Sulur
Encyclopedia
Sulur is a town and one of a taluk in Coimbatore district. It is a suburb of Coimbatore
, India. This is also a Legislative Constituency
and is under the Coimbatore Parliament Constituency
.
, Sulur had a population of 24,359 - Though this census is considered inaccurate. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Sulur has an average literacy
rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 72%. 9% of the population
in Sulur are children below the age of 6 years.
. Until the eighteenth century it was called Sundrapandiya Nallur, during the regime of Sundra Pandiyan. From eighteenth century it was called Suranur, which in due course got transformed to Sulur. There are several theories for this name; it may be for a type of Sugarcane
, Sural
, or for a previous ruler, Suranoor.
and weaving
slots. Near to Sulur there is a railway station and an Air Force base
. The twin lakes to the north of the town, bounding the Coimbatore-Nagapattinam highway
adds a scenic view to the town. The town is divided into two parts by the holy Noyyal River
. Sulur is the East-end of the new Coimbatore district
.
introduced agriculture in Sulur. The Sulur Reservoir was constructed during the reign of Adithya Chola. The Sulur pond was reconstructed in thirteenth century AD during the rule of Sundra Pandian. The Megalithic pottery[sulur dish] dating back to first century has been found in archeological digs at sulur and is currently in display at the British Museum, London(No:1935.4-19.15). The inscriptions on the pottery might even be from the harappa civilization.
The Govt Boys Higher Secondary School was established in 1889 as Thiruvengadanathar Upper Primary School. Over many years, the school has grown to the status of a higher secondary school. Its chronological progress is listed below:
The Girls high school started in July 1962 with 224 students. Its inauguration was attended by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Bhaktavasalam.
All the colleges in Sulur are run by the RVS group (Rathnavel Subramaniam group).
Airport, which is about 16 km from sulur. Buses connect Sulur to most of the nearby villages.The first auto-rickshaw was introduced by Mr.K.Avinashiappan,(திரு.க,அவிநாசியப்பன்) http://www.myilsami.blogspot.com a well-known driver of Sulur.He was also a teacher in Ondipudur school. Then he was followed by others.
Before that there were carts driven by horses mainly used for passenger transport.bullock carts were used to carry vegetables as well as luggages. Friday market is famous one in Sulur.
Festival) conducted in Sulur is very popular. This Pongal Vizha is conducted at "Anna Kalaiarangam" a common area in Sulur where many celebrations and get-togethers are held. It is an annual event which encourages people from all ages to participate in a variety of games and events. It also serves as a platform for young children to show their hidden talents.
There are many NRI's from Sulur town spread across the world including the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
base is located near Sulur at Kangayampalayam
Village.
This Air base was established in the year 1940 by RN
of the then British Raj
. This was a strategic base during World War II for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm: “Royal Navy Air Squadron”(RNAS). This base was used as repair base for Southeast Asian planes.
The Sulur Airbase which was used by the British, was burned down on 26 August 1942 during the 1942 August revolution. In 1943, the Indian Royal Airforce came to Sulur, which later got shifted to Cochin in 1949. After gaining independence, the Indian Navy established INAS Hansa at this place to operate the Sea Hawks. After the liberation of Goa
, INAS Hansa shifted to Dabolim there and Sulur was taken over by the Air Force. In 1955, the 5BRD (No 5, Base Repair Depot) of Indian Air Force was planned and it started functioning in 1959. For some time this airbase was also used for civil aviation. Since 14 January 1984 this base has been a part of the Indian Air Force. The runway was used for racing motorcycle and cars in 1960s.
Sulur airbase is also being developed for hosting Tejas LCA by 2014-15.
The Perumalkovil (Perumal temple) was constructed during 15th century during the Vijayanagar regime. The Masjid at Sulur was constructed in 18th century . The land and the funds for the Masjid was gifted by Tipu Sultan
.
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
, India. This is also a Legislative Constituency
Legislature of Tamil Nadu
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is the sole house of the unicameral Tamil Nadu Legislature. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly alone has powers to legislate laws covering state subjects in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It has a strength of 235 members of whom 234 are democratically elected...
and is under the Coimbatore Parliament Constituency
Coimbatore (Lok Sabha constituency)
Coimbatore is one of the largest Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamilnadu.-Assembly segments:Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly segments:#Singanallur#Coimbatore West#Coimbatore East#Perur#Palladam...
.
Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Sulur had a population of 24,359 - Though this census is considered inaccurate. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Sulur has an average literacy
Literacy in India
Literacy in India is key for socio-economic progress, and the Indian literacy rate grew to 74.04% in 2011 from 12% at the end of British rule in 1947. Although this was a greater than sixfold improvement, the level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84%, and India currently has the...
rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 72%. 9% of the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
in Sulur are children below the age of 6 years.
