Lalgudi

The term lalgudi consists of two words – lal means "red" and gudi means "victory flag" in Hindi. Originally the place is called as "Thiruthavathurai" in Tamil which consists of 3 words - thiru - respect, thava - indicating saptharishis did thapas (thavam in tamil) on lord Shiva in this place, thurai - place. In short "place where thavam irundhanar". Hence the Shiva temple in this town is hailed as saptharishiswarar temple. == Geography==

Lalgudi is a town located around 20 km from Tiruchirapalli on NH-227 Tiruchirapalli-Chidambaram. Lalgudi lies close to the Kollidam River. Ayyan Vaikal is the river passing through Lalgudi Muthuvathur Aiyanar kovil (dalmiapuram near). The Shiva temple in lalgudi is called as Saptharisheeswarar temple which is known for worship for any delay in marriages. Thiruvadhirai is celebrated in the tamil month Margazhi in this temple. There is a big temple car festival which is famous among the local residents. Anbil mahamariamman, Divya Desam 004, Thiru Vadivazhagiya Nambi (Sundararaja) Perumal Temple, Thiru Anbil are other famous temples to this town. == Demographics ==

Population In 2011, the population of Lalgudi was 23,740, with 11,755 males and 11,985 females. This gives a sex ratio of 1,019 females per 1,000 males. The population of Lalgudi grew by 1.4% from 2001, when it had a population of 23,405. Children make up about 10% of the population. The literacy rate in Lalgudi is 91.9%, with the male rate at 95.3% and female rate at 88.63%. This is much higher than the average in Tamil Nadu, which is about 80%. Religion The biggest religion in Lalgudi is Hinduism, with about three-quarters of people in the town practicing it. Christianity and Islam are second, with both having about 11.5% of the population. == Government and politics ==

Lalgudi assembly constituency is one of the original constituencies in the state of Tamil Nadu formerly known as madras state. (from 1952 onwards). From the year of 2009 Lalgudi Constituency is part of Perambalur (Lok Sabha constituency). ==== Civic Utility / Amenities / Services == Culture/Cityscape ==

Landmarks Lalgudi (Thiruthavathurai)is famous for its temples. The Shiva Temple (Saptharishieeswarar temple) is one of the early Chola period temples, and the Tamil Appar is said to have visited this temple. The statue of Lingam, the main god of the temple, is quite different from other Lingams: It has a vertical wedge-like cut on the top which is red in colour. The statue is of rock, as is this redness on the head of Lingam. There is a mythological story behind the redness of this Lingam. This temple's (sanctum sanctorum) was built in the year 810 AD comparatively older than Thanjavur Big temple. There is a Shiva Temple 4 km from Lalgudi, at a village named Senni Vaikkal. The temple's date of construction is unknown. The main deity is Meenakshi Sundareswarar. The Main deity is a huge Lingam made of Maragatham (Emarald)with 'Karupacchai'(black green color) color. The lingam is really huge and the vibration in the temple is soul stirring. --> == Economy ==

Lalgudi is surrounded by many villages in which Agriculture is the main business. Rice, Banana, lentils crops done throughout the year which gain main economy to Lalgudi town. == Transport ==

By Air The nearby airport is Tiruchirapalli International Airport just 25–30 km from the town of lalgudi. By Rail Through a rail network the town is well connected with the major cities like Chennai, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Dindigul, and the towns like Ariyalur, Srirangam, Villupuram, Cuddalore. By Road Every two minutes there is a regular bus which connects the town with the intra-city terminal of its district headquarters (Chathiram bus stand) otherwise (main guard gate). And there is regular buses to reach the towns of Perambalur, Ariyalur, Jayankondam, Chidambaram, Thiruvaiyaru, Cuddalore, Puducherry and some buses to reach the cities like Thanjavur, Chennai, Dindigul, Tirupur Karur, Madurai and Coimbatore. The town connects with the nearby villages, with numerous town and mini buses. == Education ==

The town of Lalgudi heads the Educational District of Lalgudi which comprises the taluks of Lalgudi and Manachanallur. The government-operated Lalgudi Boys Higher Secondary School and the Management-operated Girls Higher Secondary School, Don Bosco school manakkal are major schools at which most of the rural boys and girls study. Other schools include Panchayat Union Middle School, St. Anne's Primary Convent, St. Anne's Girls High school, Government Elementary Schools near Omakulam (near the police station, 1st cross - Paramasivapuram, Nannimangalam), Lions Mat Higher Secondary School, Sri Vivekananda Matriculation School for the past 28 years. Government Boys Higher Secondary School is more than 100 years old and one of the best Govt. Schools in the state. A majority of students pursue higher education only at Tiruchirapalli due to lack of standard institutions in Lalgudi. "Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute" (AEC&RI) affiliated with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) is functioning in Kumulur village in an area of 300 acres 4 km near to Lalgudi offering B.Tech. Agricultural Engineering.There is also a polytechnic college in Lalgudi - Mandhurai, Don Bosco private Industrial training Institute, Lalgudi-manakkal to provide technical studies in order to stand in their own legs and many of the students travel to Trichy city every day by train to pursue their college education. A Government Arts & Science college (Bharathidasan University College) was opened in Paramasivapuram fourth cross and now it's shifted to Kumulur village. == Adjacent communities ==

• It is the birthplace of the famous female educationist PADMA BHUSHAN Shri N.Ramasami Ayyar. [ Founder of Padmabhushan Shri N.Ramasami Ayyar educational Complex, Trichy] • It is the birthplace of famous violinist Padma Bhushan Shri Lalgudi Jayaraman. • Lalgudi being in central part of Tamil Nadu was the headquarters of Pulavar Keeran during his hectic career for 20 years. • Writer La Sa Ra ( Lalgudi Saptarishi Ramamirtham) was from Lalgudi. • Poet, translator, essayist, dramatist, editor M. Gopala Krishna Iyer is from Lalgudi. ==See also==