Tiruvallur facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tiruvallur திருவள்ளூர் Thiru evvul
Town
Tiruevvulur
Veeraraghava Swamy Temple's view from the temple tank
Nicknames:  Evvulur, Tiruevvulur, Tiruevvulkidanthan
Tiruvallur Location in Tamil Nadu
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Tiruvallur
Named for	Veeraragava Temple
Government
• Type	First grade municipality
• Body	Tiruvallur Municipality
Area
• Total	81.95 km2 (31.64 sq mi)
Elevation	72 m (236 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	130,769
• Density	1,595.72/km2 (4,132.89/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	602001-602003
Telephone code	91-44
Vehicle registration	TN-20

Tiruvallur is an important town in the Tamil Nadu state of India. It is a Grade I municipality, which means it is a large and well-developed town. Tiruvallur is located on the banks of the Coovum River. It is about 46 km (29 mi) from Chennai, a very large city. Tiruvallur is considered a satellite town of Chennai. This means it is a smaller town close to a big city, often growing because of its connection to the city.

Tiruvallur is the main administrative center for the Tiruvallur District. The town is famous for the Veeraraghava Swamy Temple. This temple is one of the 108 special holy places for people who follow the Vaishnavite religion. There is also a Shiva temple nearby and a 40 ft (12 m) tall Hanuman temple. The Hanuman statue is made from a single green granite stone.

The Poondi reservoir, which provides drinking water to Chennai, is about 9 km (5.6 mi) from Tiruvallur. The town is also served by the Tiruvallur railway station, part of the Chennai Suburban Railway Network. In 2011, the city had a population of 56,074. Tiruvallur is one of the fastest-growing areas near Chennai.

What's in a Name? The Story of Tiruvallur

Gopuram of the Veeraraghava Swamy Temple, Tiruvallur

The name Tiruvallur has an interesting story behind it. It is believed to come from the Tamil words tiru evvull?. Tiru means 'god' and is often added to the names of temple towns in South India. Evvull means 'where do I sleep?'. So, Tiruvallur is said to mean a place where the god Veera Raghavaswamy asked a holy person for a place to sleep for one night.

This story is told in an ancient text called the Markandeya Purana. A wise sage named Saalihothirar came from Badrinath and settled here. He wanted to reach Vaikuntha, which is believed to be the home of Lord Mahavisnu. He fasted for a year and then prepared rice to offer to God. He also waited for a guest to share his food with.

Lord Narayana appeared as an old, hungry traveler to test the sage's devotion. Saalihothirar happily gave all his food to the guest, even though it meant he would go hungry. After eating, Narayana asked, "Where do I sleep?" (in Tamil: "Ev-uL-uRangalAm"). Saalihothirar offered his own hut. This story is also mentioned in ancient Tamil poems by Thirumangai Alvar.

A Glimpse into Tiruvallur's Past

This region has a long history, ruled by different groups over time. In the 7th century, the Pallavas ruled here. Later, in 1687, the Golkonda rulers were defeated, and the area came under the control of the Moghul emperors from Delhi.

The towns and villages around Tiruvallur were important battlegrounds during the Carnatic Wars. These wars were fought between the English and French as they struggled for control in India. Pulicat, a town nearby, was one of the first places the Dutch settled in India in 1609. It was given to the British in 1825. British rule continued until India became independent in 1947.

People and Religions in Tiruvallur

According to the 2011 census, Tiruvallur had a population of 56,074 people. For every 1,000 males, there were 999 females, which is a good balance. About 19% of the population belonged to Scheduled Castes, and 0.6% to Scheduled Tribes. The city's literacy rate was 79.77%, meaning most people could read and write.

Most people in Tiruvallur are Hindus (86.45%). Other religions include Christians (6.17%) and Muslims (5.88%). Smaller groups include Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists.

Explore Tiruvallur's Famous Places

Temple and Tank at Trivaloor, South India (1848)

Tiruvallur has several interesting places to visit:

• Veera Raghavar Temple – This is a very important temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is a peaceful place for worship.
• Hanuman Temple at Kakkalur – About 3 km (1.9 mi) from Tiruvallur, this temple has a huge 40 ft (12 m) tall statue of Lord Viswaroopa Panchamukha Hanuman. The statue is made from a single piece of green granite.
• Poondi Reservoir – You can enjoy beautiful views of the reservoir, the dam, and the Kosasthalaiyar River here. This reservoir is important for supplying water to Chennai.

