Mannargudi: Difference between revisions

'''Mannargudi''' ({{IPA-ta|mannaːrgɯɖi|second lang}}) is a town[[Municipality]] in [[Thiruvarur district]] in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. It is the headquarters of the [[Mannargudi Taluk|Mannargudi taluk]]. The town is located at a distance of {{convert|28|km|abbr=on}} from the district headquarters [[Thiruvarur]], 3612 km from [[Needamangalam]], 36 km from [[Kumbakonam]], 40  km from Thanjavur, and {{convert|310|km|abbr=on}} from the state capital [[Chennai]]. Mannargudi is known for the [[Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Mannargudi|Rajagopalaswamy temple]], a prominent [[Vaishnavite]] shrine.

Mannargudi was founded as an ''[[agraharam]]'' village by the [[Medieval Cholas]] during the 7th century A.D. The town was subsequently ruled by various dynasties including the Chola king Rajadhiraja Chola (1018–1054 CE), [[Vijayanagar Empire]], [[Delhi Sultanate]], [[Thanjavur Nayaks]], [[Thanjavur Marathas]] and the [[British Empire]]. Mannargudi was a part of the erstwhile [[Tanjore District (Madras Presidency)|Tanjore district]] until India's independence in 1947 and [[Thanjavur district]] until 1991. It subsequently became a part of the newly formed [[Tiruvarur district]]. The town is known for agriculture, metal working and weaving. The region around Mannargudi has considerable mineral deposits.

Majority of the people living in Mannargudi and its surrounding villages belong to the Raja [[Kallar (caste)|Kallar]] caste (Mukkuthalor);.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Leach |first1=Edmund Ronald |title=Aspects of caste in south India, Ceylon, and north-west Pakistan |date=1971 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0521096645 |pages=14, 15}}</ref> the King for Raja, thieves for Kallar community, King in otherwords "Mannars", which is why the name came as Mannar - King; Living - Kudi. Prominent peoplePeople like Gopalaswamy Thenkondar Ex.M.P (Congress),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Third Lok Sabha - India |first1=Members Bioprofile |title=Members Bioprofile |url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/1676.htm}}</ref> Mannai Narayanaswamy Ondhriyar Ex.MLC Ex. Minister for Food and Co-operation(DMK),<ref>{{cite web |title=TAMIL NADU LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUINQUENNIAL REVIEW 1971-76 |url=https://assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/5th_1971/5th-71-76.pdf |publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu |access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref> [[V. K. Sasikala|V.K. Sasikala KoorsarSalluvar]] (ADMK),and [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] Kilakudaiyar (Veteran Tamil Actress)., Thisare townfrom is one of the VIP towns in Tamilnadu Politics.Mannargudi

Mannargudi is administered by a municipality established in 1866. As of 2011, the municipality covered an area of {{convert|11.55|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} and has a population of 67,999. Mannargudi comes under the [[Mannargudi (State Assembly Constituency)|Mannargudi assembly]] constituency which elects a member to the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] once every five years and it is a part of the [[Thanjavur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Thanjavur constituency]] which elects its [[Member of Parliament]] (MP) once in five years. Roadways are the major mode of transportation to the town and it also has rail connectivity. The nearest seaport, [[Nagapattinam Port]], is located 52&nbsp;km (32&nbsp;mi) from Mannargudi, while the nearest airport, [[Tiruchirappalli International Airport]], is located 97&nbsp;km (60&nbsp;mi) from the town. Mannargudi is a fourthfifth largest town in delta region after Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam.

Mannargudi is located at {{Coord|10.67|N|79.43|E|}}. It has an average elevation of {{convert|6|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Mannargudi is situated on the banks of [[Pamaniyar River]], a tributarybranch of the [[Vettar River|Vettar]] (distributary of [[Kaveri]]) and is covered with fertile soil conducive for rice cultivation. The topography is completely flat and the town is a part of the fertile [[Cauvery Delta]]. Mannargudi is situated at a distance of {{convert|300|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the state capital [[Chennai]] and {{convert|28|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Tiruvarur]], the district headquarters. The nearest airport is at [[Tiruchirappalli]], {{convert|90|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from the town. The nearest seaport is at [[Nagappattinam]], located {{convert|52|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Mannargudi.<ref name="about">{{cite web|title=About the town|url=http://municipality.tn.gov.in/mannargudi/abcity_city.htm|publisher=Mannargudi Municipality, Government of Tamil Nadu|year=2012|access-date=1 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929135412/http://municipality.tn.gov.in/mannargudi/abcity_city.htm|archive-date=29 September 2012}}</ref>

