Chamarajanagar district General information
Chamarajanagar is the southern-most district in the state of Karnataka. It was carved out of the original larger Mysore District in the year 1998. Chamarajanagar town is the headquarters of this district.
Chamarajanagar was earlier known as Arikottara. Chamaraja Wodeyar, the Wodeyar king of Mysore was born here and hence this place was renamed after him. The Vijaya Parsvanath Basadi, a holy Jain shrine was constructed by Punisadandanayaka, the commander of the Hoysala king Gangaraja in the year 1117 A.D.
Since much of the southern area of the district is dense forest, it provided good refuge to the notorious bandit Veerappan, responsible for the death of over a hundred policemen. He was shot dead in an encounter with the specially formed Special Task Force (STF) in mid 2004, in Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu. He had been on the run for several years. The presence of illegal quarrying for black stone imposes a great threat to the forests in the region.
Being the southernmost district of Karnataka, Chamarajanagar district borders the state of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Specifically, it borders Mysore district of Karnataka to the west and north, Mandya and Bangalore districts of Karnataka to the north-east. Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu to the east, Salem and Erode districts of Tamil Nadu to the south-east, Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu to the south and Wayanad district of Kerala to the south-west.
Most part of the district lies in the leeward region of the Nilgiris and consists of mainly semi-arid rain dependent flatlands along with forested hills
History
Ganga Dynasty, Chalukya's , Cholas, Hoysala, Vijayanagar Kings, Mysore Wodeyars and Ummathur Nandayal Kalale chiefs have ruled this Taluk. All these different Kings have ruled from 8th century to 20th Century upto 1950. 410 Historical Artifacts have been found in this Taluk till date. In the Year, 1117 Punesa who was the chief of the Army under the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhan built a Jain Basthi in this Taluk. He is credited with ruling the Niligiris area by conquering the THODA community people of the Niligiris.
The Chamarajanagar was also known as ARIKUTARA or ARIKOOTARA and also as Wodeyanooru. The 9th Chamaraja Wodeyar (1774-1796 Christan Era) was born in Chamarajanagar in year 1774. At the place of his birth, in his remembarance JANANA MANTAP has been built and it has been declared as Heritage Structure by the Govt.
Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar(1794-1868 Chirstan Era) son of Chamaraja Wodeyar , remodelled the town in the year 1818 and renamed it as Chamarajanagar. In the year 1826 he built the Chamarajeshwara Temple. According to Hindu calendar in Ashada Masam, the car festival of presiding deity of the temple is held with much fan fair, where newly married couple come and offer prayers to the deity for fullfilment of their objectives. The other temples located inside Chamarajanagar Town are Bhujangeshwara, Veerabhadrana Gudi, Kadu Narayana Swamy, Choudeshwari, Kannikaparameshwari etc., near private bus stand Marigudi temple, Sampige Road Srikanteshwara, Santhemarahalli road Manteswamy and Puttammanni temple are of special importance and the Parshwanath Basadi is very old. At the southern end of the city there is a hillock containing the temple of Karivardharajaswamy.
Kantirava Narasaraja Wodeyar (Christian Era 1638-59) built the Dodda Arasina Kola. This pond used to provide drinking water to the residents of the city for a long time. Now it is in disuse and dillipated state. The Ganapathi deity located at the edge of the pond is believed to have some special importance.
To the East of the city around 5 Kms from centre of the city, the Haralukote Sri Anjaneya Swamy temple is situated. "Hanuma Chintanna" and "Sri Hanuma suprabatha" these two prose Articles depict the historical importance of the place. At the southern end of the city the village Hardanahalli is famous for Divya Lingeshwara temple and it is also the place where the Guru of Thontada Siddalinga, Gosala Channabasava lived.
Narasamangala is also a place of historical importance. Here the dillipated Rameshwara temple is situtated and huge Shivalinga located here has been declared as National Heritage Structure. In Ramasamudra dillipated old monuments of manipur have been found.
