About History of Tiruchirappalli

1. Secular Heritages in
Tiruchirppalli
Dr. G. Kasthuri Thilagam
Assistant Professor, PG and Research Department of History, Thanthai
Periyar Govt Art & Science College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli - 23

2. Abstract
• A secular monument is for secular purpose. Secular heritages means
ones that were not pertaining for any religious group but all had the
access to them. The term is used in fine arts and the cultural science,
for example in the history of architecture, to define the secular
buildings and its usage from time to time and to standardize. The
antonym of secular building is the religious building, which clerical or
religious purpose is reserved. Examples of secular buildings are
Museums, Fort gate, Town halls, University buildings and Railways
stations.
• The design and style of such buildings is often refers to as profane
architecture. This article examines the Secular heritage and its
historical significance in Tiruchirappalli. The article also discusses the
architectural features of secular monuments.
• Keywords:
• Secular, Heritage, Architecture, Museums, Buildings

3. Introduction
Tiruchirappalli holds her name word Trisara against. Palli is commonly
known as the educational seat of the Jains (Sira) hence the name
Tiruchirappalli. The hoary past of this splendid city goes back to the
Sangam age, wherein evidences of political dynasties, the Sangam trio,
namely Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas have their touches in this historic
city. Uraiyur, once called as Koliyur, has been the capital of the Sangam
Cholas. This historical city has also shared her border with Vanji (Karur),
the capital of the Cheras. Many historical battles have taken place in
and around this nostalgic place -the battle of Venni, the battle of
Vahaiparanthalai etc. This city has been the birth place of notable
Sangam poets such as Enicherry, Mudamosiyar respectively. River
Cauvery flows through this place and has made the land fertile for
cultivation of paddy, sugarcane, plantain etc.1

4. Fort Gate Way (Main Guard Gate)
• This city gets further importance due to the presence of “Rock Fort”.
This fort gate held importance mostly during the period of Madurai
Nayaks. Tiruchirappalli Rock Fort is a historic fort and temple complex
built on an ancient rock. Geologically the 83m high rock may date to
over a billion of years ago. The rock is said to be one of the oldest
formation in the world.
• It is 3.8 billion years old making it as old as the rocks in Greenland and
older then the Himalayas. Quarts used in glass making, feldspar used
in ceramics are found in this rock formation.

5. • The Thirukkural elaborates that; a good fort should possess plain
area, big mountains and dense forest. The fort is also such a
structure. The fort can be dated to 15th century A.D. during Sangam
period, though importance was given to forts, the building materials
were mostly of perishable nature. Further, there is no reference about
this Rock and Fort either in the Sangam literature or in any document
before 15th century A.D. This fort was built during the period of
Vijayanagar Empire and it was strengthened by Viswanatha Nayaka.
With the fall of Viswanatha Nayaka, this fort could not be maintained
properly and was very much neglected. The appearance of the fort
has been explained by General Lawrence and Robert Orme. Orme has
given the sketch of this fort in his paintings.

6. • The name ‘Rock fort’ comes from the fact that the place was used for
Military fortification, first by the Vijayanagar emperors and later by
the British during the Carnatic wars. Kumara Kampana’s invasion laid
the seeds of Vijayanagar Empire in Trichy. He brought back the Idol of
Sriranganatha from Tirupathi, which was taken away in order to save
it, from the clutches of Malik Kafur. During the early part of 16th
century, the region came under the control of Madurai Nayaks, who
were governors of Vijayanagar Empire. Under the rule of Madurai
Nayaks only Trichy began to prosper and grow to be a city that it is
today.
• Viswanatha Nayak, the founder of Nayakship of Madurai along with
the General Ariyanatha, strengthened the fort that was in ruins.
Teppakulam was also constructed during this period. Again when,
Mutthu Veerappa Nayak I changed his capital to Trichy it was
strengthened further in 1616 A.D. Tirumalai Nayak shifted the capital
to Madurai. But Chockanatha Nayak shifted the capital back to Trichy
in 1665 A.D. He built a palace here and beautified the city. Realising
the strategic important of Trichy, he strengthened the fort. In 1680,
this fort was besieged by Dalavay Kumaraiya of Mysore.

