Thirumalapuram (Tamil Nadu)
| Thirumalapuram | |||
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 India
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| State : | Tamil Nadu | ||
| District : | Tirunelveli | ||
| Sub-district : | Radhapuram | ||
| Location : | 9 ° 4 ' N , 77 ° 35' E | ||
| Height : | 140 m | ||
| Area : | 11.09 km² | ||
| Residents : | 2,543 (2011) | ||
| Population density : | 229 inhabitants / km² | ||
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Thirumalapuram is a village with approx. 2,600 inhabitants in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu . Just outside the village is a rock temple from the Pandya period (8th century).
location
Thirumalapuram lies at an altitude of almost 140 m above sea level. d. M. approx. 50 km (driving distance) northwest of the district capital Tirunelveli . The climate is tropical and warm; Rain falls mainly in the monsoon months October to December.
population
The inhabitants of the place are predominantly Hindus ; other religious communities hardly play a role among the rural population of southern India. The female share of the population is around 10% higher than the male.
economy
In the area around the village there is farming and some cattle breeding (chickens); There are small traders, craftsmen and day laborers in the village.
history
With interruptions mainly caused by the Chola , the dynasties of the Pandyas (capital Madurai ) and Pallavas (capital Kanchipuram ) ruled the region from the early Middle Ages , but they often delegated the actual power to regional vassals. In the 14th century, Muslim rulers briefly occupied power, which then passed to the Hindu Vijayanagar empire, which in turn had to make way for the Nawabs of Karnatik (approx. 1690–1801). In the meantime, however, the British and French fought for supremacy in the region in the Carnatic Wars (1744–1763).
Attractions
- The most important sights of the place is a three-portal, the Pandya period (around 750), rock temple. Behind the portal facade with two mighty supports there is a transverse vestibule ( mandapa ); the back wall is decorated with figures ( Shiva - Nataraja , Vishnu and Ganesha ). The pillars between the figures take up the scheme of the portal zone (block-octagon-block); however, they are also decorated with relief rosettes. On the right side is the actual sanctum ( garbhagriha ) with a Shiva lingam , guarded by guardian figures ( dvarapalas ) ; the standing figure on the left probably represents the three-headed god Brahma . A Nandi figure on the floor of the temple has been largely destroyed.
- A second, neighboring rock temple has remained unfinished.
See also
The older rock temples of Mandagapattu , Mahendravadi , Kuranganilmuttam and Mamallapuram are attributed to the Pallava period.
Web links
- Thirumalapuram, rock temple - photo + brief information (English)
- Thirumalapuram, rock temple - photo + brief information (English)
- Thirumalapuram, rock temple - photos + brief information (English)