Viralimalai

Viralimalai
town
Viralimalai Murugan Temple
Viralimalai Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 10°36′6″N 78°32′47″E / 10.60167°N 78.54639°E / 10.60167; 78.54639Coordinates: 10°36′6″N 78°32′47″E / 10.60167°N 78.54639°E / 10.60167; 78.54639
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Pudukkottai
Population (2001)
• Total	38,866
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	621316
Telephone code	04339
Vehicle registration	TN-55
Nearest city	Trichy,Pudukkottai
Lok Sabha constituency	Karur
Assembly constituency	Viralimalai

Viralimalai is a town located 30 km from Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, India. The famous Lord Shanmuganathar temple is situated on the top of the granite hill at Viralimalai. The temple was once a renowned seat of the Bharatanatyam dance form and boasted of a separate dancer for each of the 32 adavus (dance movements).

History

The natural caverns in the hillock show signs of early human habitation and may have shared the fortunes of Kodumbalur, 6 km away. The presence of an early Chola temple suggests that Viralimalai was a prosperous village as early as the 9th century AD.^[1] The sides of this hill are covered with non-thorny trees, mainly Wrightia. Viralimalai is home to an exclusive kuravanji dance-drama. The kuravanji named after Viralimalai has had an unbroken tradition of presentation for nearly two centuries. On Maha Shivaratri night every year, till 1993, the Kuravanji was played as an all-night show to large crowds of nobles, officials and ordinary folk, in front of the mandapam below the foot of the hill.^[2]

Peacock Sanctuary

Peacocks are abundant in the region and Viralimalai forms a sanctuary for the birds.^[3] The town, Temple and Peacock Sanctuary have been declared and funded as a Heritage Place by order of the Governor.^{[4] [5]}

Taluk

Soon to be upgraded as Taluk.

Notes

State of Tamil Nadu
Capital: Chennai
State symbols	Seal: Srivilliputhur Andal Temple Gopuram Animal: Nilgiri tahr Bird: Emerald dove Flower: Gloriosa lily Fruit: Jackfruit Tree: Palm tree
Governance	Governors Chief Ministers Legislative Assembly Political parties Raj Bhavan High Court Police
Topics	Cinema Cuisine Economy Government History Language Literature Music People Politics Temples Protected areas Highest point Wildlife Tourism
Districts	Ariyalur Chennai Coimbatore Cuddalore Dharmapuri Dindigul Erode Kanchipuram Kanyakumari Karur Krishnagiri Madurai Nagapattinam Namakkal Perambalur Pudukkottai Ramanathapuram Salem Sivaganga Thanjavur The Nilgiris Theni Thoothukudi Tiruchirapalli Tirunelveli Tiruppur Tiruvallur Tiruvannamalai Tiruvarur Vellore Viluppuram Virudhunagar
Major cities	Chennai Coimbatore Cuddalore Erode Dindigul Madurai Salem Thanjavur Tiruchirapalli Tiruppur Tirunelveli Tuticorin Vellore
Tamil Nadu

Churches in Viralimalai: Trinity Full Gospel Church, east car street, Viralimalai St. Philip Neri Church, MGR Nagar, Viralimalai