Kazhugumalai - Tourism Interests
Kazhugumalai is famous for its culture and archeological importance. Vettuvan temple bears reassume balance to Ellora is an Architectural Marvel. Vettuvan temple had been carved before 1300 years back on single stone hill and the temple so erected at the centre of the hill surrounded by hill stones, Sculptures, in particular the various forms of Siva is carved in the temple. Vettuvankovil is an art treasure of our culture.
From jain rock carving, we learnt that thousand years before, a Jain college had functioned at Kalugumalai, which is one the holy places for Jains.
The cave temple of Lord Muruga which is an added attraction. Vettuvankovil and Jain carverings are interesting spots for scholars and tourist.
Freedom fighter circuit
1. Ettiyapuram
The renowned Tamil Poet Subramania Bharathi’s poetry is a pecan of praise to India. It shows unbounded faith in a glorious future; it is brimming over with a passionate love of his native land. Every line of his poetry breathed this great love for his people which gives it a militant revolutionary spirit and makes it genuinely realistic.
The great national poet Subramania Bharathi stored through life shoulder to shoulder with Indian freedom fighters the patriots, who fought for the freedom of India from the clusters of British colonial rule. His patriotic songs are fire brand revolutionary. Poet Bharathi roused his people by his revolutionary patriotic songs. Poet Bharati was the voice of the newly awakened national consciousness. His own life was one great heroic epic of service to his people.
Poet Subramania Bharathi was born on the December 11, 1882 at Ettiyapuram in Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu. Some of the materials Arunal, Spear, Stick and toys which were used by the poet where showcased for the visitors and tourists. For the benefit of the tourists, poet Bharati’s manuscripts, his books like the collection of his Poems, Essays, Stories, Political comments and translated version of his works into French, Russian and other languages are displayed.
The photos of Bharathi with his wife Chellammal, his daughters Thangammal and Sakunthalai, his friends and associates like Soma Sundara barathi and Bharathidasan his brother Viswanatha Iyer, his journals “INDIA” and “CHAKKARAVARTHINI” adorn the walls of the houses.
Bharathi Manimandapam (Bharathi Memorial Building)
Prominent writer Kalki R. Krishnamoorthy had taken efforts to erect a memorial in the name of poet Bharathi at Ettiyapuram and it is called Bharathi Manimandapam (Bharathi Memorial Building).
Life size statue of poet Bharathi was installed in the memorial. The photos of Bharathi´s Journals, his letter to Telak, his manuscripts, his family members, his friends adorn the walls of the memorial.
Both Bharathi house and Bharathi memorial building is located on the high way of Kovilpatti Thoothukudi high way Airport at Madurai. The distance from Madurai to Ettiyapuram (via) Aruppukottai is 100 kms. We can reach Ettiyapuram from Madurai by car, the traveling time by 2 hours. Railway (train) from Madurai to Kovilpatti is available from Kovilpatti to Ettiyapuram 16 kms. We may reach by car by ½ an hour. The two memorials are maintained by the information and public relationship department, Government of Tamil Nadu.
Daily hundreds of tourists from India and abroad are visiting the memorials.
Every year, during the months of September and December poet Bharathi day functions are held at Ettiyapuram. Seminars, the receital of poem, literary debates and cultural performance like folk dances, songs and dramas are held in the function.
Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar Memorial at Ettiyapuram
Sri Muthusamy Dikshitar, youngest of the famed trinity of carnatic music, was born at Thiruvarur in the year 1755. Dikshitar´s musical lineage probable bore the seeds of his musical excellence. His songs are of divine splendor. A study of Dikshitar´s composition shows that he has an insatiable thirst for visiting temples and singing the praise of the deities enshrined there. The outstanding feature Dikshitar´s compositions is that they present a vivid, accurate and full picture of the raga employed and not merely some of its facts.
Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar came to Ettiyapuram to see his brother. The Ettiyapuram Zamindar received his with full honour. Dikshitar lived only a short while at Ettiyapuram and breathed his last on Deepavali day in 1825.
Sri Muthusamy Dikshitar memorial is located near Ettiyapuram bus stand on Kovilpatti – Thoothukudi high way. Daily pujas are performed in the memorial. The memorial is maintained by Sri muthuswamy Dikshitar memorial committee and every year dikshitar Aradhana function and music concert are held here.
Islamic Tamil Poet Umaru Durga Memorial at Ettiyapuram
The great Islamic poet umaru was born in the year 1642 at Nagalapuram in Thoothukudi district. His father’s name was Saiku Mohammed Aliyar. The fore fathers of Umaru came from Arabia to India for the sale of perfumes like ‘Altar’.
Kadigai Muthu Pulavar, the court poet of Ettiyapuram Zamein, was his guru. At th age of 16 it was told that poet Umaru entered into a literally debate with Valai Varudhi, noted poet from North India and own. As a result, Umaru became the court poet of Ettiyapuram Zamein.
Poet Umaru had written Seera Puranam, epic poem in Tamil, which tells us th history of Mohammed Nabi and containes three parts.
Poet Umaru died in the year 1703 at the age of 63 at Ettiyapuram. Pichikonar a hindu, merident of Ettiyapuram erected a memorial in the year 1921 and now it is called Umaru Pulavar Darga.
Both Muslims and hindus visit Darga and pay homage. Here, there in a customs even to day if male or female child is born in the Hindu families, they call umaru or umarammaal. The memorial is maintained by poet umaru memorial committee and every year poet Umaru function is celebrated. Tourist are coming to visit the Darga.
2. Ottapidaram
V.O. Chidambaram House at Ottapidaram
The great patriot V.O. Chidambaram, (V.O.C) affectionately called “Swadershi pillai” or “Vandamadaram pillai” was born on September 5, 1872 at Ottapidaram in Thoothukudi district. His father was Olaganaha pillai and his mother′s name was Paramaya Ammaiar.
