Pudukkottai

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Pudukkottai | type = city | latd = 10.38 | longd = 78.82
locator_position = right | state_name = Tamil Nadu
district = Pudukkottai
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 100
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 108,947| population_density =
area_magnitude= km²
area_total =
area_telephone =
postal_code =
vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Pudukkottai (Tamil:புதுக்கோட்டை) is a city and a municipality in Pudukkottai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Pudukkottai District. Population of Pudukkottai district is 14,59,601.

Taluks in Pudukkottai District

*Alangudi
*Gandarvakottai
*Kulathur
*Illuppur
*Pudukkottai
*Thirumayam
*Aranthangi
*Avudaiyarkoil
*Manamelkudi

History

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 Vijayanagara empire fought many wars with the Muslim Deccan sultanates to its north, and in 1565 the allied sultanates decisively defeated Vijayanagara at the Battle of Talikota. The defeat weakened the Vijayanagara Empire, and regional governors, called "Nayaks", became "de facto" local rulers in much of Southern India. Pudukkottai was ruled by the Nayaks of Madurai from the mid-16th century to the mid-17th century.

The Thondaiman dynasty

in 1686, comprising of the fort of Pudukkotai and surrounding lands.

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. Certainly the most consequential of such ventures was their alliance with the British in the 18th century, first against the Nawab of Arcot and later against the Kingdom of Mysore. Pudukkotai finally came under formal British protection in 1763. 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.

Princely state

Pudukkottai became a princely state of British India under the political authority of Madras Presidency. The state had an area of 1100 sq mi (3000 km²) and in 1901, a population of 380,000. The Rajas of Pudukkotai were entitled to an 11-gun salute.

Post-independence

The last Thondaiman raja of Pudukkottai acceded to newly-independent India in 1948, and the state became a division of Tiruchirappalli District of Madras State. The state was reorganised twice in the succeeding decade, taking its present form in 1956; it was renamed Tamil Nadu in 1968. On January 14, 1974, the present Pudukkottai District was formed from parts of Tiruchirappalli and Thanjavur districts.

Geography

Pudukkottai is located at coord|10.38|N|78.82|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/25/Pudukkottai.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Pudukkottai] ] It has an average elevation of 100 metres (328 feet). The state consists mainly of an undulating plain, nowhere of great fertility and in many parts barren; it is interspersed with rocky hills, especially in the southwest. Granite and laterite are quarried, red ochre is worked, and silk and cotton fabrics, bell-metal vessels and perfumes are among the principal manufactures. There is also some export trade in groundnuts and tanning bark.

1911subjith lives here

Tourist places

* [http://pudukkottai.nic.in/ Government Museum, Thirukkokarnam, Pudukkottai]
*New Pool(Pudhu Kulam)
*Sithannavasal (Famous for cave paintings)
*Kudimiyanmalai
*Thirumayam(Fort)
*Narthamalai
*Sastharkovil (Preserving Deities)

Important temples in Pudukkottai District

*Subramaniya swamy thirukovil, Viralimalai
*Admanathaswamy Temple, Avudayarkoil
*Kokarneswarar Temple, Thirukkokarnam
*Sri Bragadhambal Temple, Pudukkottai
*Sri Thiruvapur Muthumariyaman Temple,Pudukkottai
*Sri Viruthapureeswarar Temple, Thiruppunavasal
*Veeramakali amman Temple, Aranthangi and Perambur(Andakulam)
*Meiyyanathar Temple, Thirumayam
*Mariyamman Temple, Thiruvappur
*Mariyamman Temple, Naarthamalai
*Bhuvaneshwariamman Temple, Pudukkottai
*Fire Prayer Vision Ministries, Ashok Nagar, Pudukkottai
*Sacred Heart Church, Marthandapuram, Pudukkottai
*Moovar and Ivar Temple, Kodumbalur
*Sri Naadiyaman Temple, Keelathur and Alangudi
*Sri Dharma Sastha Temple, Kannankarakudi (Sastharkovil)

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, [GR|India] Pudukkottai had a population of 108,947. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Pudukkottai has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 74%. In Pudukkottai, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.Jagadeeshwara temple Manamelkudi

Educational institutions

*Andhra students association founded by santhosh kumar seeta.....
*Ranees Govt.Girls Higher Secondary School, Pudukkottai
* PSK matriculation School, Pudukottai
* Sri Brahadambal Government Higher Secondary School, Pudukottai
* Sri Venkateshwara Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Thirukkogarnam
* T.E.L.C Hr. Sec. School, Pudukkottai
* [http://mount-zion.net/ Mount Zion College of Engineering and Technology, Lena Vilakku, Pilivalam PO]
*Mount Zion Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Malaiyedu
* [http://sptc.org.in/ Subramanian Polytechnic College, Rayavaram]
* Mahathma college, Annavasal
*Vairams Matriculation School, Rajagopalapuram
*Govt. Model Higher Secondary School
*Govt Higher Secondary School, Gandarvakkottai
*Sri Ramakrishna Vivekanada Higher Secondary School, Thiruppunavasal
*Child Jesus English Primary School, Pudukkottai
*J J College of Arts and Science
*HH The Rajah's College (Autonomous), Pudukkottai
*Government Arts College for Women, Pudukkottai
*sudharsan Engineering college, Sathyamangalam
*Shanmuganathan Engineering College
*Mookambigai College of Engineering, Keeranur
*Kings College of Engineering
*M.N.S.K. College of Engineering
*Roman Catholic Middle School,Marthandapuram
*Govt.Hr.Sec School, Andakulam
*Govt.Hr.Sec School, Kottaipattinam
*Govt.Hr.Sec School, Themmavur
*Govt Polytechnic, Aranthangi
*Vestley Matric Hr Sec School, Aranthangi
*Govt.Hr.Sec School, Subramaniapuram
*Govt Girls .Hr.Sec School, Sandaipettai
*Govt Hr. Sec. School, Viralimalai
*Ulagappar Hr. Sec School, Ramachandrapuram

seeta educational consultancy

Further reading

* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/subjectView.asp?ID=P23579 "Martand Bhairava Tondiman", (1875-1928) Rajah of Pudukota: 1915-16: correspondance with Lord Hardinge, The National Archives]

References

External links

* [http://pudukkottai.nic.in/ Pudukkottai District web site]
* [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/India/pudukk.htm Genealogy of the Tondaiman dynasty]
* [http://pudukkottai.org Pudukkottai Virtual Heritage Tour]
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/pudukkottai Pudukkottai Discussion Forum]