Etymology
Sulur was called Suralur until the ninth century and from the ninth century to fourteenth century it was called Ariyapirati Nallur, during the regime of Aditya CholanAditya I
Aditya I , the son of Vijayalaya, was the first great Chola king of South India who extended the Chola dominions by the conquest of the Pallavas.- Pallava Civil War :...
. Until the eighteenth century it was called Sundrapandiya Nallur, during the regime of Sundra Pandiyan. From eighteenth century it was called Suranur, which in due course got transformed to Sulur. There are several theories for this name; it may be for a type of Sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
, Sural
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
, or for a previous ruler, Suranoor.
Geography
Sulur is located at 11.03°N 77.13°E. It has an average elevation of 340 metres (1115 feet). Sulur is regarded as a pleasant town situated very close to the cities of Coimbatore (19 km) and Tirupur (35 km). Thus it is a popular location for various textile millsTextile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
and weaving
Weave
Weave may refer to:*Hair weave*Mozilla Weave*Weaving...
slots. Near to Sulur there is a railway station and an Air Force base
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
. The twin lakes to the north of the town, bounding the Coimbatore-Nagapattinam highway
National Highway 67 (India)
National Highway 67 is a National Highway in Southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It runs from Nagapattinam, a sea-side town in Tamil Nadu to Gundlupet in Karnataka near the intersection of National Highway 212...
adds a scenic view to the town. The town is divided into two parts by the holy Noyyal River
Noyyal River
The Noyyal River rises from the Vellingiri hills in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, southeastern India and drains into the Kaveri River. The river's basin is long and wide and covers a total area of . Cultivated land in the basin amounts to while the population density is 120 people per km² ...
. Sulur is the East-end of the new Coimbatore district
Coimbatore District
Coimbatore District is one of the more affluent and industrially advanced districts of the state of Tamil Nadu in India. Coimbatore is known as the Manchester of South India. It one of the most industrialized towns of Tamil Nadu. It has the highest GDP among the districts of Tamil Nadu, even ahead...
.
History
The history of Sulur dates back to around 2300 years ago; ancient coins dating back to third century BC have been found at Sulur. During the ninth century AD, Aditya CholanAditya I
Aditya I , the son of Vijayalaya, was the first great Chola king of South India who extended the Chola dominions by the conquest of the Pallavas.- Pallava Civil War :...
introduced agriculture in Sulur. The Sulur Reservoir was constructed during the reign of Adithya Chola. The Sulur pond was reconstructed in thirteenth century AD during the rule of Sundra Pandian. The Megalithic pottery[sulur dish] dating back to first century has been found in archeological digs at sulur and is currently in display at the British Museum, London(No:1935.4-19.15). The inscriptions on the pottery might even be from the harappa civilization.
Education
Sulur is very rich with respect to Education. There are several Educational Institutions in and around Sulur which nourishes the knowledge base of Coimbatore District as a whole. Few of them are:- Govt Boys Higher Secondary School
- Govt Girls Higher Secondary School
- Kennedy Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- Kalaivani Matriculation School
- Kendriya Vidyalaya, Air Force Station, Sulur
- RVS Matriculation Higher secondary School
- Michael Job Matriculation School
- Kovai Maruthamali Matriculation School
- Kids Club (Kindergarten/Primary) school
- Central School Sulur
The Govt Boys Higher Secondary School was established in 1889 as Thiruvengadanathar Upper Primary School. Over many years, the school has grown to the status of a higher secondary school. Its chronological progress is listed below:
- April 1925 - Taluk Board Higher Elementary School,
- June 1926 - Zilla Board Middle School
- June 1938 - Union, Kalagam)Board Secondary School
- July 1962 - (Union, Kalagam)Board Boys Secondary School
- January 1966 - Govt Boys Secondary School
- July 1978 - Govt Boys Higher Secondary School.
The Girls high school started in July 1962 with 224 students. Its inauguration was attended by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Bhaktavasalam.
All the colleges in Sulur are run by the RVS group (Rathnavel Subramaniam group).
Agriculture and Industries
Sulur has many Cotton mills that provide employment to approximately 5,000 to 10,000 people from the surrounding area. Many of the people who cannot continue their studies after school join these mills and the knitwear companies of Tirupur. The local market (Sulur Sandhai ) opens near the banks of Sulur river every Friday. People from Sulur and the nearby villages gather here and sell their produce.Transport
Sulur is well connected by Road and Rail. Also Sulur has a small railway station nearby viz. Sulur Road and its code is CUU. The nearest International airport is PeelameduPeelamedu
Peelamedu is a part of the city of Coimbatore. It lies on the Avinashi road, is the most important arterial road in Coimbatore, India. It starts near Anna Flyover, and ends at L&T bypass junction at Nillambur...
Airport, which is about 16 km from sulur. Buses connect Sulur to most of the nearby villages.The first auto-rickshaw was introduced by Mr.K.Avinashiappan,(திரு.க,அவிநாசியப்பன்) http://www.myilsami.blogspot.com a well-known driver of Sulur.He was also a teacher in Ondipudur school. Then he was followed by others.
