Kallidaikurichi is a small village in Thirunelveli district
of Tamil Nadu. It is located nearly 35 KM from Thirunelveli town and 145 KM
from Thiruvanathapuram. This village is located on the right bank of the river
Tamirabarani which is a perennial river. This village has got great historical significance
as this town used to be the border one between Chera Kingdom and Pandava
Kingdom. The name “Kallidaikurichi” (KAL-IDAI-
KURICHI) implies that it is a part or piece of fertile land surrounded by
hillock. Pothigai, Agasthiyar are some of the hills of this Western Ghat
surrounding this town. “Kurinchi” in
Tamil means areas associated with fertile land and surrounding areas. Thus
“Kurinchi” over a period of time got twisted and turned into Kurichi.
Most of the people in this town are followers of Singeri
Mutt and Maha Sannidhanam of the Mutt fondly used to call this village as “
Kalyana Puri ” meaning a place which is blessed with good events. Kanchi Maha
Swamigal used to mention this village as “ Kalyana Kurichi” ! After all great
people think alike!
The town is blessed with Kannadiyan Canal Part of the Upper
Tamirabarani Irrigation project, conceived and implemented during the times of
British! Due to this canal and river normally this delta belt used to sow and
harvest three crops of rice regularly! On account of good agricultural
practices land owners are generally a wealthy lot!
If you study carefully the history of Cauvery and
Tamirabarani river belts you can see both Vaishnavism (Worshippers of lord
Vishnu) and Saivaisam (Worshippers of lord Shiva) were given equal importance
and both of them flourished in these river belts. Kallidaikurichi is no
exception. We have the Great Manenthiappar temple ( “Man” means deer in Tamil.
Here Shiva is holding Deer in his hand!) and Adivaragha Moorthy ( Sri Lakshmi
Pathi ) temple in Kallidaikurichi. Muthuswami Dikshadahr composed a great song
in praise of Sri Lakshmi Varaham in the rag Abohi.
There is a 160 years old school which has produced some of
the illustrious industrialists and freedom fighters from Kallidaikurich. The
school’s name before independence was George IV English Medium Middle School.
After Independence the name has been changed to Tilak Vidyalaya in memory of Sri
Bala Ghangadhar Tilak!
Kallidaikurich has got a population of 26,398 as per the
last census data. Of this 93% male and 81% of female are literate. This implies
that the literacy rate is much higher than the national average. There are many
important tourist destinations nearby. Places like Agasthiyar fall, Papanasam
Dam, Manimuthar Dam, Manjolai Tea estate, all the historical temples and their
architecture should be a must see list in any tourist.
Kallidaikurichi is famous for its appalam..a type of snack
which needs to fried in oil or toasted using a microwave. This is a cottage
industry and exports reach all over the world. Apart from that there are many
other delicacies which need to be enjoyed staying in this town for at least a
short period of time!
Kallidaikurichi is one village which has eighteen
aghraharams where exclusively Brahmins lived in ancient times. Thus every
street used to reverberate with Vedas, music and devotional songs!
Things are
not all that same with exodus of local people to cities and other continents!
Still Kallidaikurchi has got its charm, which you can only enjoy on a personal
visit to this place !!
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