7. • In the year 1736, Chanda Sahib occupied this historic fort imprisoning
Minakshi in her place. Though historians term the Nayak rulers as “Madhurai
Nayaks”, they had their capital in Tiruchirappalli from 1616 to 1736 except
during Tirumalai Nayak’s period. In May 1940 the Marathas invaded the south
with a huge army. The Maratha forces marched on Tiruchirappalli in 1741.
Chadha Sahib’s offer to make a peace treaty was putdown. Raghoji Bhonsle
appointed Murai Rao, the Maratha chief of Gooty, as the ruler of
Tiruchirappalli. This marked the end of the Navayat regime at Tiruchirappalli
after five years of its precarious existence.
• In 1743 A.D. the Hyderabad Nizam, Asaf Jha, terminated the Maratha rule and
re- established the Mughal regime in Tiruchirappalli. Khwaja Abdulla became
the Navab of Tiruchirappalli. After his death, the Nizam appointed Anwar-ud-
din, who belonged to the House of the Wallajas as the Nawab. He renamed
Tiruchirappalli as Natharnagar in honour of Sayyed saint Adrat Nathar Wali.
He also adorned it with the construction of a beautiful mosque known as
Masjid-i-Muhammade and strengthened the strategic fort. In the year 1745,
he appointed Muhammad Ali, as the Governor of Tiruchirappalli.

8. • In 1751, Tiruchirappalli fort was besieged by Chanda Sahib, after his release from
Satara prison. Muhammad Ali took asylum in the fort with the help of the English.
Chanda Sahib lost to Muhammad Ali and was killed in 1752. These historical events
termed as Carnatic wars in the history of Tamilnadu paved way for the British rule in
India. The English stationed a garrison in the fort after their victory over Chanda
Sahib. In 1757, they strengthened the fort of Tiruchirappalli. In 1781, Hyder Ali
stormed Tiruchirappalli, but in vain. In 1801, Tiruchirappalli was handed over to
English by Azim-ud-daula. John Wallace became the first collector of Tiruchirappaali.
• One of the most significant episodes of the South Indian rebellion (1800-1801) is the
proclamation of Marudu Pandyan in 1801. This proclamation was pasted in the large
open gateway in the fort leading to Nawab’s palace. It was addressed to the people
of south India, mentioned as “peninsula of Jambu Dweepa. This incident triggered
off the rebellion and is considered to be the first rebellion against the British Yoke in
India. The ascending of the British rule eclipsed the old method of warfare in India,
as the close of 18th century saw the invention of new weapons of war which
demanded no such fort for military operation or defense.

9. Musuem
• The archaeological findings monuments sculptures, terra-cotta and metal objects,
coins very much help in reconstructing History and also knowing about the past.
Museum is the institution which preserves these objects and helps to illustrate the
past History. Museum is a store home of antiques or collection of precious objects. It
is recognized as an educational institution. An Non-formal educational institution
that assembles studies and objects, a representative of nature and man in order to
set then before the public for sake of information, education and employment.5
• The Tamil Nadu state Government formulated policies to start, Government regional
Museum in all over the district headquarters in the state. As per the decision the
first government regional museum has been started in 1981 at Madurai. And Trichy
regional Government museum has been existence from 6th February, 1983. Now at
present there are regional museum other then at Salem, Madurai, Pudukkottai, are
at Cuddalore, Krishnagiri, Coimbatore, Ooty, Erode, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, and
Sivagangai.

10. Background of Museum
• Rani Mangammal who belongs to Madurai Nayakas was the wife of Chokkanatha
Nayak. Her son Ranga Krishna Muthu Veeragar died when he was on the throne, so
Rani Mangammal placed her grandson Vijayaranga Chokkananthan who was a
minor on the throne. She acts as the regent from 1689 to 1706AD, she ruled well
and she done many good things to the people of Tiruchirappalli and she stayed in
Tiruchirappalli fort. Her palace now known as Nawab‘s palace under the
Tiruchirappalli rock is now much altered. It was party erected of materials taken
from Thirumalai Nayak’s splendid palace houses a school, a police station, Taluk
office, post.
• A Copper Plate inscription dated 1962 records a great of land by Mangammal in her
husband’s name to a mosque. In 1701 she had made a gift of some villages near
Tiruchirappalli for a Durga. Main rulers of the Madurai Nayak were Vishwanatha
Nayak Thirumalai Nayak and Rani Mangammal and governance amidst various
disturbances. Though she was a lady she ruled in a good manner. She waged wars
and defeated the enemies. During her reign she constructed many historical
monuments, in the area of Tiruchirappalli, Ramnad, and Coimbatore etc.

