Jayankondam Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Jayankondam
First Grade Municipality

Nickname(s): Cashew City
Jayankondam Location in Tamil Nadu
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Ariyalur
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Body	Jayankondan Municipality
Population (2023)
• Total	46,000
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	621802
Telephone code	04331
Vehicle registration	TN 61
Website	https://jayankondam.in

Jayankondam is a town in the Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu, India. It's an important town with its own local government, called a "First Grade Municipality." In 2023, about 46,000 people lived here.

The area around Jayankondam has large amounts of a special type of coal called lignite. Because of this, power projects have been started by the Neyveli Lignite Corporation to generate electricity. The town is also home to more than 25 ancient temples. The local Government Higher Secondary School is very old, just like the town itself, and has nearly 2,000 students.

Where is Jayankondam Located?
People and Religions
A Look at Jayankondam's History
Getting Around Jayankondam
Interesting Places Near Jayankondam
Images for kids
See also

Where is Jayankondam Located?

Jayankondam is easy to reach by road. A main road, NH-81, goes through the town. This highway connects Chidambaram and Tiruchirappalli. Another important road, SH-140, also passes through, linking Virudachalam and Kumbakonam.

Here are some distances to other cities:

Chennai is about 247 kilometers away.
Kumbakonam is about 29 kilometers to the south.
Ariyalur is 38 kilometers to the west.
Viruthachalam is 36 kilometers to the north.
Chidambaram is 50 kilometers to the east.

The town of Jayankondam covers an area of 28 square kilometers.

People and Religions

In 2011, Jayankondam had a population of 33,945 people. There were more females than males, with 1,031 females for every 1,000 males. This is higher than the average for India. About 3,520 children were under the age of six.

Most people in Jayankondam are Hindu. Other religions practiced here include Islam and Christianity. A small number of people follow Sikhism, Buddhism, or Jainism.

A Look at Jayankondam's History

The full name of Jayankondam is actually Jayankondacholapuram. Its original name was Nellimanagramam. The town was renamed Jayankondacholapuram (ஜெயங்கொண்டசோழபுரம்) during the time of King Rajendra Chola I and his son. They renamed it to celebrate their many victories in wars and campaigns.

Jayankondam became a town panchayat (a type of local government) during the time of British rule in India. Later, it was upgraded to the second municipality in the Perambalur district, after Perambalur itself.

Getting Around Jayankondam

Jayankondam is a hub for roads. Major roads like NH81 (connecting Trichy, Jayankondam, and Chidambaram) and SH140 (connecting Kumbakonam, Jayankondam, and Virudhachalam) pass through the town.

The main bus stand in Jayankondam is in the center of town. Buses travel from here to many nearby towns and cities, including Kumbakonam, Chennai, Coimbatore, and Bengaluru.

If you prefer trains, the closest railway stations are:

Virudhachalam Junction railway station, about 40 kilometers away.
Ariyalur Railway station, about 38 kilometers away.
Kumbakonam Railway station, about 30 kilometers away.

The nearest airport is Tiruchirappalli International Airport, which is about 98 kilometers from Jayankondam. The closest seaport is Karaikal port.

Interesting Places Near Jayankondam

Gangaikonda Cholapuram

Gangaikonda Cholapuram was once the capital city of the powerful Chola dynasty around the year 1025. It was made the capital by Rajendra Chola I to celebrate his victory over the Pala Dynasty. The name means "The town of the Chola who took over Ganga" (referring to water from the Ganges River). This city was the Chola capital for about 250 years.

Today, Gangaikonda Cholapuram is a small village. Its past importance is mainly remembered because of the amazing Brihadisvara Temple. This temple is so important that UNESCO has recognized it as a World Heritage Site.

Anaikarai

Anaikarai is about 15 kilometers from Jayankondam. It's known for the Lower Anaicut, a dam built by Sir Arthur Cotton in the 1800s. This dam is built across the Coleroon River, which is a major branch of the Cauvery River. It's said to be a copy of the ancient Kallanai. Many families live in Anaikarai, and their main jobs are farming and fishing. It's also a great place to find river fish!

Historical Temples and Statues

The historical Shiva temple in Jayankondam was built by the wife of King Rajendra Chola. She built it for her own worship when the king was celebrating his victory over the Pala dynasty.

The Cholas also respected Buddhism. They built several Buddha temples, some of which are now in Sri Lanka. In Jayankondam, the Archeological Department of India found a Buddha statue, and they still take care of it today.