Chidambaram

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?Chidambaram Tamil Nadu • India
Chidambaram
Coordinates: 11°23′59″N 79°41′37″E / 11.399686, 79.693622
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 3 m (10 ft)
District(s)	Cuddalore
Population	58,968 (2001[update])

Coordinates: 11°23′59″N 79°41′37″E / 11.399686, 79.693622

This article is about the town in Cuddalore district. For the current union Finance Minister of India, see P. Chidambaram.

Chidambaram is a municipality and taluk (tehsil) headquarters in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. It is 11 km from the coast and 240 km south of Chennai by rail. Chidambaram is a major pilgramage site for Shaivites as the temple there houses the Akasha Lingam of Shiva.

Contents [hide] 1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 Chidambaram Temple 4 Mangrove forest 5 Traditional crafts 6 Education 7 Transport 8 Politics 9 References 10 External links 11 See also

[edit] Geography

Chidambaram is located at 11°23′58.87″N 79°41′37.04″E / 11.3996861, 79.6936222. It has an average elevation of 3 metres (9 ft). The town is in the Kollidam River Valley.^[1]

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census^[2], Chidambaram had a population of 58,968. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Chidambaram has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 84% and female literacy of 76%. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

[edit] Chidambaram Temple

The Chidambaram Temple (Tamil: சிதம்பரம் கோயில் ), dedicated to Lord Shiva (or Siva) in His form of the Cosmic Dancer, Nataraja நடராசர், is a temple complex spread over 40 acres in the heart of the city. It is an ancient and historic temple dedicated to Lord Shiva Nataraja and Lord Govindaraja Perumal, one of the few temples where both the Shaivite and Vaishnavite deities are enshrined in one place. The govindaraja shrine was opened in 1639.C.E, by a telugu/kannada nayak chief of that area.^[3]

[edit] Mangrove forest

Pichavaram, a place with a unique mangrove forest, is located at the meeting point of the river and the sea. An interesting fact is that the water level increases and decreases every half an hour. We can see a variety of rare creatures there, including frogs, kingfishers, snakes etc. It is maintained now under the state board of tourism and boats are arranged by them for visitors to go for a ride.

[edit] Traditional crafts

In Chidambaram you can find a huge number of families who have been engaged in the gold and silver ornament making business for a very long time. The art is transferred from generation to generation and thus they can excel in their art, over anyone in the rest of the country. Most of the artifacts are hand created and hence are rich in quality and artistry.

[edit] Education

• Home to the Annamalai University

[edit] Transport

[edit] Politics

Chidambaram assembly constituency is part of Chidambaram (Lok Sabha constituency).^[4]

[edit] References

1. ^ "Important Places - Chidambaram." 2004. http://www.nlcindia.co.in/about/about_05b.htm (accessed 05 Sept 2007).
   
2. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved on 2008-11-01.
   
3. ^ "Chidambaram temple". Retrieved on 2006-09-11.
   
4. ^ "List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies". Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India. Retrieved on 2008-10-09.

[edit] External links

• Cited and adapted from "Chidambaram", Encyclopedia Britannica (1911).
  
• "Enchanting Tamil Nadu" see Places --> Chidambaram
  
• cited from "122. Koyil (Chidambaram), Abodes of Shiva," TempleNet
  
• Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India
  
• Chidambaram travel guide from Wikitravel

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

[edit] See also

• Chidambaram (Lok Sabha constituency)

	Cuddalore District
Taluk	Chidambaram | Cuddalore | Kattumannarkoil | Panruti | Thittakudi | Vriddhachalam
Blocks	Annagramam | Bhuvanagiri | Cuddalore | Kammapuram | Kattumannarkoil | Keerapalayam | Komaratchi | Kurinjipadi | Mangalur | Nallur | Panruti | Parangipettai | Vriddhachalam
Corporation	None
Municipality	Chidambaram | Cuddalore | Nellikuppam | Panruti | Vriddhachalam
Town Panchayat	Annamalai Nagar | Bhuvanagiri | Gangaikondan | Kattumannarkoil | Killai | Kurinjipadi | Lalpet | Mangalampet | Melpattampakkam | Parangipettai | Pennadam | Sethiathoppu | Srimushnam | Thorapadi | Thittakudi | Vadalur

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