Tiruvallur's Growing Economy

Tiruvallur became a district headquarters in 1997. This means it became an important center for government and business. The town is home to many industries and factories.

Industries and Businesses in Tiruvallur

Many big companies have their manufacturing plants in Tiruvallur. These include:

• Hindustan Motors
• Caterpillar (makes earth-moving equipment)
• Hanil Lear
• Delphi TVS
• India Japan Lighting
• Kingfisher's brewery (makes beer)
• Style SPA furniture
• TI India
• TCL
• Mitsubishi

Tiruvallur is also known for the Pandurangan family, who make pens under the brand name Ranga. The town is close to other industrial areas near Chennai, like Ambattur and Sriperumbudur. These areas are easily reached by suburban trains and buses.

Agriculture is also a very important part of the economy. Farmers grow crops like:

• Paddy (rice)
• Sugarcane
• Groundnut (peanuts)
• Millets (like cumbu, ragi)
• Pulses (like red gram, black gram)
• Gingelly (sesame)
• Chillies

They also grow vegetables, flowers, and fruits like mangoes and bananas.

Future Plans and Development

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has plans to develop Tiruvallur as a satellite township. This means they want to build more homes and facilities here to help reduce crowding in Chennai. This development aims to provide a better quality of life for people. In 2022, Tiruvallur officially became part of the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA).

The Tamil Nadu government also plans to build a new satellite township at Thirumazhisai, which is about 18 km (11 mi) from Tiruvallur. This project will include affordable housing and other facilities.

Getting Around Tiruvallur: Transport

Tiruvallur has good transport links, making it easy to travel to and from the town.

Road Travel

Tiruvallur is located on the main road connecting Chennai and Tirupati. Key roads include the Chennai-Tiruvallur High Road and the Poonamallee-Tiruvallur Road. These roads connect Tiruvallur to different parts of Chennai and other areas. You can also easily reach nearby towns like Tirupati, Tirutani, and Arakkonam by road. The new Chennai Peripheral Ring Road will also pass through Tiruvallur, improving connections.

Train Travel

The Tiruvallur railway station (TRL) is one of India's oldest railway stations. The second train in South India ran from Royapuram to Tiruvallur way back on July 1, 1856! Suburban trains are very popular here. The station is often called rayiladi by locals.

Tiruvallur Railway Station is one of the busiest suburban stations in the Chennai area. It connects Tiruvallur to Chennai Central and Chennai Beach to the east. To the west, it connects to Tirutani, Tirupati, and Vellore. Suburban trains run very frequently, sometimes every five minutes during busy times.

Bus Travel

Public bus services in Tiruvallur are run by government companies. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) operates buses from Tiruvallur to various parts of Chennai. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation runs buses to other rural areas of Tiruvallur and nearby districts.

In March 2024, a new long-distance bus service started from Tiruvallur to Tirunelveli. For other long-distance buses, people usually travel to the Kilambakkam Bus Terminus or Chennai Moffusil Bus Terminus in Chennai.

Air Travel

The Chennai International Airport is about 42 km (26 mi) southeast of Tiruvallur. There are also plans for a new airport at Parandur, about 40 km (25 mi) south of the city.

Learning and Education in Tiruvallur

Tiruvallur has many schools and colleges. It is becoming an important center for education.

Higher Education Opportunities

• Government Medical College and Hospital

The main hospital in Tiruvallur was upgraded to a Government Medical College Hospital in 2022. This brings many students from other states and districts to study medicine here.

• Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College

This law college, which used to be in Chennai, moved to a new campus near Tiruvallur in 2018. It offers courses for law degrees. In 2023, it was ranked as the 8th best government law college in India.

Colleges in Tiruvallur District

Tiruvallur and its surrounding areas have several colleges offering different courses:

Schools in Tiruvallur

There are many schools in Tiruvallur, including both private and government schools. Some of them are:

• Dharmamurthi Rao Bahadur Calavala Cunnan Chetty's Hindu School
• CSI Goudie Hr Sec School
• Christ King Hr. Sec. School
• Chellammal Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Sec. School
• Shree Nikethan Matric. Hr. Sec. School
• Sri R M Jain Vidhyashram, V.M.Nagar, Tiruvallur
• Jacob Matriculation School
• K.E. Nataesa Chetiyar Higher Secondary School

See also

In Spanish: Tiruvallur para niños