About District

Dindigul district was carved out of the composite Madurai District on 15.9.1985 and the first District Collector was Thiru.M.Madhavan Nambiar, I.A.S. Dindigul District had the names of Dindigul Anna , Quaid-e-Milleth and Mannar Thirumalai.

Dindigul, which was under the rule of the famous Muslim Monarch, Tippusultan, has a glorious past. The historical Rock Fort of this district was constructed by the famous Naik King Muthukrishnappa Naicker. It is located between 10° 05’ and 10° 09’ North Latitude and 77° 30’ and 78° 20’ East Longitude..

This district is bound by Erode, Coimbatore, Karur and Trichy districts on the North, by Sivaganga and Tiruchi District on the East, by Madurai district on the South and by Theni and Coimbatore Districts and Kerala State on the West. It is spread over on area of 6266.64 Sq. Km. It comprises of 3 Revenue Divisions, 10 Taluks and 14 Panchayat Unions, According to 2001 Census, its population is 19,23,014.

For a long time, Dindigul town has been associated with Iron locks, Iron safe of good quality and durability. A lock manufacturing unit under co-operative sector is functioning here. Another industry for which Dindigul is noted is Leather Tanning.

This district is having a flourishing handloom industry at Chinnalapatti, which is located at 11 Kms away from Dindigul on the Madurai-Dindigul road. Art –Silk saris and Sungudi saris produced in Chinnalapatti are famous through out India. More than 1000 families are engaged in this Industry.

Dindigul city which is an important wholesale market for Onion and Groundnut has the network of inter-district roads connecting Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruchi, Karur, Madurai and Sivaganga District.

Educationally, Dindigul is a well developed and popular city. It has got many High and Higher Secondary Schools to its credit. St.Marry’s Higher Secondary School, a well disciplined Institution is one of the oldest institutions in this city. This district has the credit of having two Universities, viz, Mother Theresa University for Women at Kodaikanal and Gandhigram Rural Deemed University at Gandhigram. Also a number of Engineering Colleges, Arts & Science Colleges, Polytechnics, ITIs are available through-out the district.

This district is privileged to have one of the “Six Celebrated Hill Abodes of “Lord Muruga” at Palani Hills, where the famous Dhandayuthapani Temple is situated on the hilly rock at a height of about 450 mts.

Thousands of pilgrims come down to this holy temple every day particularly during festival days, like “Thaipoosam, Adi-kiruthigai, Panguni Uthiram, Sura-samharam, Vaikasi-visagam and monthly Karthigai”. Provision of three Electric Winches and Rope Car are unique features of this temple. It facilitates the aged, children and the disabled to reach the temple in 8 minutes. The income of the temple which is the largest in the State is growing year by year.

Besides this famous Murugan Temple, there is also another Murugan temple at Thirumalaikeni, 25 Km. away from Dindigul town which is becoming a growing pilgrim Centre. Abirami Amman temple in Dindigul town and Raja Kaliamman Temple at Thethupatti 20 km away from Dindigul are the other important Temples which attract thousand of pilgrims.

Kodaikanal, a popular Summer Resort, located at an altitude of 2133 meters in the Western Ghats is the “Princess of Hill Stations”. A notable feature of this Hillock is “Kurunji” flowers blooming once in 12 years . Next blooming in the year 2018.

Peranai and Sirumalai are the two fine picnic spots of this district. There are Nine dams viz, Palar Porundalar, Varathamanathi, Kuthiraiaru in Palani Block, Parappalar and Nanganchiar in Oddanchatram Block, Maruthanathi, Kamarajar Sagar in Athoor Block, Mavoor in Nilakottai Block, Kudaganar in Vedasandur Block augment irrigation facilities to agricultural fields in this district. Nilakkottai town is famous for Brass Vessels and Jewelry. Nilakottai Taluk is famous for the growing and marketing of flowers and Grapes. Oddanchatram is a noted market Centre for vegetables. Batlagundu is an important market Centre for Tomato. Pattiveeranpatti in Batlagundu Block is famous for Cardamom and Coffee curing enterprises.