11. • Rani Mangammal in her last days she got into a critical situation she had conflicts
with her family as well with other politicians. This time only she built the
Tiruchirappalli fort and a Durga Mandapam, which is now known as Mangammal
Palace.
• In the Rani Mangammal palace beautiful painting were painted. The English General
Robert Clive destroyed forts and palace. Now the Rani Mangammal palace and other
buildings built by Rani Mangammal are made as the Government office. This palace
is affectionately known as town hall. In front of the Nawab’s palace is the coronation
garden with a wedlock fountain. The palace of the Nawabs of the Carnatic and
gardens were built in AD 1660 by ChokkanathaNayak when he transferred the capital
to Tiruchirappalli. Even now the garden is there with some slight modifications.7
• Mr. Henry Saval, the then collector of Tiruchirappalli, made Durbar Mandapam as the
Town Hall. He made this as Town Hall on 31st January 1881 and appointed a
committee to supervise it. This Tiruchirappalli Town Hall Registered by the Society
Act Number 101 in the year 1881, from that time onwards Mangammal palace has
been as the “Town Hall”.

12. • During the time of Poligar Rebellion from 1799 to 1801 the front gate of Tiruchirappalli attained
the important of conveying the message of the rebels. MaruduPandyan, the south Indian
Rebellion, fixed a copy of his famous proclamation on the walls of the large addressed to the
people of JambuDweep. It later became the famous Tiruchirappalli proclamation of Marudu
Pandyan.
• Purpose of District Museum
• Tamil Nadu being a state of historical importance has the reminiscence of such dynasties like
Cholas, Pallavas, Pandiyas, Vijayanagar and Nayak. As a result cultural art objects like stone
sculptures, bronze sculptures gold coins and other art objects belonged to the past found
scattered in all over the state. Especially Tamil Nadu is also so popular for its rich classical and folk
art objects. These art objects are hidden for safe guarding from the Muslim invaders. In Trichy
museum the art objects which are been placed in the museum for public observance. To display
all the objects for want of space in the present rented building. Rani Mangammal Dharbar hall at
Townhall occupied till now by a wing of Trichy Taluk office has been entrusted
• to the museum to get up a spaces museum. The museum will be shifted to Rani Mangammal
Dharbar hall after the renovation and security arrangements are made by the public works
department. Further it will grow into a great extend due to accumulation of mass collections of
art objects.

13. • Museum Library
• Museum possess an excellent library consisted of nearly 500 books. Good number of books related to
various subjects like Archaeological studies, Iconography, geology, Botany, Zoology, Epigraphy, Numismatics,
history, Tamil literature and general Knowledge book and these books serve as a reference to the scholars
and researchers.
• Growth of the museum
• In 1983 the museum was inaugurated by the educational minister J.Arankanayakam. The inauguration
function held under the leadership of K.A.P.Vishwanathan and director of museum
• N. Hari Narayanan. At first the museum occupied with handful of articles from madras museum. Besides
tribal art materials were collected from Pachaimalai hills. Now after the span of 15 years the museum has
acquired a total number of 2000 objects from various departments, and emerged as multi-purpose
museum. Now it becomes the problem so that the local social, cultural and artistic values could be focused.
The growth and development of Trichy district museum for the past 15 years from its inception are focused
by this study.
• And taking in view of the past development, we can say firmly this museum will play a vital role with its
future aim and programmes. By this study, somehow the fundamentals of museology are discussed. As a
non formal educational centre, the museum is service to the people of the region is appreciable.