V.O.C. Plunged himself into the Swadeshi movement for boycott of British goods. He has thrown out challenges to the monopoly of the British coastal navigational enterprise in Tuticorin by the bounding of Swadeshi steam navigation company. He organized the workers of coral mills at Tuticorin to fight for their rights.
V.O. Chidambaram was arrested by the british for his swadeshi movement activities. He was undergone rigorous imprisonment and was forced to pull the grinder in the prison. Poet subramania Bharthi in his “India” magazine published a cartoon, showing that the people on sea – shore at Thoothukudi were hailing the sailing of swedashi steam navigationship.
V.O. Chidambaram birthhouse is located at Ottapidaram. The photos and portraits of V.O.C and his wife, his associates Subramania Siva and poet Bharathi, the grinder which the pulled in the prison, his last journey and a short life – sketch were displayed in the second floor of the house for the benefit of the visitors.
Madurai to Ettiyapuram via Aruppukottai, we reach Ettiyapuram. Driving from Ettiyapuram on Kovilpatti – Thoothukudi we reach Kurukkuchalai and then a link road leads to Ottapidaram. Now V.O.C. House as a Memorial.
Every year, Government of tamil Nadu is celebrating V.O.C. function during the month of September.
3. Panchalankuruchi
Veerapandia kattabomman Fort at Panchalankuruchi
Veerapandia Kattabomman the legendary poligar of Panchalankuruchi, challenged the mighty British even 60 years a head of India first war of independence. Veerapandia Kattabomman was born on January 3, 1706 and was crowned at the age of 30 as poligar of Panchalanguruchi.
Veerapandia Kattabomman refused to pay the taxes and defied the supremacy of the British East India Company. As a result the British forces attacked the fort of Panchalankuruchi. Lastly, kattabomman was taken to prison and brought to Kayathar where he was publicaly hanged by a road side tree.
The cemetery, in memory of the british soldiers who died in the panchalankuruchi war, reminds us the historical even. The cemetery is located near Ottapidaram on the way to Panchalankuruchi.Nearly, 17 decades after the fall of Panchalankuruchi, in 1974, a memorial fort was constructed on the same site. Statue of Veerapandia Kattapomman was installed in the fort. The statues of Subramaniapillai, popularly known as Thanapatipillai, Minister of Kattabomman, Velliya Thevan, the army general, Oummaidurai, his brother and Sundaralingam, the chief of intelligence wing, were carved on the wall of the fort paintings, giving a detailed account of the valour of Kattbomman and his associates adorn the walls. The tourism department maintains the fort. The archaeological department excauated the old fort. The Darpar Mandapam, Antiquities and the remanents of the old fort protected by the department.
The temple of Veera Jakkammal the legendary goddess of Kattbomman is adjacent to the fort. Daily Pujas are performed.
Every year the information and public relationship department is celebrating Kattbomman function during the month of May, Thousands of people thronged on that day in the fort. Folk dances, songs and dramas are performed in the function. Government Guest house and hotel available for tourists. Panchalankuruchi is located 5 kms from Ottapidaram.
4. Kayathar : Where Kattabomman was hanged
Veerapandia Kattabomman was taken prisoner and was brought to major Bannerman’s camp at Kayathar. After, a stage managed enquiry, the lion – like rore of the hero of Panchalankuruchi Veera Panida Kattabomman was shifted on October 16, 1799, when the British hanged him by a road side tree at Kayathar.
A statue of Kattabomman was installed on the very same site where he was hanged. Kayathar is located on Madurai – Tirunelveli highway. The distance from Madurai to Kayathar is 140 kms.
Azhagumuthu Kone, the valorous commander of the poliger of Ettiyapuram Zamein, who cahallenged the might of the British East India company in the late 1750 itself. The ancestors of Azhugumuthu belonged to madurai. Madurai Nayak rular granded Kattalangulam and the surrounding villages to Azhaugumuthu family for their was service.
Azhugumuthu became commander of Ettiyapuram Zamein. The British East India Company desptached an army led by Khan Saheb to collect tax dues from Ettiyapuram Zamein. Kurumalai Durai a puppet, was placed by the British at Ettiyapuram.
Azhugumuthu finalized a strategy to launch an attach against the puppet regime in Ettiyapuram. Azhagumuthu led one force at pethanaickanur fort. Pre—empting the assault, the fort was surrounded and Azhugumuthu and his men captured by the British.
During July 1759, Azhugumuthu and his deputies were tied to the mouth of a cannon and blew them from gunds. The aliens did not stop with that. They exhibited rank barbarism by chopping off the right hands of 248 men for joining Azhugumuthu.
The sword, Kuthuvilakku and the decorated umbrella were some of the materials used by Azhugumuthu. These materials are preserved by the descendants of Veeran Azhugumuthu.
The memorial for veeran Azhugumuthu, constructed by the Government of Tamil Nadu at Kattalangulam. His statue was also installed in the memorial. Information and public relations department is celebrating Azhugumuthu function every year.
An Arch (Azhugumuthu Kone memorial Arch) on Madurai – Tirunelveli national high way welcomes indicating the link road to reach Kattalankulam (Kattlankulam to Madurai 120 kms, Kattalankulam to Kazhugumalai 18 kms).
5. Mayura Thottam
The garden of peacocks, the farms is situated at Ottapidaram about 22 km north west of Tuticorin. In this Mayura Thottam, the peacock live among the Guave groves, Sapotta, Mango and Coconut Groves, a natural habitat for peacocks. The peacocks remain with in the farm, and feed on fruits and vegetables grown inside the farm.
