Kattumannarkoil

Kattumannarkoil

காட்டுமன்னார்கோயில்
Kattumannarkoil காட்டுமன்னார்கோயில்
Municipality
	Kattumannarkoil Location in Tamil Nadu, India
	Coordinates: 11°16′22″N 79°33′20″E / 11.2727°N 79.5555°E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Cuddalore
Government
• Type	Panchayat Union
• Body	Kattumannarkoil block
Population (2011)
• Total	22,683
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	608301
Telephone code	04144
Vehicle registration	TN-91( TN-31 till Jun17,2015)
Website	http://cuddalore.tn.nic.in/ https://kattumannarkoil.com/

Kattumannarkoil is a municipality town and taluk headquarters in Cuddalore district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Kattumannarkoil Town Panchayat was constituted in 1892 and falls under the administrative jurisdiction of Cuddalore District.^[1] The town covers an area of 19.425 km². The town lies on the Chidambaram–Coimbatore Highway, 25 km southwest of Chidambaram, 25 km east of Srimushnam and 25 km northeast of Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The town is the birthplace of the Sri Vaishnava theologians (Acharya) Nathamuni and Yamunacharya.^[2] The town's derives from a local legend in which Lord Vishnu appeared as a King (Mannan) to marry Mahalakshmi and instruct Nathamuni to propagate the Naalayira Divya Prabandham. The deity was called Kattum Mannan Aanaar (the king who guides), from which the name Kattumannarkoil evolved. The town's historical name is Veeranarayanapuram.

Demographics

As of the 2001 Indian census, Kattumannarkoil had a population of 22,683.^[3] Males constituted 51% of the population, and females 49%. The town had an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; male literacy was 82%, and female literacy was 71%. Children under six years of age made up 11% of the population.

Climate

Like most of coastal Tamil Nadu, the area surrounding the Veeranam Tank has a subtropical climate, receiving most of its rainfall during the northeast monsoon from October to December. Hot weather prevails during the summer months from March to June, with maximum temperatures ranging from 30 to 38 °C (86 to 100 °F). Due to its proximity to the coast, cyclones frequently bring heavy rainfall to the area. Two rainfall monitoring stations operate along the Veeranam Tank: one on the right bank at Kattumannarkoil, and another on the left bank at Sethiathope. Average annual rainfall recorded at these stations exceeds the Tamil Nadu state average of 950 mm. Over an eighteen-year period, the average annual rainfall at Kattumannarkoil was 1,025 mm, while Sethiathope recorded an annual average of 1,273 mm over twenty-five years. Due to variations in the northeast monsoon, the Veeranam Tank often relies on water released from the Mettur Dam.^[4]

Veeranam Lake and water resources

Veeranam Lake is a major reservoir in the Chidambaram Division of Cuddalore district. The Public Works Department (PWD) Lalpet Section oversees the maintenance and operation of its irrigation systems. The tank provides approximately 35% of the drinking water supply to the city of Chennai.^[5]

The reservoir is situated between latitudes 11°15′ N and 11°25′ N, and longitudes 79°30′ E and 79°35′ E.

One of the oldest and laergest reservoirs in Tamil Nadu, the tank features in 1950 historical novel Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki Krishnamurthy. According to historical records, the reservoir was constructed over a thousand years ago by Prince Rajaditya, son of the Chola king Parantaka I. It was originally named Veeranarayanan Tank.^[6]

During his reign in the tenth century (907–955 CE), king Parantaka I established the village of Veeranarayana Chaturvedimangalam as a gift to the Vedic scholars.^[7] This settlement, located on the right bank of the reservoir, is the present-day Kattumannarkoil. The king commissioned the construction of the reservoir, naming it Veeranarayanan Eri after his epithet Veeranarayanan (the heroic Narayana). Over time, the name evolved into Veeranam Tank.^[6]

During the reign of Rajendra Chola I (1012–1044 CE), following his northern campaign to the Ganges, he founded the capital Gangaikonda Cholapuram in 1024 CE. To support the irrigation around the new capital, he constructed a reservoir named Cholagangam (now known as Ponneri Tank near Jayankondam) and linked it to Veeranarayanan Eri so that surplus water would feed into it.^[8]

Politics

The Kattumannarkoil panchayat comprises 55 villages, while the town panchayat consists of 18 wards. The Kattumannarkoil Assembly constituency, which is reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), forms a part of the Chidambaram Lok Sabha constituency.^[9] The constituency is represented in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly by Sinthanai Selvan of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).^[10]

Attractions

Kattumannarkoil is surrounded by irrigated paddy fields. The road towards Chidambaram runs along the Cauvery Canal for approximately 8.5 km, connecting the villages of Lalpet and Kumaratchi. The canal route is lined with shaded embankments and agricultural channels. Another road connects Lalpet to Sethiathope, running along the perimeter of Veeranam Lake for approximately 13 km.

