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Revision as of 03:27, 24 January 2006 by BostonMA (talk | contribs) (→Cuddalore District)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Cuddalore is a large industrial city in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India. Located south of Pondicherry on the Bay of Bengal, Cuddalore has a large number of industries which employ many of the city's population. However, one industrial pocket SIPCOT has also secured it a place in the dubious club of Global Toxic Hotspots owing to the high levels of pollution in the area.
Cuddalore is known for its picturesque beaches particularly Silver Beach and is an emerging as a tourism hub. Cuddalore is also the administrative headquarters of the Cuddalore District. The word Cuddalore literally means "Sea Town" in Tamil as it lies on the shores of Bay of Bengal.
Cuddalore town
There are three large divisions in the town of Cuddalore: the Old Town, the New Town (Thirupadirippuliyur), and Manjakuppam. The Gedilam River flows through the town and separates the Old Town and Thirupadiripuliyur from Manjakuppam. The Old Town has been a seaport since ancient times; Cuddalore traded with the Roman Empire some 2000 year ago. Archaeological evidence of these ancient trade relationships can be found in the Cuddalore Government Museum. Cuddalore was the first town in Southern India which came under direct European control. The Dutch were the first to conquer it, followed by Portugal, France and later Britain. The British built Fort St David in Cuddalore near Devanampattinam. Cuddalore also has some very well respected schools, the most popular among them being St. Josephs & St. Mary's. St.David school started by Europeans in the 17th century is one of the oldest modern school in India.
The town is well-known for its temples the most famous of which is the temple of Shiva, one of the three prime deities of Hinduism. The incarnation of Shiva at Cuddalore is called Padaleeshwarar. The temple itself is located in Thiruppadirippuliyur. Chidambaram, a city which is known for dance and temples also, is only 43 km away from Cuddalore.
Cuddalore's magnificent beaches are becoming a tourist attraction, especially the well-known Silver Beach. The boat house near the beach is known for its beauty.
History
In the neighborhood are the ruins of Fort St David situated on the river Gadilam, which has as stirring a history. As a small fort built by a Hindu merchant it fell into the hands of the Marathas after the capture of Gingi by Sivaji in 1677. From them it was purchased by the English in 1690, the purchase including not only the fort but the adjacent towns and villages within ye randome shott of a piece of ordnance. A great gun was fired to different points of the compass and all the country within its range, including the town of Cuddalore, passed into the possession of the English. The villages thus obtained are still spoken of as cannon ball villages. From 1725 onwards the fortifications were greatly strengthened. In 1746 Fort St David became the British headquarters for the south of India, and Dupleix attack was successfully repulsed. Clive was appointed its governor in 1756; in 1758 the French captured it, but abandoned it two years later to Sir Lyre Coote. In 1782 they again took it and restored it sufficiently to withstand a British attack in 1783. In 1785 it finally passed into British possession.
Famous people
Many popular writers of Tamil literature, such as Jayakanthan and Pudhumaipithan, were born in Cuddalore. Veeramani, one of the leaders of Dravidar Kazhagam, was also born here. Vethathiri Maharishi, a spiritual and social worker from Tamil Nadu, started to preach to his disciples from Cuddalore.
Cuddalore District
Cuddalore District has an area of 3,564 km². It is bounded on the north by Villupuram District, on the east by the Bay of Bengal, on the south by Nagapattinam District, and on the east by Perambalur District.
Cuddalore District Taluks
Cuddalore District consists of six Taluks
- Tittakudi
- Virudhachalam
- Panruti
- Cuddalore
- Chidambaram
- Kattumannarkoil
The 2004 tsunami and its aftermath
Tsunami waves that followed the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake near Sumatra hit the eastern coast of India on December 26 2004 by 08:32 in the morning. Cuddalore was heavily affected by the waves. 572 bodies have been recovered and many are still missing. Several fishing hamlets have simply disappeared. Silver Beach and the historically important Cuddalore Port were devastated. Fort St. David survived without damage.
Cuddalore, was more accessible from major cities like Chennai and Bangalore and got good relief supplies relatively early. The management of relief operations in the district was handled by the local authorities and villagers themselves. Some more remote villages became inaccessible due to a bridge breaking apart, leaving rescued villagers very anxious about their homes.
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
External link
- a website on industrial pollution in Cuddalore
- Cuddalore District web site
- Cuddalore blogspot
- Cuddalore's weather forecast from BBC
- site about Padaleeswarar Temple,Cud dalore
