Location: Erode District, Tamil Nadu
Ruled By: Cholas, Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas, Pandyas, Hoysalas, Mysore Rulers, Vijayanagar Rulers and The British
Erode Means: Wet Skull
Main Attraction: Sangameshwarar Temple
Erode is the district headquarters of the district of the same name. Temple inscriptions indicate the prominent role-played by the city as early as the tenth century AD. Its name is associated with a Chola temple (907-1279) and means "wet skull". Though the Martha, Mysore, Muslim and British armies successively destroyed Erode, the surrounding fertile soils assisted in the city's quick recovery as an agricultural trade center.
Erode is a railway hub and is the junction for the Pykara and Mettur hydroelectric schemes. Industries include cotton ginning and the manufacture of transport equipment. It has industrial schools and several colleges affiliated with the University of Madras.
It's Location And Boundaries: The Erode district, which had its origin as an independent district recently, lies in the extreme north of Tamil Nadu. In the north, mostly the State of Karnataka bound it. River Palar also constituted its northern boundary for quite some distance. To the east lie Salem, Namakkal and Karur districts. Dindigul district is its immediate neighbour to the south and on the west it has Coimbatore and Nilgiri districts as its boundaries. Thus, Erode is essentially a land locked area having no seacoast of its own.

History of the City: Erode district which till recently formed part of Coimbatore has its history intertwined with that of Coimbatore. It is found that in the early day’s tribes, most prominent among them being the “Kosars” occupied this area.

The Rulers Who Ruled Erode: the Rashtrakutas from whom the region fell into the hands of the Cholas overpowered The Kosar tribes. On the decline of Cholas, the Kongunadu came to be occupied by the Chalukyas and later by the Pandyas and Hoysalas. This region was later wrested by Vijayanagar rule after over throwing the Madurai Sultanate. Because of the internal strife and intermittent of wars the Kongu region in which the present Erode district is situated, fell into the hands of the Mysore rulers from whom Hyder Ali took over the area.
Later on the fall of Tipu Sultan of Mysore in 1799, the Kongu region came to be ceded to the East India Company by the Maharaja of Mysore who was restored to power by the Company after defeating Tipu Sultan. From then, the area remained under British control till 1947. The entire area now constituting Erode district formed part of Coimbatore till recently from August 1979.

PRIME ATTRACTION

Sangameshwarar Temple at Bhavani: Located 15-km northeast from Erode Railway Station is the famous pilgrimage center, Bhavani. It is popularly known as "Tiruveni of South India". The temple stands at the confluence of the rivers Bhavani and the Cauvery. The presiding deity is Lord Sangameshwarar along with his consort Vedanayaki.

HOW TO GET THERE

Erode being one of the prominent trading centers in the state is well connected with all modern means of transport and communication except for air service. Direct access by roads and rail from state capital and other district headquarters is available.

Air: The nearest airport is at Coimbatore, which are only a few hours by road.

Rail: Erode is an important railway junction on the west coastline. All passenger trains from Chennai to the West Coast halt here.
 
Road: Erode is well connected by road with the important towns and cities within and beyond the state. For local transportation taxis and auto rickshaws are available.

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS: The Annual Kundam festival at Chikkarasanpalayam in Gopichettipalayam Taluk (Taluka) is the biggest event celebrated in Erode district.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Area: 8-sq-kms
Population:1,59,232 (1991 Census

NEARBY CITIES

Bhavani - 72-km
Coimbatore - 90- km
Dharapuram - 71-km 
Karur - 56-km
Namakkal - 48-km