Villages

References

↑ Directorate of Town Panchayat, TamilNadu Government http://wserver1.tn.nic.in:8080/tpanchayat/^{[permanent dead link]}
↑ Jagadeesan, N. (1977). History of Sri Vaishnavism in the Tamil Country. Koodal Publishers. pp. 42–45.
↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
↑ Pundarikanthan, N. V. (1999). Tank Irrigation in Tamil Nadu: Performance and Management. Centre for Water Resources, Anna University. pp. 45–48.
↑ Oppili, P. (20 April 2019). "Veeranam lake turns a major water supplier for Chennai". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
1 2 Nilakanta Sastri, K. A. (1955). The Cōḷas. University of Madras. pp. 132–135.
↑ Venkatraman, R. (1985). Chola Administration and Society. Madurai Kamaraj University. pp. 88–91.
↑ Champakalakshmi, R. (1996). Trade, Ideology, and Urbanization: South India 300 BC to AD 1300. Oxford University Press. pp. 210–214. ISBN 978-0195638707.
↑ "List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies" (PDF). Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
↑ "Kattumannarkoil Assembly Constituency Election Result". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 August 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[1] Directorate of Town Panchayat, TamilNadu Government http://wserver1.tn.nic.in:8080/tpanchayat/^{[permanent dead link]}

[2] Jagadeesan, N. (1977). History of Sri Vaishnavism in the Tamil Country. Koodal Publishers. pp. 42–45.

[3] "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.

[4] Pundarikanthan, N. V. (1999). Tank Irrigation in Tamil Nadu: Performance and Management. Centre for Water Resources, Anna University. pp. 45–48.

[5] Oppili, P. (20 April 2019). "Veeranam lake turns a major water supplier for Chennai". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 December 2020.

[:0-6] 1 2 Nilakanta Sastri, K. A. (1955). The Cōḷas. University of Madras. pp. 132–135.

[7] Venkatraman, R. (1985). Chola Administration and Society. Madurai Kamaraj University. pp. 88–91.

[8] Champakalakshmi, R. (1996). Trade, Ideology, and Urbanization: South India 300 BC to AD 1300. Oxford University Press. pp. 210–214. ISBN 978-0195638707.

[9] "List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies" (PDF). Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2008.

[10] "Kattumannarkoil Assembly Constituency Election Result". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 August 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

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v t e Cuddalore district
Taluks	Bhuvanagiri Chidambaram Cuddalore Kattumannarkoil Panruti Srimushnam Tittakudi Kurinjipadi Veppur Vriddachalam
Revenue blocks	Annagramam Bhuvanagiri Cuddalore Kammapuram Kattumannarkoil Keerapalayam Komaratchi Kurinjipadi Mangalur Nallur Panruti Parangipettai Vriddhachalam
Revenue divisions	Chidambaram Cuddalore Vriddachalam
Municipal Corporations	Cuddalore
Municipalities	Chidambaram Nellikuppam Panruti Virudhachalam Vadalur Tittakudi
Bodies of water	Kollidam River Perumal Eri Ponnaiyar River (South Pennar River) Uppanar River Veeranam Lake Vellar River Wellington Lake
History	Sangam period Kalabhras Pallavas Medieval Cholas Later Cholas Later Pandyas Delhi Sultanate Madurai Sultanate Vijayanagar Empire Nayaks of Gingee Nawab of the Carnatic Company Raj British Raj Siege of Cuddalore Battle of Cuddalore
Places of interest	Chidambaram Temple Silver Beach Fort St David Neyveli Lignite Corporation Pataleeswarar Temple Pichavaram Portonovo Lighthouse Battle of Porto Novo Samiyarpettai Beach Satyagnana Sabha Thillai Kali Temple Thiruvadigai Temple Thiruvanthipuram Temple Vriddhagiriswarar Temple
Universities	Annamalai University