Pollāchi, India
Region: Tamil Nadu
Geographic Coordinates: 10.659000, 77.008000
Temperature Range: 15.0°C to 35.0°C (59°F to 95°F)
Climate: Seasonal.
Population: 116558
Language: Tamil
Pollachi is a charming town situated in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India. This place is located at the base of the Western Ghats and is surrounded by lush green forests, Rolling hills, And picturesque landscapes. The town has a rich cultural heritage and boasts several religious places such as temples, Churches, And mosques that attract tourists from across the globe. One of the main highlights of Pollachi is its stunning natural surroundings. The town is located near several wildlife sanctuaries such as Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, And Topslip Tiger Reserve.
These sanctuaries are home to various flora and fauna species including elephants, Tigers, Leopards, Deer, Wild boar among others. Another popular attraction in Pollachi is its vibrant local markets where one can find fresh fruits to handicrafts made by local artisans. These markets are also famous for their spices that are grown locally in fertile soil. The town also has many ancient temples dating back hundreds of years ago.
Some notable ones include Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple which houses an idol made out of Navapashanam (nine types of poisonous herbs), Arulmigu Masani Amman Temple dedicated to Goddess Shakti who protects devotees from evil spirits;and Alagunachiamman temple known for its unique architecture. Pollachi offers various adventure activities such as trekking through dense forests or taking a jeep safari through wildlife reserves like Top Slip Tiger Reserve or Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary.
The town celebrates many festivals throughout the year showcasing its cultural diversity including Pongal festival celebrated every January with great pomp and show where people decorate their homes with colorful rangolis (patterns made with colored powder)and participate in bull-taming events called Jallikattu during this time. Pollachi’s cuisine is mouth-watering which includes dishes like biryani, Dosa, Idli, And vada. One cannot miss trying the local delicacy of Pollachi called Kadai Kari which is a spicy mutton curry cooked in a traditional iron wok. Pollachi is a beautiful town that has something for everyone.
From its natural beauty to its rich cultural heritage and adventurous activities, This place offers it all. So if you are planning to visit Tamil Nadu anytime soon, Make sure to add Pollachi to your itinerary!
Important Landmarks
- Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple
- Topslip Tiger Reserve
- Alagunachi Amman Temple
- Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary
- Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
- Monkey Falls
- Chinnakallar Falls
- Aliyar Dam
- Amaravathi Dam
- Thirumoorthy Hills and Dam
Primary Industries
- The major industries and businesses in Pollachi, India include:
- Agriculture
- Textile manufacturing
- Coconut processing
- Poultry farming
- Dairy farming
- The town is known for its production of:
- Coconuts
- Bananas
- There are also several small-scale industries such as:
- Handloom weaving
- Carpentry
- In recent years, the tourism industry has been growing due to the town’s proximity to popular tourist destinations such as:
- Valparai
- Topslip
- The town of Pollachi was ruled by the Kongu Nadu dynasty during the medieval period.
- During the British colonial era, Pollachi served as a major trading center for cotton and other agricultural products.
- Kalingarayar Canal, built by Kalingarayan in 1280 AD, is one of the oldest irrigation systems in South India and still serves as an important source of water for agriculture in Pollachi.
- Freedom fighter V.O.Chidambaram Pillai was born in Ottapidaram near Pollachi and played a key role in India’s struggle for independence from British rule.
- Tamil poet Subramanya Bharathi visited Pollachi and wrote several poems about the natural beauty of the region.
- The famous Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary is located near Pollachi, which is home to several endangered species like lion-tailed macaque, Indian elephant, and Bengal tiger.
- Agriculture scientist M.S.Swaminathan established a research center at Coimbatore near to Pollachi that focused on improving agricultural productivity with modern techniques.
- The town has also produced many notable personalities like former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.G.Ramachandran (MGR) and actor Suriya Sivakumar who have made significant contributions to Tamil cinema industry.
- Arulmigu Subramaniyaswami Temple
- Aliyar Dam
- Pollachi Mahalinga Puram Temple
- Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary
- Amaravathi Dam and Crocodile Farm
- Topslip Wildlife Sanctuary
- Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
- Parambikulam Tiger Reserve
- Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai (located about 100km from Pollachi)
- Marudhamalai Hill Temple in Coimbatore (located about 50km from Pollachi)
- Kongu Vellalar Thiruvizha: The Kongu Vellalar community in Pollachi celebrates this festival every January, featuring cultural programs, traditional sports, and food fairs.
- Mariamman Festival: Dedicated to the goddess Mariamman, this festival is celebrated with colorful processions, music, dance and offerings to the deity in February or March each year.
- Mahalakshmi Temple Festival: The Mahalakshmi Temple in Pollachi holds its annual festival during April or May with special prayers and rituals along with cultural programs.
- Pongal Festival: Across Tamil Nadu including Pollachi mid-January every year is celebrated as a harvest festival called Pongal which features traditional cooking of sweet rice dish called pongal along with sugarcane juice extraction among other festivities.
- Karthigai Deepam: This Hindu festival of lights falls on full moon day between November-December annually where people light lamps outside their homes while temples are decorated with lights as well.
- Navarathri Festival: Celebrated over nine nights usually around September-October each year involves worshipping Goddess Durga through various rituals like fasting and feasting on vegetarian food items while also showcasing cultural performances such as dance-drama enactments based on mythological stories related to her life history.
- Kothu Parotta – a dish made of shredded parotta (a type of Indian bread) mixed with vegetables and spices.
- Chicken Chettinad – a spicy chicken curry made with a blend of South Indian spices.
- Pongal – a traditional breakfast dish made with rice, lentils, and spices.
- Kovai Biriyani – a flavorful biryani dish cooked in the style of Coimbatore.
- Murugan Idli Shop – a famous chain restaurant known for its soft idlis (steamed rice cakes) served with chutney and sambar.
- Annapoorna Gowrishankar – another popular chain restaurant that serves authentic South Indian vegetarian dishes like dosas, vadas, and uttapams.
- Sri Krishna Sweets – famous for its delicious sweets like Mysore Pak and Laddu.
- Hotel Vijay Park Inn – known for its mouth-watering non-vegetarian dishes like Chettinad chicken and mutton biryani.
- The Grand Regent Restaurant – offers an extensive menu of North Indian, Chinese, Continental, and South Indian dishes in an elegant setting.
- RHR Hotel & Restaurant – serves authentic Tamil Nadu cuisine including seafood specialties such as fish fry or prawn curry along with other regional favorites like masala dosa or vegetable korma.
- Indira Gandhi National Park
- Amaravathi Crocodile Farm and Amusement Park
- Aliyar Dam Reservoir Park
- Monkey Falls
- Anamalai Tiger Reserve
- Topslip Wildlife Sanctuary
- Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
- Azhiyar Dam
- Thirumoorthy Hills and Temple
- Valparai Hill Station
Noteable History
Overall, Pollāchi has a rich history with notable people associated with it who have contributed significantly to various fields including politics, literature, wildlife conservation, and agriculture development among others.