Kallakurichi district


Kallakurichi is one of the 38 districts which belong to Tamil Nadu state situated on the southern tip of India. The district headquarters is located at Kallakurichi. Kallakurichi district was announced on 8 January 2019 and it came into existence on 26 November 2019 when it was carved out of Villupuram district. It covers 6 taluks namely Kallakurichi, Brammakundam village, Chinnasalem, Ulundurpet, Thirukovilur and Kalvarayanmalai.

Background

Prior to 1960, Kallakurichi was considered a village. That year, Kallakurichi became Town Panchayat, then was subsequently upgraded to Special Grade Town Panchayat. On 20 October 2004, it was further upgraded to Third Grade Municipality. Later, on 7 September 2010, this municipality was upgraded to First Grade Municipality and on 8 January, in the year of 2019 the Kallakurichi is announced as a 33rd District of Tamil Nadu by bifurcating Villupuram. The area of this municipality is 11.69 km2 divided into 21 wards.

Geography

It is bounded by the districts Villupuram in the east, Dharmapuri and Thiruvannamalai in the north, Salem in the west and Perambalur and Cuddalore in the south.

Economy

Kallakurichi is an emerging agricultural district. It is also known as "Home of Agriculture". There are over 10 rice-processing units or modern rice mills, both small and big in this town. Textiles, jewellery and agricultural feeds are major businesses. The town has two government co-operative sugar mills and one private sugar mill, and one solvent extraction plants. There are many poultry farms in and around Kallakurichi. The name is derived due to the green nature of this town along the banks of the river Gomuki which nourishes the town by its water. It was under the great Chola empire. The principal occupation of this town is agriculture. There are a number of temples in and around the town. The famous temples are Suambu Sree Annamaliyar Temple, Sree Sadaiappa Temple, Lord Venkateshwara Temple and Drowpathi Amman Temple. These temples are located in the north of the village in the farmyards. The car festival for Sree Sadaippa Temple is conducted once in every twelve years. Thenkeeranur is the largest revenue-making division in the district. It has two large lakes for irrigation one in the north and the other in the south. A co-operative society bank is located here to help the farming community. It has great medical facility and schools also. It has one government arts college. There was an announcement by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in March 2020 to build a medical college with the initial funding of 370 crores near Pumpthottam, in Siruvangur village, which is 3.5 kilometers from Kallakurichi town.