14. • Present Conditions
• The government museum here housed in the historic and centuries old Rani Mangammal hall is undergoing
major renovation without disturbing the heritage structure, the renovation work, which started in January,
was suspended owing to COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown and
• resumed following relaxations announced by the state government, the renovation works were proceeding in
full swing in the exterior and interior portions of the over 350- year- old Rani Mangammal Kolu Mandapam
which was constructed during Nayak period. “ while the renovation of the heritage building housing the
museum has been taken up in phase- I , phase- II works entails installing showcases and other electrical
works,” said C. Sivakumar, curator (in charge), Government Museum,Truchirappalli.
• The damages that the building had suffered over the years cracks had been identified and traditional
materials such as lime mortar were being used to rectify them. This is being done to ensure that the heritage
look of the historic building was not distributed, Mr. Sivakumar said. An architect from Chennai has been
engaged for the renovation work which is being executed by a Mumbai- based contractor. Utmost care was
being taken to increase the life of the historic building which was constructed by Chokkanatha Nayak in 1666.
• The museum has good collection of archaeological and anthropological objects, numismatic collection,
biological stone, old Thanjavur paintings and wood carvings- there are more than 1,000 prized exhibits. Since
the renovation works were going on, they has been kept safely in a room, Mr. Sivakumar said. The phase –I
renovation work is expected to be completed by next March, following which phase –II works begin.

15. • Museum Administration
• Regarding the museum administration, the whole regional museum comes under the directorate of
museum administration is directly answerable to the secretary, government of Tamil Nadu. At present, the
museum administration is combined with the Tamil development and culture.
• Monthly reports are being sent to the headquarters, madras and curators visit the headquarters frequently
at least twice a month. Thus, the real authorities line in the Directorate of Museum administration
Madras.11
•
• Anna Science Centre -Planetarium, Tiruchirappalli
• Anna Science Centre, Tiruchirappalli has been rendering excellent and yeomen service to cater to the needs
of younger generation and the general public of the region in the cause of education, taking up the
objectives of Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre, ever since it was dedicated to the Nation on June
10, 1999. The Government of Japan have donated the Planetarium Projector and its accessories worth 50
million Japanese Yen (Rs. 1.5 Crores) under the Cultural Grant-in-aid Scheme. The Planetarium, which has
been a source of information and inspiration in the region, receives students in groups visiting from
Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Perambalur, Dindigul, Karur, and Madurai Districts apart from Tiruchirappalli. At
Anna Science Centre - Planetarium, Tiruchirappalli, the Environment Gallery, with the exhibits on the
themes Eco System, Bio-geochemical cycles, Biodiversity and Conservation, Pollution and sustainable Energy
sources was developed at an estimated cost of Rs. 30.00 lakhs, with the financial support obtained from
M/s. Indian Oil Corporation Limited. This educational facility was dedicated to the nation on April 22, 2006.

16. • Speciality
• 3D -Science Theatre, School, Observatories, Activity Gallery, Planetarium, Events, Exhibitions, Shows,
Parks, Collections, Group Visits, Displays & Educational Programs.12
• Railway Museum
• Railway Museum is a railway museum-cum-heritage centre for railroad exhibits that share Trichy
heritage. The museum which is part of the former South Indian Railway has exhibits indoor and
outdoor. The exhibit's indoor piece showed various documents from the period when India was still
under British rule. The museum has an interesting of South Indian railway history memorabilia
reminiscent of the mid 19th century. The old loco engine and old motor car are two good things to
see in the museum. You can also enjoy taking a ride of a toy train.
• World War Memorial at Gandhi Market
• The World War Memorial at Gandhi Market here finally received its due recognition after a few
decades as the Collector and Mayor paid tributes at the venue on Thursday. They paid tributes
separately to the 41 war heroes who sacrificed their lives during World War-I, prior to the hoisting of
national flag.

17. • As many as 302 soldiers from Tiruchirappalli participated in the World War-I that
took place in 1914-18. Out of these, a total of 41 lost their lives. The then
government erected a memorial at Gandhi market with a clock tower. Though the
‘clock tower’ is well known among the people from the city, the memorial was least
known as the shops constructed in front of the tower hindered its visibility.
Though, socialist activists and the public raised their voice to remove the shops
obscuring the monuments, the civic body for several decades paid no attention to
the issue. However, recently, the civic body literally woke up and passed a
resolution to remove structures in the entrance that were blocking the visibility of
the public. Subsequently, the shops were removed and the memorial received a
facelift. Collector Jayashree Muralidharan drove to the memorial spot and paid
floral tributes. Similarly, Mayor A. Jaya too paid tributes.
• This is the first time in recent history that war heroes were honoured in their home
town. Several people gathered at the spot to witness the event. “To my knowledge,
it is the first time, this monument is being recognised and honoured in 40 years,”
said assistant director (Ex- servicemen welfare) C. Selvamoorthy after the function.
The Tiruchirappalli City Corporation has decided to allow eight Burmese refugees,
whose shops near the War Memorial in front of the Gandhi Market in the city are
to be demolished soon, to relocate to an adjacent site.