The municipality of Mannargudi was established in 1866 with a committee of twelve members during [[British Raj|British rule]].<ref name="hemingway">[[#Hemingway|Hemingway]], pp&nbsp;213–214</ref><ref name="mannargudi_municipality">{{cite web|title=About Mannargudi Municipality|url=http://municipality.tn.gov.in/mannargudi/abt-munciplaity.htm|publisher=Mannargudi Municipality|access-date=1 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107150517/http://municipality.tn.gov.in/mannargudi/abt-munciplaity.htm|archive-date=7 November 2012}}</ref> Until the early years of the 20th century, Mannargudi remained the one of the five municipalities in erstwhile Tanjore district.<ref name="hemingway" /> As of 2008, the municipality covered an area of {{convert|11.55|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} and had a total of 33 members. The functions of the municipality is devolved into six departments: General, Engineering, Revenue, Public Health, Town planning and the Computer Wing. All these departments are under the control of a Municipal Commissioner who is the supreme executive head.<ref name="organizationalchart">{{cite web|title=Commissionerate of Municipal Administration |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/cma/chart5.htm |publisher=Commissionerate of Municipal Administration |access-date=1 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106103849/http://www.tn.gov.in/cma/chart5.htm |archive-date=6 November 2012 }}</ref> The legislative powers are vested in a body of 33 members, one each from the 33 wards. The legislative body is headed by an elected Chairperson assisted by a Deputy Chairperson.<ref name="economicweeklyp2396">[[#Economic|Economic and political weekly 1995]], p. 2396</ref> The municipality has allocated a budget of {{INR}}8,751,164 for the year 2010–11.<ref name="mannargudi_budget">{{cite web|title=Budget 2010–11|url=http://municipality.tn.gov.in/mannargudi/budget%2010-11.pdf|language=ta|publisher=Mannargudi Municipality|access-date=1 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922144049/http://municipality.tn.gov.in/mannargudi/budget%2010-11.pdf|archive-date=22 September 2012}}</ref>

}}</ref><ref name="const_map">{{cite web|title=Map showing the new assembly constituencies|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/maps/tamil_map.pdf|page=1|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=1 January 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913202235/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/maps/tamil_map.pdf|archive-date=13 September 2011}}</ref> From the 1971 elections, the assembly seat was won by [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK) 5 times during the 1971, 1989 2011, 2016 and 2021 elections, the [[Communist Party of India]] five times during the 1977, 1980, 1996, 2001 and 2006 elections and the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK) twice during the 1984 and 1991 elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/electionanalysis/AE/S22/partycomp178.htm|title=Partywise Comparison Since 1977|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=1 January 2014|year=2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105064110/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/electionanalysis/AE/S22/partycomp178.htm|archive-date=5 January 2014}}</ref> The current [[Member of Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) of the constituency is [[T. R. B. Rajaa|Dr. T R B Rajaa]] from the DMK Party.<ref name="MLA of Mannargudi"/> He has done many good projects for the constituency. The [[Mannai Express]] train project was officially inaugurated in his term and he has widened this massive project. Vaduvur Indoor Stadium, in Vaduvur is another landmark of Mannargudi and milestone in his political career. No other rural constituency in Tamil Nadu has this big indoor stadium !

The State Highway SH-63 connecting [[Thanjavur]] with [[Kodikkarai]], SH-66 connecting [[Kumbakonam]] with [[Adirampattinam]], SH-202 connecting the district headquarters [[Tiruvarur]] with [[Muthupet]] and SH-146 connecting Mannargudi with Sethubavachatram, are the major highways connecting Mannargudi with other towns. There are two bus stands in the town, with the major bus stand having 19 bus bays and a [[TNSTC]] ticket reservation counter.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Mannargudi Bus stand|url=http://municipality.tn.gov.in/mannargudi/sal-bustsand.htm|publisher=Mannargudi Municipality, Government of Tamil Nadu|year=2011|access-date=1 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930130609/http://municipality.tn.gov.in/mannargudi/sal-bustsand.htm|archive-date=30 September 2012}}</ref> The [[Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation]] operates daily services connecting cities to Mannargudi. The corporation operates a computerised reservation centre in the bus stand.<ref>{{cite web|title=S.E.T.C. Tamil Nadu Ltd., Computer reservation centres|url=http://www.tnstc.in/counter_address.html|publisher=Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Ltd.|year=2011|access-date=1 January 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327113121/http://www.tnstc.in/counter_address.html|archive-date=27 March 2013}}</ref> The [[State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu)|State Express Transport Corporation]] operates long-distance buses connecting the town to cities like [[Chennai]], [[Tirupati]] and [[Bengaluru]], other long route buses operated by government from this town to rest of the places [[Tiruchirapalli]], [[Coimbatore]], [[Madurai]], [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], [[Erode]], [[Vellore]], [[Kanchipuram]], [[Tiruvannamalai]], [[Pondicherry|Puducherry]], [[Tiruppur]], [[Palani]], [[Theni]], [[Pudukkottai]], [[Karaikudi]], [[Rameshwaram]] etc. The major inter-city bus routes are to towns like [[Kumbakonam]], [[Mayiladuthurai]], [[Nagapattinam]], [[Thanjavur]], [[Tiruvarur]], [[Thiruthuraipoondi]], [[Karaikal]], [[Vedaranyam]], [[Jayankondam]] and [[Pattukkottai]]. <ref name="transport">{{cite web |title=Mannargudi bus routes |url=http://municipality.tn.gov.in/Mannargudi/srv_bus.htm |publisher=Mannargudi municipality |year=2011 |access-date=1 January 2014 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=Yashthepunisher |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="howtoreach">{{cite web|title=Mannargudi&nbsp;– how to reach|url=http://municipality.tn.gov.in/mannargudi/abt-reach.htm|publisher=Mannargudi municipality|year=2011|access-date=1 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929135403/http://municipality.tn.gov.in/mannargudi/abt-reach.htm|archive-date=29 September 2012}}</ref> Now the Ring Road about 22&nbsp;km is under progress due to reduce traffic.

*{{wikivoyage- inline|Mannargudi}}