Attur

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Attur | type = city | latd = 11.599341 | longd = 78.597752
locator_position = right | state_name = Tamil Nadu
district = Salem
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 212
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 58,150| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone = 4282
postal_code = 636 102
vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website = www.salem.tn.nic.in/aprofile.htm
footnotes =

Attur is a town, municipality and capital of Attur Taluk in the Salem district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.

Etymology

The name of the town derives from the word "Aaru", meaning "river" - Vasishta Nadi (literally, Attur "the river town").

History

C.Lakshmana Nayakan (17th Century), local Palayakarar, built the fort. Gatti Mudalis built the temples inside the fort.

Economy

Attur is the main shopping center for the neighboring region. Attur region is principally an agricultural area. Attur is also famous for tapioca (cassava roots), and there are several tapioca-based industries today which manufacture products like "javvarisi" (sago) for markets all over India. It has many medicinal plant cultivars. Some of them are MGP (Coleus-medicinal plant), south India herbs (coleus).

Attur is one of the four places in India to produce hybrid seeds (Cotton, BT Cotton) on an Industrial scale. Attur town is underdeveloped for its potential, much to blame the law makers of that region and bad entrepreneurial spirit of the sago factory owners who don't want to invest in the town development fearing competition in wealth accumulation.

Transportation

Attur is on NH 45. Attur is well connected with Salem on the west at 55 kilometers and Kallakuruchi on the east (north-east) at 45 kilometers on the Coimbatore-Chennai highway with a number of bus routes.

Private buses are being operated between Attur and nearby towns/villages. TAMIL NADU State run corporation, formerly known as Anna Transport Corporation (ATC), in Salem district compete with private buses in that area.

Train services are also available between Attur to Salem, Attur to Virudhachalam, Attur to Chennai. The frequency of operation is very low; one on each direction in the morning and one in the evening. The Cuddalore to Bangalore services is expected to start soon.

Attur has many freight services including Southern Roadways Ltd (TVS), ABT, ARC and other daily transporters. In Attur, the TVS branch was run by Late Mr. K.R. Ramanathan Iyer, from 1950 till 1993.

Attur is landlocked and depends on the Port of Chennai for most oceangoing freight.

Chennai International Airport handles cargo/passenger regional/international.

Geography

It is situated approximately 55 km to the east of Salem. The town has a fort in the banks of the Vasishta Nadi river which flows from the Kalrayan Hills (also Kalvarayan). Attur has a small dam across Vashistanadi river. It has an average elevation of 212 metres (695 feet).

Demographics

As of the 2001 India census, [GR|India] Attur had a population of 58,150. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. Attur has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%, with 55% of the males and 45% of females literate.

Politics

Attur assembly constituency is part of Rasipuram (Lok Sabha constituency). [cite web
url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S22/TN_ACPC.pdf
title = List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies
accessdate = 2008-10-09
work = Tamil Nadu
publisher = Election Commission of India ]

References

External links

* [http://www.salem.tn.nic.in/aprofile.htm Official District Page]
* [http://www.attur.org Attur links]

See also

* Attur-kemral