18. • The War Memorial, raised in memory of 41 soldiers who died in World War I,
is to be given a facelift soon. The memorial, with a clock tower, has been
languishing without proper maintenance for several years now. The civic
body has drawn up a plan to improve the amenities at the War Memorial.
• The corporation has decided to demolish nine of its 25 shops around the
memorial which pose a hindrance for people to pay their homage at the
place. While eight of the shopkeepers, all Burmese refugees, had agreed to
move out, another trader had filed a case before the High Court.
•
• The corporation has now decided to allow the eight Burmese refugees to
relocate to an adjacent site at their own expense so as to ensure that their
livelihood was not affected. A resolution to this effect was adopted at an
urgent meeting of the council on Wednesday. The Assistant Director of Ex-
servicemen Welfare has sought the removal of encroachments and better
amenities including fences and lights at the memorial.13

19. • Mukkombu or Upper Anicut
• The construction of upper Anicut was important to develop the Tiruchirappalli
District. Moreover it is useful for irrigation purpose as well as to control the flood
around Tiruchirappalli. In the rarely time there was no proper development here.
But in 1834, the 150 yards Calingulah was built at a distance of about 3km below
the head Srirangam island and a new six vent surplus built at Perumalkovil. The
Calingulah consists of a wall of 1.22m (4 feet) high and 1.67m (5 12 feet) broad
resting on flooring of 0.91m (3 feet) thick founded on 1.83m (6 feet) walls.
Originally there were rough store aprons 1.83 (6 feet) wide in front and (6.70m) in
near. There is a bridge of 19 arches over it. Deducing for the bridge piers, the clear
water way is 118.57m (387) feet.
• The problem of silting of Cauvery could not be overcome by this work and with the
purpose of eliminating this problem completely. Sir Arthur cotton constructed the
upper Anicut in 1836-38 across the Coleroon arm, at the head of Srirangam Island.
The upper Anicut was the first large work constructed by the british after thanjavur
passed into their hands in 1800. This work was designed to prevent the excess
water flowing down the Coleroon and to pass adequate water into Cauvery. It was
a plain Anicut with a body wall and the usual aprons.

20. • Some years later the Anicut was improved introducing scour vents to pass the silt
along with flood flows to reduce the silting effect on Cauvery. The Anicut as
improved was in two branches, the north branch having twelve spans varying from
10.21m (35.5 feet) to 10.74m (35.25 feet) and south branch with fifty seven spans
varying from 9.15 to 1.35m (30 to 34 feet). In the north branch there were eight
under sluices each 1.83m (6 feet) wide and 2.44m (8 feet) high with screw gearing
shutters. There were seventeen under sluices on the south branch of about the
same size. The crest of the north branch Anicut was 1.58m (5.19 feet) above and
that of the south branch 1.78m (5.70 feet) above the level of the zero gauge in the
Cauvery arm
• The construction of Upper Anicut, it was found that there was a tendency for the
Cauvery bed to scour itself with an undue amount of water flowing down during
floods. This often resulted in heavy floods being realized at Grand Anicut. To
obviate this difficulty in 1845, the Cauvery dam was built across Cauvery at the
head of Srirangam Island thoroughly in line with the Upper Anicut. It consists of
flooring of 0.91m (3 feet) thick, the upper part of which consists of cut stones. The
floor rests on a double row of walls 1.37m (4 ½ feet) external diameter and 1.83m
(6 feet) deep filled with concrete. The upstream and downstream aprons are of
rough stone and 2.74m (9 feet) and 6.4m (21 feet) with respectively. This
construction was successful in effective a satisfactory and smooth division. Even
though the flow of water in Cauvery was not effectively control to regulate the
irrigation of the delta area.