Geography
Being the southernmost district of Karnataka, Chamarajanagara district borders the state of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Specifically, it borders Mysooru district of Karnataka to the west and north, Mandya and Bengalooru districts of Karnataka to the north-east, Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu to the east, Salem and Erode districts of Tamil Nadu to the south-east, Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu to the south and Wayanad district of Kerala to the south-west.
Most of the district lies in the leeward region of the Nilgiris and consists of mainly semi-arid rain-dependent flatlands along with forested hills.
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Bandipura : Bandipura is a well known National Park in the Gundlupete Taluk straddling the state's border with Tamil Nadu. It is also a tiger reserve and part of the Project Tiger initiative. Apart from tiger, the other animals found here include gaur, elephant, leopard and wild dogs. It is contiguous with the Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary which is across the state border in Tamil Nadu.
BR Hills : Apart from being a religious centre, BR Hills is also the location of the BR Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. It is spread over an area of 539.52 sq. km. Some of the important animals found here are tigers, sloth bears, elephants and gaurs.
Waterfalls
Hogenakal : Hogenakal is a famous waterfall where the river Kaveri cascades down a gorge to give a breathtaking view. It is in the Kollegala Taluk and right on the border between the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Education
The Deputy Director of Public Instructions is looking after the primary and secondary education in the District. In this District there are Five blocks namely Chamarajanagar, Kollegal, Gundlupet, Yelandur and Hanur. This System is looking after the implementation of following Schemes namely
1. Recruitment of Primary and High School Teacher.
2. Distribution of free textbooks, uniforms and bicycles to the students and Mid Day meals.
This system is looking after the implementation of Orientation courses for the teachers of Primary and High Schools in the Department. DDPI under Serva Shikshana Abhiyan (SSA) is looking after Kindergarden, the improvements to the existing infrastructure of schools by construction works like new school buildings, upgradation of schools , training programmes to the teacher, improving drinking water facilities and lavatories to the schools and other infrastructure development works are being implemented under the said scheme.
Places of Interest
MM Hills: Malai Mahadeshwara Hills (short form: MM Hills), is an important Shaiva pilgrimage centre in the Kollegal Taluk. The yearly chariot festival (locally called 'jatre') at the MM Hills brings many devotees. The temple is situated within the MM Hills Reserve Forest, not very far from where the river Kaveri flows into Tamil Nadu.
BR Hills: Biligiri Rangana Betta (short form: BR Hills), is a hillock in the Yelandur Taluk and is famous for the Ranganathaswamy temple.
Kanakagiri: Kanakagiri in Chamarajanagar Taluk is a famous Jain pilgrim centre. It is described as Hemanga Desha in ancient works and is said that Bhagwan Sri Mahavira visited this place during his visit to South India.
GS Betta: Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta (short form: GS Betta is a hill near the Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary in the Gundlupet Taluk. It is famous for the Gopalaswamy temple which is atop the hill. Gopalaswamy is an incarnation of the Hindu God Krishna. Dodda Sampige Mara: Located 4 kms from BR Hills, Dodda Sampige Mara is the location where a large Champaka tree, 34 mts in height and 20 mts of girth is present. Near its trunk, there are many Lingams (around 100) which are worshipped by the pilgrims who come here. Near the tree flows the stream Bhargavi which is a tributary of Kaveri. This stream is supposed to be an incarnation of Renuka, the wife of the revered Hindu sage, Jamadagni.
Bandipur: Bandipur is a well known wildlife sanctuary in the Gundlupet Taluk straddling the state's border with Tamil Nadu. It is also a tiger reserve and part of the Project Tiger initiative. Apart from tiger, the other animals found here include gaur, elephant, panther and wild dogs. It is contiguous with the Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary which is across the state border in Tamil Nadu.
BR Hills: Apart from being a religious centre, BR Hills is also the location of the BR Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. It is spread over an area of 539.52 sq. km. Some of the important animals found here are tigers, sloth bears, elephants and gaurs.
Hogenakal: Hogenakal is a famous waterfall where the river Kaveri cascades down a gorge to give a breathtaking view. It is in the Kollegal Taluk and right on the border between the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.