Viralimalai in TN declared heritage town

Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, May 10 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government has notified Viralimalai, a sleepy small town in this district, as a heritage town.

According to official sources, the notification came after a resolution was adopted by the Viralimalai Village Panchayat in January 2006 and a recommendation made by the district administration.

The sources said the temple, built during the Vijayanagar Empire, where Saint-Poet Arunagirinathar was blessed with 'Ashtamasiddhi' and evidences testify to the fact that a number of 'Siddhars' had lived in the caves of this hill, which also houses a peacock sanctuary.

Located on the Tiruchirapalli-Madurai National Highway, Viralimalai is famous for a Murugan Temple and the temple dedicated to Sri Shanmuganathar located atop the Virali Hills where Sri Arunagirinathar sung about Lord Muruga.

Consequent to the notification, the peripheral area of the temple is qualified for a special sanction of Rs 50 lakh from the town and Country Planning Development Fund for providing basic amenities, with focus on drainage facility.

The proposal sought Rs 26 lakh for providing drainage facility on all car streets around the temple and Rs 3.24 lakh for Kamarajar Nagar, near the temple, the sources added.

All the car streets will get concrete pavements at an expenditure of Rs 14.40 lakh. A Rs 4.10 lakh multi-purpose community hall and two blocks of public toilets costing Rs 5.40 lakh will also be built, they added.

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