21. • Kallanai
• The Grand Anicut is a marvellous piece of hydraulic structure built across a mighty river in
its sandy bed when science had not developed enough to build safe strictures on
permeable foundations and serving to this date excellently well with a few modifications
made in the nature of improvements to the structure. Judges from the recorded data, flood
to an extent of about 5260 cumbers (1, 8,6000cusece) has been discharged through this
Anicut with minimum or the damage. It is possible that much higher floods could have
flown over in the past when there were no other structures in this river.
• Grand Anicut Complex
• When a new structure is proposed the structure Anicut is first designed and constructed
across the river course and along with it, the head regulator for the irrigation channels
taking off from the river and the necessary score vents or alternative slit exclusion devices.
The Grand Anicut structure is unique in this respect. This however was built on the left bank
of the river Cauvery to maintain higher flow levels in Cauvery and split the surplus into
Coleroon. The Cauvery continued to flow in to the delta with no regulator to control the
discharge. Vennar, the river to the height of Cauvery, had its open off-take about 5km
upstream of the Grand Anicut location.

22. • While the Upper Anicut, the Cauvery and the Grand Anicut ensured adequate flows being carried by
Cauvery and Vennar for the delta irrigation there was no means of avoiding flood waters rushing
into the delta stress into rivers and channels and causing heavy flood damages. The first proposal for
the regulation of floods entering into delta unchecked was made by Captain Mead in 1870. He
rightly felt share of the floods minimizing concentration of damages in particular router. At times of
normal flows the regulators would control the distribution of flows between Cauvery and Vennar.
Major Montgomery’s recommendation are revised by Colonel Mullins and a decision was taken to
build the head regulations for both Cauvery and Vennar about 61m (200 feet) downstream of the
Grand Anicut and right angles to the same the Vennar head thus got shifted downstream with the
cause above being subsequently abandoned. The plans and estimates were sanctioned for Rs.6.88
lakhs in the proceeding No.778- 1/21-8-1883 of the Government of Madras.
• Modification done by the British
• Several modifications and improvements were made by British in order to strengthen dam through
available technology to solve the problems that arose. In 1839 Sir Arthur Cotton built dam under
sluices 1.22mx0.91m (4 feet x 3 feet) in the body wall with their ails 3.05 (left) below the crest. The
foundations of the under sluices consisted of about 2 feet depth of brick work below cut-stone floor
of the vents and under this brick work about 2 feet of dry rubble masonry on the sand. They were
thus particularly founded on the old dry rubble Anicut, which was founded on sand; they were thus
practically founded on the 30 spans of 9.14m (32 feet) each was built over the Anicut for case in
operating floods. By the construction of piers and due to the dam stones the effective length of the
Anicut god reduced to 224.0m (735 feet).

23. • In 1886, the dam stones were removed, piers and abutments raised by 5 feet and
automatic falling shutters 0.86m (2 feet 10 inches) height were fitted on the crest to
increase the water way for floods. Four shutters while the ten score vents occupied
the next 2 ½ spans. Thirteen years later in 1899 the falling shutters were removed
and replaced by lift shutters of 9.75m x 1.52m (32 feet and 5 feet) size designed by
Col. Smarts and fabricated in the public works. There have been slight cracks in the
abutment wing for several years. In 1909 the leaks observed increased considerably
in the right using of the Anicut in the score vents portion and in
•
• the summers floods on 23rd August 1909 the apron below up suddenly bringing
down the right abutment and the arches in the three adjacent vents.
• They were rebuilt omitting the score vents before the irrigation season of the
following years. The new works was founded on solid clay bed met with about 6.1m
(2 feet) below the Anicut crest level. The foundations consist of concrete for a depth
of 6 feet and of ground molded brick in mortar for the next four feet. As an
additional precaution a puddle clay apron of 0.91m (3 feet), thickness was provided
up stream for such width as to secure a hydraulic gradient of 1 in 10. The cost of the
restoration was Rs.1,23,000/-

24. • In 1922 new scouring vents, 5 in number of 6.10m (20 feet) span fitted with radial
gates were created and they were aligned to be on the downstream end of Anicut
to protect the Grand Anicut foundation from score a bed regulator was constructed
for a length of 305m (100 feet) from the nose between the Anicut and the scouring
sluices on the upstream side with the object of deflecting the low water course
away from the Anicut towards the Vennar regulator and then to the scouring
sluices.
• Tiruchirappalli Railway Junction Building
• Southern Railway was formed 62 years back, on 14th April 1951 by the
amalgamation of the South Indian Railway, Madras & Southern Mahratta Railway
and Mysore State Railway. Tiruchchirappalli Division is one of the six Divisions of
Southern Railway. Tiruchchirappalli Division has a long cherished history as
compared to other Divisions of Southern Railway. Well before the formation of the
Southern Railway, Tiruchchirappalli was the headquarters of the South Indian
Railway. The South Indian Railway had its origin in July 1874 succeeding the earlier
Great Southern Of India and Carnatic Railway Companies. The First line from
Nagappattinam to Erode was commenced in May 1859 by the Great Southern of
India. It is interesting to note that this line was completed on the Broad Gauge but
later converted into Metre Gauge between July 1875 and December 1879.

