. UTV (Entertainment Channel)
2. U&ME (Music Channel)
3. 2U (Movie Channel)

Internet Cafes[link]

1. JK Cyber Internet Cafe (Opposite To Sivan Sakthi Theatre)
2. Spy "C" World
3. Sun Net Browsing Center
4. JN Browsing Center , Anna Salai , Arcot

Sweets & Biriyani[link]

Arcot is Famous for its large number of Sweet Stalls. It has large number of sweet stalls for its town size. The Famous sweet of Arcot is Makkan Beda. The following are list of Famous sweet Stalls in Arcot.

1. S.Kannan Sweet Stall
2. Devi Sweet Stall.
3. Pudhiya Mitaai Kadai.
4. Chettiyaar Mittai Kadai.(This is one of the oldest sweet stalls in the town). Tamil Magazine Anantha Vikatan Once Mentioned About this stall for its history.
5. Iyer Paal Pannay in Annampalayam (This shop is famous for its Milk Koha in the town for over 20 years. Iyer Paal Panny is a major distributor of Milk Koha for famous sweet stalls in Arcot and it is also a major supplier of Milk for tea stalls, Hotels and Bakery's in the town.

Arcot is also famous for its Biriyani. STAR Biriyani is famous Biriyani shop in Arcot.

Politics[link]

Arcot (State Assembly Constituency) is part of Arakkonam (Lok Sabha constituency).^[4]

References[link]

External links[link]

• vellore, vellore portal
• "Arcot." Encyclopædia Britannica (2005)
• "Arcot." The Columbia Encyclopedia (2004)
• "Arcot (S. India)". The Companion to British History, Routledge (2001)
• "Arcot." The Hobson Jobson Dictionary" (1902) [1]
• 1751 Delhi Gate Photos of places Around Arcot