Before that there were carts driven by horses mainly used for passenger transport.bullock carts were used to carry vegetables as well as luggages. Friday market is famous one in Sulur.
Culture
The people of Sulur are known for their hospitality. The 'Thai Pongal Vizha' (PongalPongal
Thai Ponggal is a harvest festival celebrated by Tamils in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Indian Union Territory of Pondicherry and in Sri Lanka. Pongal coincides with the festival Makara Sankranthi celebrated throughout India. Pongal in Tamil means "boiling over" or "spill over". The boiling...
Festival) conducted in Sulur is very popular. This Pongal Vizha is conducted at "Anna Kalaiarangam" a common area in Sulur where many celebrations and get-togethers are held. It is an annual event which encourages people from all ages to participate in a variety of games and events. It also serves as a platform for young children to show their hidden talents.
There are many NRI's from Sulur town spread across the world including the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Administration
Sulur is administered by the elected Panchayat Body headed by the President. Sulur also is the headquarters of the newly created Sulur Taluk. Earlier, Sulur and adjacent areas were part of Palladam taluk of the undivided Coimbatore district. The carvation of eastern parts of Coimbatore district into Tirupur district has caused to form the new Taluk headquartered at Sulur.- The Sulur Panchayat board started functioning on 30 August 1892.
- The Sulur police station came into existence in 1861 during the British rule. Until 1920, the police station was near the girls' high school. After that it got shifted to Trichy road.
- The Registrar Office opened on 1 January 1884.
- The Electricity board opened in Sulur on 1 November 1933, and the Telephone Exchange opened on 31 July 1961.
- The Sulur Post Office was opened in June 1882.
- The Sulur Telegram Office opened on1 February 1948 in the today's post office.
- The Cooperative Movement in Sulur started in 1911.
- On February 22, 2009 Sulur Taluk was formed and started functioning while bifurcating Coimbatore district.
Town and the people
- Many of the people from Sulur have the habit of adding the first letter 'S' from Sulur (town's name), along with their initials.
Air Force Station Sulur
An Indian Air ForceIndian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
base is located near Sulur at Kangayampalayam
Kangayampalayam
Kangayampalayam is a suburb of the city Coimbatore in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the one of the fast growing suburbs in west Coimbatore.-Demographics:...
Village.
This Air base was established in the year 1940 by RN
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
of the then British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
. This was a strategic base during World War II for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm: “Royal Navy Air Squadron”(RNAS). This base was used as repair base for Southeast Asian planes.
The Sulur Airbase which was used by the British, was burned down on 26 August 1942 during the 1942 August revolution. In 1943, the Indian Royal Airforce came to Sulur, which later got shifted to Cochin in 1949. After gaining independence, the Indian Navy established INAS Hansa at this place to operate the Sea Hawks. After the liberation of Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, INAS Hansa shifted to Dabolim there and Sulur was taken over by the Air Force. In 1955, the 5BRD (No 5, Base Repair Depot) of Indian Air Force was planned and it started functioning in 1959. For some time this airbase was also used for civil aviation. Since 14 January 1984 this base has been a part of the Indian Air Force. The runway was used for racing motorcycle and cars in 1960s.
Sulur airbase is also being developed for hosting Tejas LCA by 2014-15.
Temples
Sulur has numerous temples, of which, Perumal Kovil, Vaitheeswaran Kovil, and Mahakaliamman Kovil are very popular. Perumal Kovil and Eswaran Kovil are situated on the banks of Sulur Lake. It also has the famous Kumaran Kottam temple,Sulur Tirupathi and Bagavathi constructed by RVS group of Institutions. In Perumal Kovil, 'pepper' is given to devotees which is not done in any other Venkateshwara temple. The myth behind this is that a merchant was travelling through the forests of Sulur to go to nearby town to sell his items(eatables). Night descended and so he decided to take rest in the temple. When he was about to sleep, a god appeared before him in the form of a poor farmer and asked him if he had anything to eat. The merchant told that he had nothing except pepper in all his bags which could not be eaten. So the god said "ok" and left the place. The next day when he woke up, to his surprise he found all his bags contained pepper. Then he realized the person who came the previous day was not an ordinary man but the god Balaji. He immediately went before the statue and cried for forgiveness. Balaji appeared before him and told that he would be forgiven if he renovated the temple and the temple gave out pepper to all of his worshippers from that day forth. The Sulur Sivankovil (Sivan Temple) was constructed in 9th century during the rule of Adithya Cholan.The Perumalkovil (Perumal temple) was constructed during 15th century during the Vijayanagar regime. The Masjid at Sulur was constructed in 18th century . The land and the funds for the Masjid was gifted by Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan , also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Hyder Ali, at that time an officer in the Mysorean army, and his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-Nissa...
.