25. • The South Indian Railway progressed rapidly and by 1878 it had opened the Metre Gauge line from
Madras to Tuticorin (via Thanjavur and Madurai) with a gap over the Colerroon River near
Chidambaram over which a bridge was built in 1879. The lines formerly owned and worked by
•
• the Great Southern of India and the Carnatic Railway Companies were amalgamated on 1st July
1874 under the title of South Indian Railway. Later the South Indian Railway and the Villupuram
• - Guntakal State Railway were purchased by the Government and worked under the name of South
Indian Railway Company (Limited). Soon after India's Independence, the Government undertook a
programmes of regrouping the smaller Railway systems into initially 6 sufficiently large and
administratively viable systems. As a result of this integration process the lines worked by the
erstwhile South Indian Railway, Madras & Southern Mahratta Railway, and Mysore State Railway
were grouped into Southern Railway on 14th April 1951.
• Trichchirappalli Division formed on 01.16.1956, serves the State of Tamil Nadu and the Union
Territory of Puducherry. This Division may be the only Division in the world maintaining the Railways
developed by both the British and the French empires. The Pondicherry railway line was
constructed in the year 1879 by the Pondicherry Railway Company under the supervision of South
Indian Railway with the object of connecting the town and the port of Pondicherry with South India
and to develop the resources of the Pondicherry Territory. Even though there was total rivalry
between the then Super Powers--the French and the English -when it came to economic
development they had a very good understanding and the Pondicherry Railway system was a good
example of it

26. • CONCLUSION
• Tiruchirappalli is a treasure house of hundreds of monuments and aesthetically
beautiful sculptures and paintings. Each and every art piece gives a clue to the past
cultural heritage of the land. The heitages not only represent the achievements of
the respective regions for the ages past, but also reflect the urge of man to lead a
higher life. The cultural properties are truly universal, because they represent the
common struggle of humanity to build something, which is beautiful and everlasting.
• Heritages are the pride of a nation. Secular heritages are considered to be valuable
cultural assets to any society. They are closely connected with the culture and
customs of the people of a nation, because these monuments not only show the
development in civilization and
•
• culture of the society but also are milestones to measure the historical growth and
development in different spheres of a nation. Moreover monuments, in themselves
possess, the historic past to be passed to nation underwent, successes, the people
achieved in various fields, the celebration they had, the commemoration that were
organized failures they had faced, thinking pattern they developed, aesthetics they
enjoyed, art and music they cherished etc.

27. • References
• 1. Muruganantham.S, Nadanthaivazhi Tiruchirappalli, Tiruchirappalli,2005.
• 2. Tiruchirappalli District Gazetteer Volume-1, Chennai,1999.
• 3. Sundararaj.T, History of Tiruchirappalliupto 1947.Tiruchirappalli, 2003.
• 4. Rajayyan.K, South Indian Rebelion 1800-1801, Mysore, 1971.
• 5. Handbook on Madras Museum, Published by Madras Museum, 1980.
• 6. F.R. Hemingway, Tiruchinopoli Gazettere, madras, 1981.
• 7. Proceedings of the municipal commissioner Tiruchirappalli Municipality, 29 th September, 1869.
• 8. VT Chellam, Tamilagam Varalarum Panpaadum.
• 9. Indian Antiquary, Vol.XLV, 1916.
• 10. Indian Antiquary, Vol.XLV, 1916.
• 11. M. L. Nigm, Fundamentals of Musecology, Hyderabad.
• 12. http://www.tnstc.gov.in/anna-science-centre.html
• 13. The Hindu, Dated 18.07.2013
• 14. C. D. Maclean (ed), Manual of the administration of the Madras Presidency, New Delhi, 1987.
• 15. Tiruchirappalli District, Irrigation seminar, Tiruchirappalli, 16th March 1990.
• 16. Janakiraman, NadanthaiVaazhi Cauvery, Madras,1971.
• 17. K.Nagarajan, Cauvery, New Delhi,1975.