Manamelkudi
Manamelkudi is a village Panchayat in Avudaiyarkoil Taluk of Pudukkottai District with a population of 10072 as per 1991 census. It extended over an area of 1135.24 hector. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal and well connected by a major district, road leading form Aranthangi which is 43 km. away and passing through the Taluk headquarters Avudaiyarkoil which is 32 km. to the west.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Kodumbalur
Kodumbalur
Kodumbalur Moovar Koil Pudukkottai, South India This place is 36 kms away from Pudukkottai and is also known as Moovar Koil. Of the Moovar Koil (Three temples) only two exist here now. Boodhi Vikrama Kesari, a general of the Chola army in the 10th century A.D built this temple. The Pandyas and the Pallavas had fierce battles between them here. This temple has unique architecture compared to other temples in south India. Other unique masterpieces of this temple are the sculptures of Kalarimurthi, Gaja (Elephant) Samharamurthi and Gangadaramurthi etc.
Kodumbalur Moovar Koil Pudukkottai, South India This place is 36 kms away from Pudukkottai and is also known as Moovar Koil. Of the Moovar Koil (Three temples) only two exist here now. Boodhi Vikrama Kesari, a general of the Chola army in the 10th century A.D built this temple. The Pandyas and the Pallavas had fierce battles between them here. This temple has unique architecture compared to other temples in south India. Other unique masterpieces of this temple are the sculptures of Kalarimurthi, Gaja (Elephant) Samharamurthi and Gangadaramurthi etc.
Aranthangi
Aranthangi
This city is the second largest in Pudukkottai. Numerous people visit here to see the ruined fort, the walls of which are constructed with mud and with bricks or stones. There are no ruins of palaces or any striking building inside the fort. The construction date of the fort is not known. But, the Tondaimans, who had no connections with those of Pudukkottai, are believed to have constructed it. There is also an eleventh century A.D. temple here, which was built by Rajendra Chola Varman.
This city is the second largest in Pudukkottai. Numerous people visit here to see the ruined fort, the walls of which are constructed with mud and with bricks or stones. There are no ruins of palaces or any striking building inside the fort. The construction date of the fort is not known. But, the Tondaimans, who had no connections with those of Pudukkottai, are believed to have constructed it. There is also an eleventh century A.D. temple here, which was built by Rajendra Chola Varman.
Viralimalai Temple
Viralimalai Temple
This is a temple of Lord Muruga. It is built here on a hillock. This is a 15th century temple. The presiding deity of this temple can be seen seated on a peacock mount with his two spouses Valli and Deivayanai. There is also a peacock sanctuary here, which is 40 kms from Pudukkottai.
This is a temple of Lord Muruga. It is built here on a hillock. This is a 15th century temple. The presiding deity of this temple can be seen seated on a peacock mount with his two spouses Valli and Deivayanai. There is also a peacock sanctuary here, which is 40 kms from Pudukkottai.
Kudumiyanmalai
Kudumiyanmalai
This place is situated 20 kms far from Pudukkottai. Here is a temple called Sikharagireeswarar, which contain exquisite sculptures and a 1000-pillared hall. Among the numerous inscriptions found in this temple, the quite interesting one is that of Mahendra Varma Pallavan. He made a treatise on music here, especially on the seven notes called Saptha Swara.
Mahendra Varma Pallavan built another rock-cut temple here in Pudukkottai above called `Melakkoil`.
This place is situated 20 kms far from Pudukkottai. Here is a temple called Sikharagireeswarar, which contain exquisite sculptures and a 1000-pillared hall. Among the numerous inscriptions found in this temple, the quite interesting one is that of Mahendra Varma Pallavan. He made a treatise on music here, especially on the seven notes called Saptha Swara.
Mahendra Varma Pallavan built another rock-cut temple here in Pudukkottai above called `Melakkoil`.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Pudukkottai
Coin of the Roman emperor Augustus found at the Pudukottai hoard. British Museum.
The present-day district of Pudukkottai was part of the Pandya kingdom. Over the centuries, the district was ruled by a succession of South Indian dynasties which included the Cholas, Pallavas and Hoysalas. The district became a part of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century.
The Thondaiman Dynasty
Thondaiman King in his Durbar, Pudukkottai, 1858.
The princely state of Pudkottai was created by Raghunatha Thondaiman.
Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati of Ramnad (1673–1708 A.D.) married Kathali Nachiar the sister of Thondaiman, he appointed his brother in law Raghunatha Thondaiman as a chief of the district of Pudukottai. Raghunatha Thondaiman was earlier ruling Thirumayam. In appreciation of Raghunatha Tondaman's services, Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati has given Pudukkottai as an honour for his services.
In later centuries, the Thondaiman rulers, while nominally feudatories of the Ramnad state, often pursued an independent foreign policy, a trend common in all parts of India at that time. After the death of Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati he become ruler of Pudukottai.
