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Rajapalayam is one of the cities that expose the Indian
culture clearly. It is an important town in Virudunagar district and is
the Taluk (also spelt as Taluka) headquarters of Rajapalayam Taluk. It is
situated 85-km southwest of Madurai.
Five roads are radiating from Rajapalayam on the north of
Madurai on the south of Tenkasi
and Sankarankovil on the east of Chattarapatti and on to the west to
mountains and Ayyanar falls.
History And Growth Of Rajapalayam
Rajapalayam is named after its Raju inhabitants, Telugu speakers who
migrated during the Vijayanagar (1336-1565) conquest. One Chinna Raja, a
lineage decedent of the King of Vijayanagar who belonged to Pasumpatti
migrated to the south along with his followers and settled at
Kilarajakularaman at the first instance and then moved their settlements
to Palayapalayam in 1483 AD.
When Vijayanagar rule was established in
Madurai, the descendents of the
original emigrants were said to have served under the Chokkanatha Nayak,
King of Madurai (1659 -1682) who has recorded his appreciation of the
service rendered by Chinna raja and his four sons and granted Sasanam.
Either after the battle of Talaikotta (1565) or on the eve of the same
battle more Rajas migrated to the south from the Vijayanagar Empire. They
settled in Pudupalayam, western portion of Rajapalayam municipality and
the town was expanded by purchasing lands from Chokkanatha Nayak (1706
-1732). Rajapalayam was constituted as a united board in the year 1885. It
became a Panchayat board in the year 1930. Railway line was laid in the
year 1927 and the town was electrified in 1937.
The town grew as a centre for cotton hand looming and weaving that has
made the town a more significant zone in Virudunagar district. It has
cotton mills and a cement factory.
Ayyanar Falls
Ayyanar Falls is a local picnic spot with natural waterfalls located
10-km west of the Rajapalayam.
Srivilliputtur
Srivilliputtur-a temple town in the Virudunagar district, Tamil
Nadu is well known as the birthplace of Sri Andal, a great
poet-saintess of the Bhakti tradition. It is also home to one of the 108
Srivaishnavaite Divya Desams-The Vatapatrasayi Temple. Additionally it
happens to be the birthplace of Periazhwar another well-known saint of the
Srivaishnava tradition.
Air: The nearest airport is at
Madurai (85-km).
Rail: Rajapalayam has a railway station that connects it with
Tirunelveli, Sivakasi, Srivilliputur and
other towns and cities of the state.
Road: Rajapalayam is well connected by road with the neighbouring
towns and cities of the state. For local transportation, taxis and auto
rickshaws are available.
Accommodation is available at the medium class and small budgeted hotels and lodges in Rajapalayam.
Area: 11-sq-kms
Population: 12,11,09 (1991 Census)
Latitude: N 9° 12' to 9° 47'
Longitude: E 77° 20' to 78° 26'
Clothing: Light Cottons
Languages Spoken: Tamil, Telugu and English
STD Code: 045632
Climate: Tropical
Temperature Range (deg C):
Summer- Max 37.1ºC, Min 25.4ºC
Winter- Max 29.2ºC, Min 20.4ºC
Rainfall: 792mm
Cholavandan - 109-km
Dindigul - 145-km
Ettaiyapuram - 48-km
Gudalur - 35-km
Kalakkadu - 122-km
Madurai - 63-km
Nagercoil - 135-km