Thiruvallur district General information

Tiruvallur is a town located on the Chennai-Tirupathi highway, approximately forty-four kilometers from Chennai. The railway station falls mid-way between the Chennai-Arakkonam railway line. A small town, and now the district headquarter of the recently made Tiruvallur district is developing very fast. It is one of twenty-seven districts in Tamil Nadu. Previously, Tiruvallur was a town in the district named Chengalpattu. Tiruvallur is the name of both the town as well as the district

History

The district of Tiruvallur has been carved out by bifurcating erstwhile Chengalpattu district (which was renamed as Chengalpattu-MGR/Kancheepuram at the time of 1991 Census). According to the said bifurcation Tiruvallur revenue division which included Tiruvallur, Tiruttani taluks and Uthukkottai and Pallipattu sub-taluks separated from Chengalpattu district along with Ponneri and Gummindipoondi taluks of Saidapet revenue division and formed this new district. At present this district is comprised of eight taluks namely Ambattur, Gummindipoondi, Ponneri, Uthukkottai, Tiruvallur, Poonamallee, Tiruttani and Pallipattu.

In the far past, this region was under a chain of regimes commencing from the Pallavas during the 7th century ending with the Nawab of Arcot during the early part of 19th century when it came under the British rule. In 1687, the Golkonda rulers were defeated and the region came under the Moghul emperors of Delhi. The towns and villages of this region were the scene of Carnatic wars. Battles are said to have been fought in this region during the struggle for supremacy between the English and French. The town of Pulicat was the earliest Dutch possession in India founded in 1609 which was ceded to the British in 1825. With this, the region came under the British rule which ended on the 15th August, 1947 with India becoming independent.

Geography
It is bounded on the north by Andhra Pradesh state, on the east by the Bay of Bengal, on the southwest by Chennai district, and on the south by Kanchipuram and Vellore districts.

Area

The total Geographical area of the Tiruvallur District is 3424 sq.km.

Population

It has a population of 2,754,756 as of 2001. It is 54.45% urbanised.

Education

The district has a literacy of 76.90%, higher than the state average.

Rainfall

The average normal rainfall of the District is 1104 mm. Out of which 52% has been received during North East Monsoon period and 41% has been received during South West Monsoon period.

Soil

The Predominant soil types are sand and sandy loam which are found in all Taluks with predomination of Red loam in part of Tiruthani taluk. Saline and Alkaline soils are also noticed in some patches of Ambathur, Ponneri and Tiruvallur Divisions.

Land Use Pattern

Around 86% of the total population is in rural areas engaged in Agriculture and Allied activities.

Details of crop cultivated

Paddy :   In Tiruvallur District, Paddy as a major crops is being cultivated in an area of 1.08 lakh hectares spread over in three seasons namely Sornavari, Samba and Navari.
Groundnut :    Groundnut is the second major crop cultivated in about 30,000 hectares during khariff and Rabi seasons. More than 80% is cultivated under irrigated condition.
Pulses :    Pulses are cultivated in about 11,000 hectares under khariff and Rabi seasons. More than 75% of pulses is cultivated during Rabi season. Greengram is the major pulses crop followed by Blackgram, Cowpea and Redgram.
Sugarcane :    Sugarcane is also cultivated in about 7000 hectares to feed the sugar factory at Tiruvalangadu situated near to Tiruthani.


Economy

In retail spending, the Thiruvallur district emerges third in India, only after Noida and SW Delhi surpassing Bangalore and Mumbai by a clear margin

Places of interest

Worshipping Places

 Ammaiyar Mukthi Adaintha, Karaikal
 Devi Karumariamman Temple, Thiruverkadu
 Lord Arulmigu Subramaniya Swami Temple, Tiruttani
 Lord Siva Temple and Ashramam, Tamnaraipakkam
 Lord Siva Temple, Coovam - Kadambathur & Tiruvlangadu
 Lord Veeraraghava Perumal Temple, Tiruvallur
 Murugan Temple, Ponneri
 Sri Bhavaniamman Temple, Periyapalayam
 Vadivudaiamman Temple, Tiruvottiyur
 Sri Viswaroopa Panchamukha Anjaneyaswami Temple

Tourist spots
 Poondi Reservoir (Tiruvallur Taluk)
 Pulicat Boating Center 
 Ambattur
 Avadi
 Chembarambakkam
 Pazhayanur (Tiruttani Taluk)
 Poovirundavalli  (Poonamallee)