After becoming the ruler of Pudukottai, Raghunatha Thondaiman fought against the Nayaks of Tanjore in support of the Nayaks of Madurai and conquered Thirukkattupalli a very important place. Then there was a direct clash between Thondaimans of Pudukottai and the Nayaks rulers of Tanjore. Thondaiman conquered the west of Thirukkattupalli.
The next ruler Raja Vijaya Reghunatha Raya Thondaiman he helped Arcot Nawab against Hyder Ali the ruler of Mysore. He was also loyal towards the British Government. After some time, when Hyder Ali’s army tried to enter into Pudukkottai, the Thondaiman’s army successfully defeated them and drove Hyder’s army away. Thondaiman captured Kilanilai and Aranthangi. He helped the British Government against Tipu Sultan.
Pudukkotai finally came under formal British protection. This was arguably unavoidable, since the Thondaimans were much menaced in that period by a resurgent Mysore ruled by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan had sought to leverage the power of the French against his British adversaries, and Pudukkotai, in common with its neighbours such as Thanjavur and Travancore, found it expedient to ally with the British.
Raja Rajagopala Thondaiman (1928 -1948) the last and ninth in the line of Thondaiman rulers, was selected by the British Government and was crowned when he was six years old. After Indian independence in 1947, the Pudukkottai Princely State was amalgamated with Indian Union on 04/03/1948 and became a division in Tiruchirappalli district. The long history of the Thondaimans rule came to an end.
Government Museum
Situated at Thirrukokarnam, the museum is at a distance of 5 km. from Pudukkottai railway Station. The wide range of collections in the Sections of Geology. Zoology, Paintings. Anthropology, Epigraphy, Historical records, etc. are very interesting. The fine Sculptures and bronzes of various periods are the attractive items of the Museum. Timings: 9 a.m to 5. p.m Entrance fee: Free. Holidays Friday Phone : 04322-236247.
The present-day district of Pudukkottai was part of the Pandya kingdom. Over the centuries, the district was ruled by a succession of South Indian dynasties which included the Cholas, Pallavas and Hoysalas. The district became a part of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century.
The Thondaiman Dynasty
Thondaiman King in his Durbar, Pudukkottai, 1858.
The princely state of Pudkottai was created by Raghunatha Thondaiman.
Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati of Ramnad (1673–1708 A.D.) married Kathali Nachiar the sister of Thondaiman, he appointed his brother in law Raghunatha Thondaiman as a chief of the district of Pudukottai. Raghunatha Thondaiman was earlier ruling Thirumayam. In appreciation of Raghunatha Tondaman's services, Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati has given Pudukkottai as an honour for his services.
In later centuries, the Thondaiman rulers, while nominally feudatories of the Ramnad state, often pursued an independent foreign policy, a trend common in all parts of India at that time. After the death of Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati he become ruler of Pudukottai.
After becoming the ruler of Pudukottai, Raghunatha Thondaiman fought against the Nayaks of Tanjore in support of the Nayaks of Madurai and conquered Thirukkattupalli a very important place. Then there was a direct clash between Thondaimans of Pudukottai and the Nayaks rulers of Tanjore. Thondaiman conquered the west of Thirukkattupalli.
The next ruler Raja Vijaya Reghunatha Raya Thondaiman he helped Arcot Nawab against Hyder Ali the ruler of Mysore. He was also loyal towards the British Government. After some time, when Hyder Ali’s army tried to enter into Pudukkottai, the Thondaiman’s army successfully defeated them and drove Hyder’s army away. Thondaiman captured Kilanilai and Aranthangi. He helped the British Government against Tipu Sultan.
Pudukkotai finally came under formal British protection. This was arguably unavoidable, since the Thondaimans were much menaced in that period by a resurgent Mysore ruled by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan had sought to leverage the power of the French against his British adversaries, and Pudukkotai, in common with its neighbours such as Thanjavur and Travancore, found it expedient to ally with the British.
Raja Rajagopala Thondaiman (1928 -1948) the last and ninth in the line of Thondaiman rulers, was selected by the British Government and was crowned when he was six years old. After Indian independence in 1947, the Pudukkottai Princely State was amalgamated with Indian Union on 04/03/1948 and became a division in Tiruchirappalli district. The long history of the Thondaimans rule came to an end.
Government Museum
Situated at Thirrukokarnam, the museum is at a distance of 5 km. from Pudukkottai railway Station. The wide range of collections in the Sections of Geology. Zoology, Paintings. Anthropology, Epigraphy, Historical records, etc. are very interesting. The fine Sculptures and bronzes of various periods are the attractive items of the Museum. Timings: 9 a.m to 5. p.m Entrance fee: Free. Holidays Friday Phone : 04322-236247.
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