Location: Virudunagar District, Tamil Nadu
Center For: Cotton Hand Looming And Weaving
Named After: Raju Inhabitants Who Migrated During The Vijayanagar (1336-1565) Conquest
Rajapalayam is one of the cities that expose the Indian culture clearly. It is an important town in Virudunagar district and is the Taluk (also spelt as Taluka) headquarters of Rajapalayam Taluk. It is situated 85-km southwest of Madurai. Five roads are radiating from Rajapalayam on the north of Madurai on the south of Tenkasi and Sankarankovil on the east of Chattarapatti and on to the west to mountains and Ayyanar falls.
History And Growth Of Rajapalayam:
Rajapalayam is named after its Raju inhabitants, Telugu speakers who migrated during the Vijayanagar (1336-1565) conquest. One Chinna Raja, a lineage decedent of the King of Vijayanagar who belonged to Pasumpatti migrated to the south along with his followers and settled at Kilarajakularaman at the first instance and then moved their settlements to Palayapalayam in 1483 AD.
When Vijayanagar rule was established in Madurai, the descendents of the original emigrants were said to have served under the Chokkanatha Nayak, King of Madurai (1659 -1682) who has recorded his appreciation of the service rendered by Chinna raja and his four sons and granted Sasanam.
Either after the battle of Talaikotta (1565) or on the eve of the same battle more Rajas migrated to the south from the Vijayanagar Empire. They settled in Pudupalayam, western portion of Rajapalayam municipality and the town was expanded by purchasing lands from Chokkanatha Nayak (1706 -1732). Rajapalayam was constituted as a united board in the year 1885. It became a Panchayat board in the year 1930. Railway line was laid in the year 1927 and the town was electrified in 1937.
The town grew as a center for cotton hand looming and weaving that has made the town a more significant zone in Virudunagar district. It has cotton mills and a cement factory.

PRIME ATTRACTIONS

Ayyanar Falls: Ayyanar Falls is a local picnic spot with natural waterfalls located 10-km west of the Rajapalayam.

Srivilliputtur: Srivilliputtur-a temple town in the Virudunagar district, Tamil Nadu is well known as the birthplace of Sri Andal, a great poet-saintess of the Bhakti tradition. It is also home to one of the 108 Srivaishnavaite Divya Desams-The Vatapatrasayi Temple. Additionally it happens to be the birthplace of Periazhwar another well-known saint of the Srivaishnava tradition.

HOW TO GET THERE

Air: The nearest airport is at Madurai (85-km).

Rail: Rajapalayam has a railway station that connects it with Tirunelveli, Sivakasi, Srivilliputur and other towns and cities of the state.

Road: Rajapalayam is well connected by road with the neighbouring towns and cities of the state. For local transportation, taxis and auto rickshaws are available.

GENERAL INFORMATION

NEARBY CITIES

Cholavandan - 109-km
Dindigul - 145-km
Ettaiyapuram - 48-km
Gudalur - 35-km
Kalakkadu - 122-km