Kalakad - The town surrounded by Hills and Forest

Kalakkad is a Panchayat town in Tirunelveli region in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Demographics 

Starting 2001 India enumeration, Kalakkad had a populace of 27,025. Guys constitute 48% of the populace and females 52%. Kalakkad has a normal ability rate of 77%, higher than the national normal of 59.5%: male education is 82%, and female ability is 73%. In Kalakkad, 11% of the populace is under 6 years of age.

History 

According to famous fables, the name Kalakkad was because of one of this:

The spot was a timberland full of "kaLaa" (Tamil word) tree;

It was a combat zone or "kaLam" (Tamil word);

It was the capital of "kaLapirars" who managed Tamil Nadu from this spot.

In History of Travancore from the Earliest Times, P. A. Sankunny Menon says Kalacaud in place of Kalakkad. A couple of combats between the Travancore Kings and the British at this spot are recorded. Joannes de Lannoy, the main offspring of Eustachius De Lannoy, was murdered in engagement of Kalakkad on 14 September 1765 at the age of twenty.

Kalkkad was a scene of continuous battles from in late 1750s throughout the Polygar revolt headed by the Puli Thevar and adapted hands numerous times.

The village was the capital of Pandya rulers quickly. A rest house developed by the British is still there at Sengaltheri in the close-by mountains.

Surprisingly, today individuals imply Kottai, what might as well be called a fortification, around there, however no hints of it are discovered today.

Village 

The village of Kalakkad has some lanes, circling the Sathyavageeswarar temple. Usually the roads were occupied by individuals of particular standings, however in present times one can discover a mixture of individuals in all the roads. The village is encompassed by lavish green paddy fields, with the western ghats at the skyline. Numerous minor and delightful waterfalls could be perceived in the far off mountains. Maalai (Garland) aruvi close Chengaltheri might be perceived from a separation of just about 8 km.

There are some different temples for Mutharamman, Isakkiamman, Suadalaimadan and Ayyanar in the village. Pari Vettai and Kodai Vizha are annual celebrations which are partied about in the aforementioned temples.

The woodland regions have been proclaimed as an ensured tiger hold -Kalakkad Mundanthurai Sanctuary.

Sathyavageeswarar Temple 

Gomathiambal, Sathyavageeswarar Temple in Kalakkad was built by King Marthanda Varma.

Kalakkad is home to an old temple devoted to Sathyavageeswarar (Lord Siva). The other chief god is Goddess Gomathi.

Going back to the 13th Century AD or the late Pandya period, further augmentations were made work the 17th Century AD.

An anecdote from the Sthala Purana (history of the spot) goes like this. Goddess Sita was hijacked from the Kalakkad Forest and subsequently the spot is reputed to be Chorakadavi. Master Rama and Lakshmana appealed to Lord Siva who was situated under a Punnai tree here. He guaranteed them that he will be with them when they move ahead to protect Sita. After effectively safeguarding Sita, they came back to thank Lord Siva. When abandoning they named the ruler Sathyavageeswarar (Lord of Truth ). The theertham(temple lake) is reputed to be sathya theertham.

Tamil Saivite Saint Appar has presented tunes in applause of the god. In the stone engravings discovered around the temple, the master is implied as "புறமேரிச்சுவரமுடைவிய்ய நாயனார் -Puramerichchuvarudaiviyya nayanar". Ruler Veeramarthanda Varma carried this temple to the present shape in the 12th century.

The Rajagopuram remodel and temple Kumbha Abhishekam (custom sancification) was performed on 14 July 2011 by Bhakthar Peravai (Devotees Forum).

Gopuram 

The grand Gopuram or the temple tower of Sathyavageeswarar Temple is 135 feet tall, having nine tiers. More than 200 antiquated artworks beautify the inward dividers of each of the nine tiers. A driven venture to ration the aforementioned artworks has been undertaken by the REACH Foundation, a NGO. They look like the Vijayanagara and Nayaka schools of craft of the 16th–17th Century AD. This display of craftsmanship on each of the aforementioned decks delineates scenes from the Ramayana, Thiruvilayadal Puranam, Parvathi Parinayam, Life and work of Saivaite examples of piety and some nearby occasions. The Gopuram structure is made of lime mortar and block. This gopuram is an extraordinary one in that, it holds the most extreme number of sudhais or human figures made of lime.

Workmanship 

The flawless workmanship of the aforementioned days is uncovered in the stone models around the temple. There are numerous musical columns in the mandapams of the temple, which reverberate with sapthaswaras when tapped delicately by hand.