Walajapet

Coordinates: 13°00′00″N 79°18′50″E / 13.00°N 79.314°E / 13.00; 79.314
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Walajapet
Vellore Suburbs
Town
Vidhan Sabha
constituency
Ranipet
Civic agencyWalajapet Municipality

Walajapet is a town or first municipality of Tamil Nadu and a part of Ranipet district, Vellore Metropolitan Area, in the state of Tamil Nadu. The streets in the town form a square shape which is a unique feature of the town. It will be easy for you to reach any part of the town with this kind of infrastructure. The streets are wide and nicely structured. As of 2024, the town had a population of 64,000.

This town, located in the

taluk of Tamil Nadu
, believed to have been formed in 1866.

Demographics

Religious census
Religion Percent(%)
Hindu
52.13%
Muslim
46.34%
Christian
1.21%
Sikh
0.03%
Buddhist
0.02%
Jain
0.11%
Other
0.14%
No religion
0.02%

According to

Buddhists, 0.11% Jains, 0.14% following other religions and 0.02% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference.[3]

Commerce

It was used for business purposes and one of the biggest trade centres during the time of British rule. Walajapet is one of the oldest town in the North Arcot Region. It is famous for silk weaving and has a nickname, "Walajapet-The Silk City". It is situated in the belt of the Ranipet SIPCOT Industrial Complex as a public limited company wholly owned by the Government.

Walajapet is one of the noted centre for the production of silk weaving and bamboo furniture making centre. The commercial activities is concentrated at Thoppai street, Annaicut Road, Bazaar street, Thirumalai Street. There is a daily market available in this town.

History

At the beginning of the second half of 18th century, while English and the French invaders, who challenged themselves each other to conquer Southern India and while in such circumstances the former ( the English) in collaboration with the Nawab of Arcot succeeded in wiping out the suzerainty of the latter. The Nawab of Arcot was in return, granted the then great title of honour "Walajah" meaning the most dignified gentleman.

The Nawab of Arcot styled this town as "Walajah" in his memory besides, having Arcot as his residential centre and Ranipet as the military headquarters. The Nawab of Arcot with a view to vindicate the great name of "Walajah" as quite suitable to the town in its true and literal sense, desired to develop this town economically. Walajapet's jurisdiction covers an area of 2.64 squares kilometers. The town had a population of 16,401 in 1971 and the same was increased to 21,200 in 1987–88.

Municipal administration

Walajapet Municipality was started in 1866, by the effect of act passed by the government. It was the first municipality in Tamil Nadu. It was one of the oldest municipalities organized in the Madras Presidency along with Adoni and Madurai. The Municipal Council started and functioning on 12 November 1866. The municipal office is located in its own building at Nawab Devadi Street. The town has electoral wards.

In the year 1869, the municipality office was shifted to a house situated at the trunk road for a monthly rent of Rs.6/-.At the time, it was a third-grade municipality.

The municipal council started functioning from 1866, after the formation of Walajapet Municipality the meeting was held on 12 November 1866 under the vice-president, 6 commissioners also attended the council meeting. In those days the councillors was called commissioners. The council passed a resolution to open a municipal office for the transaction of business and in accordance with it a building owned by Madhan Iyyar was taken for a monthly rent Rs.5/-. There were one manager on a pay of Rs.40 per month, two writers each Rs.20 per month, two bill collectors each for Rs.20 per month, two peons each for Rs.5 per month and one sweeper for Rs.3 and eight annas per month.

Thiru V. Lakshmi Naidu was the first vice-president of this municipality. Thiru C.A. Varadharajan was the 25th vice-president of this municipality. Mrs. S.Raja Rajeswari was the first woman chairman and 26th chairman of this municipality.

The year 1966 was a very significant in the development of Walajapet Municipality. It was its centenary celebration. At that time C.A.Varadharajan was chairman in the municipality. He published Walajapet Municipality Centenary Souvenir (1866–1966) Aringar Anna, Thanthi Periyar who participated in the Centenary celebration. And Jakir Hussain, C.P. Aditanar, M. Karunanithi, Dr S.Radhakrishnan, K. Kamaraj, Tamil thatha M. Varatharajan and many others send greetings to the function.

Transport

Walajah Road Railway Station is one of the oldest and first railway station in South India. It is situated in Ammoor and about 5 Kilometers from Walajapet. The first contract between the Madras Railway Company and the government was held on 22 December 1852 an agent for the Madras Railway came to Madras in 1853. The first section of the line from Royapuram(Madras) to Walajah Road was opened on 1 July 1856.

One of the oldest railway stations in Southern Railway. The first railway track was proposed in 1857 from Walaja Road to Cuddalore via Katpadi.[4][circular reference]

It is strategically located on the

Katpadi Junction
, the first rail route in Tamil Nadu.

Religion

There is a Hindu temple viz., Kasi Viswanathar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, in Walajapet.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Census Info 2011 Final population totals". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Census Info 2011 Final population totals - Walajapet". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Population By Religious Community - Tamil Nadu" (XLS). Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  4. ^ Timeline of Southern Railway zone
  5. ^ "Arulmigu Kasi Vishvanathar Temple, Walajah - 632513, Ranipet District [TM004156].,". hrce.tn.gov.in. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  6. ^ "About Walajapet, History of Walajapet, Walajapet Tourism". walajapet.tamilnaduonline.in. Retrieved 11 December 2023.

External links