Dharmapuri district

Overview

Dharmapuri district is an administrative district in the north-western part of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The district headquarters is the town of Dharmapuri. It lies on the Kaveri river basin and shares borders with the state of Karnataka to the north. The district is largely agrarian and is well known for mango cultivation, granite quarrying and reserve forest tracts in the Eastern Ghats.

Key facts

Geography

Dharmapuri district occupies a hilly and undulating plateau in the eastern portion of the Mysore Plateau, with elevations generally between 300 and 1,000 metres. The terrain is dominated by outcrops of the Eastern Ghats, including portions of the Chitteri and Kalrayan hill ranges. The Kaveri river forms part of the district's western boundary with Karnataka, and the Hogenakkal Falls on the Kaveri lie within the district and are one of its best-known natural landmarks. Other rivers and streams that drain the district include the Thoppaiyar, Vaniyar and Pambar.

The climate is generally warm and semi-arid, with the bulk of rainfall received during the north-east monsoon. Forested tracts support reserve forests and small populations of wildlife, with the Cauvery valley areas adjoining the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary across the state border.

History and administrative formation

The territory of present-day Dharmapuri has historically been part of regions ruled successively by the Cheras, Cholas, Pallavas, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Nayaks of Madurai, the kingdom of Mysore under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, and the British, who annexed the area after the fall of Tipu Sultan in 1799.

Under the Madras Presidency and later the Madras State, the area formed part of Salem district. Dharmapuri district was constituted as a separate district when it was carved out of Salem district. In 2004, the northern portion of Dharmapuri district was further bifurcated to form the new Krishnagiri district, with headquarters at Krishnagiri town.

Administration

The district is administered by a District Collector and is divided into revenue divisions, taluks, blocks and revenue villages. The principal taluks include Dharmapuri, Pennagaram, Palacode, Harur, Pappireddipatti, Karimangalam and Nallampalli. For local self-government, the district contains panchayat unions, town panchayats and the Dharmapuri municipality.

For parliamentary representation the district falls within the Dharmapuri Lok Sabha constituency. State assembly constituencies in the district include Dharmapuri, Pennagaram, Palacode, Harur (reserved) and Pappireddipatti.

Economy

The economy of Dharmapuri is predominantly agricultural. The district is among the largest producers of mangoes in Tamil Nadu, and Dharmapuri mango pulp is processed and exported. Other important crops include ragi, paddy, sugarcane, tapioca, groundnut, pulses and a range of horticultural produce such as banana, tamarind and coconut. Dairying and sericulture are significant subsidiary occupations.

The district has substantial deposits of granite, and granite quarrying and processing units form a notable industry. Small and medium enterprises related to food processing, particularly fruit pulp and concentrate units, are concentrated around Dharmapuri town.

Demographics

The population of the district is overwhelmingly Tamil-speaking, with sizeable communities speaking Kannada and Telugu reflecting the district's location near the Karnataka border. Hinduism is the predominant religion, with smaller Christian and Muslim populations. The district has a significant Scheduled Caste population, and the Harur assembly seat is reserved for Scheduled Castes.

Culture and places of interest

• Hogenakkal Falls on the Kaveri, often called the "Niagara of India", a major tourist attraction near Pennagaram.
• Theerthamalai, a Shaiva pilgrimage centre with the Theerthagiriswarar temple.
• Adhiyamankottai, associated with the ancient