Arcot, Tamil Nadu

Arcot Vellore Metropolitan Area
Town
Arcot
UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	632503
Telephone code	04172
Vehicle registration	TN 73
Lok Sabha constituency	Arakkonam
Civic agency	Arcot Municipality
Website	www.tnurbantree.tn.gov.in/arcot/

Arcot (natively spelt as Ārkāḍu) is a town and urban area of

, a rice-based traditional food, is also served here.

Etymology

Arcot is the anglicized form of the Tamil word ārkāḍ, which is commonly believed to have been derived from the Tamil words aaru (River) + kaadu (forest). However, arkaadu meant 'a forest of fig trees'.[1]

Jainism was flourishing in this part of Tamil Land who were otherwise known as Arugar most probably corrupted form of Arhants or the perfected souls. The word Arugar is found in many ancient literary works and places dominant with Arugars were related to them viz Arakonam, Arumbakkam, Aruvur, etc. Not far away from present day Arcot, there is a place called Arungundram. Hence Aarkaadu would have derived its name from Arugarkaadu.

History

Carnatic

The town's strategic location has led to it being repeatedly contested and prompted the construction of a formidable fortress. The

.

In the 20th century, Arcot declined in importance and was incorporated into

, whom he appropriately named after the saint.

In Kaspa, Sri Vaikuntha Varadharaja Perumal Temple is situated. The speciality of this temple is that it is the only temple where the Lord Vishnu statue is erected in the middle with Sri Devi and Bamadevi at its sides. This type of posture of Lord Perumal is only present in this temple. Moreover, the three statues are designed using a single stone. This temple was built during the

Pallava

era.

Geography

Arcot is located at 12°54′N 79°20′E / 12.9°N 79.33°E / 12.9; 79.33.^[2] It has an average elevation of 164 metres (538 ft).

Government

Arcot Municipality was constituted in 1959. It had Third Grade Municipality and was subsequently upgraded to second Grade Municipality in 1973. In July 1998, it was upgraded to I Grade Municipality. The selected council with 30 members and chairpersons have functioned from 25 October 2006.

The first grade commissioner is working as Executive Authority of the Municipal Administration with the Regional Director of Municipal Administration, Vellore and Collector of Vellore District and overall control by the Commissioner of Municipal Administration are functioning administrative head of this urban local body.

Arcot Town has a 13.64 km² area with a population of 129,640 as per the recent census. The Municipal office is situated nearly 1/4 km east from the bus stand.

Arcot town is an historical town with monuments and forts once ruled by Arcot Navab. The town is located on the southern bank of Palar river, easily accessible from the capital of Tamil Nadu. Chennai is within 120 km and the district headquarters are within 25 km.

Arcot has been developing as a commercial centre for long time as it is connected to

and green stone mosque within the town. This generates floating population to this town.

Economy

Arcot is the principal market for the surrounding agricultural area. It also has a viable local weaving industry, and groundnut oil industry. Arcot is most famous for edible oil production, mainly focusing on groundnut and gingelly oil production. A number of oil expellers are available in and around Arcot. Certain caste of people are more dominant and involved in this edible oil business.

Culture

The people who lived in the Arcot region, especially in and near the temple town of

in 1861. Now all its activities have been transferred to the nearby town of Nellikuppam.

The second mission station of DMS was opened at

in 1869 by Rev. P. Andersen and was called "Siloam". Siloam church was consecrated on 10 October 1886 and on the same day the first Indian pastors were ordained and more than 30 persons were baptized. A week later a church was consecrated in an outstation, Sengalmedu. The beautiful church in Pop ham's Broadway in Madras was built in 1892.

Saron, a third mission station of DMS, was opened in 1882 and situated just outside the town Tiruvannamalai. In 1898 a mission station was built in the town. From 1905 it was called "Carmel." The fourth mission station in the Arcot District, "Bethesda," in Kallakurichi was built in 1893 by Rev. A. Larsen. Later DMS started mission stations at Panruti, Vriddhachalam, Devanampatnam, Darisanapuram, and Servaroj Hills, etc. In 1913 a church constitution was inaugurated. This church is serving the Tamil-speaking population in the districts of South and North Arcot, Tamil Nadu. Mayana Kollai is celebrated here. People paint themselves and appear as gods having goat flesh in their mouths and drumsticks in their hands. They walk over the bazaar street towards the burial ground.

Eassayanoor Valavanoor. Ramzan and Bakrid festivals celebrate in grand manner.

Currently traditional and farmers' festival is Pongal, Tamil New Year And Diwali.

Demographics

According to

Transport

The main mode of transport is by bus since it is economical, and well connected by road. A national highway and two state highways pass through Arcot. There are frequent buses to almost all parts of Tamil Nadu. Buses depart every 15 minutes from Arcot to

is route no.7.

The nearest railway station is walajah Road station 6 km from the town, lying between

Arcot

. It will function within one year.

The city has an

Urban Area

Vellore Metropolitan Area

Places of interest

1. Palar Dam
2. Delhi gate
3. Green Mosque
4. Raja Rani Pond
5. Panja pandavar hill

References

External links

• Vellore portal
• "Arcot." Encyclopædia Britannica (2005)
• "Arcot."
  The Columbia Encyclopedia
  (2004)
• "Arcot (S. India)".
  The Companion to British History
  , Routledge (2001)
• "Arcot". The Hobson Jobson Dictionary (1902)