Arakkonam (also "Arkonam") (Tamil: ?????????) is a mid-sized town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu with a population of about 77,000. This town is located in the Vellore District about (via rail) from the state capital of Chennai.

Arakkonam is supposedly one of the hottest towns in India (next to Vellore), where the temperature can exceed 43°C (110°F) for several days in peak of the summer.

History

The name of the town is believed to have been derived from the Tamil word Aaru konam meaning hexagon (ancient name was "arunthamizh kundram"), since it has six important places on its six sides. Nearby towns include Kanchipuram, Tiruttani, Tiruvalangadu, Thakkolam, Manavoor and Sholingur. Arakkonam is one of the important railway junctions in South India. The station was known as Arkonam until a few years ago. It is an important junction since the Chennai-Mumbai line branches off from the line going to Bangalore, Coimbatore, and Kerala. There is also a branch line to Chengalpattu via Kanchipuram. However, many trains coming from Bangalore side to Mumbai side bypass the station through an avoiding line.

Urban structure

Arakkonam is also one of the biggest junctions in Southern Railway and many trains stop at this station. The town has one of the biggest workshops for the southern railways, known as Engineering Workshop (EWS). A frequent electric train facility is also available towards Chennai.

The Second bigest FCI (Food Corporation of India ) in Tamil Nadu. It is used to store all types of food grains for a long time.

Transport facility on road is also available to all major city and towns.

The runway at INS Rajali, a naval Air base of the Indian Navy in Arakkonam is, at 4,500 metres, the longest in South Asia. MRF tyres, Ramco cements, L&T cements, TVS, Tamil Nadu Steel Plan, TTL have their plants in the town. The Steel plan & TTL are now hand over to private sectors.

Demographics

India census,^[1] Arakonam had a population of 82,500. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Arakonam has an average literacy rate of 80.2% higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 54% of the males and 46% of females literate. About 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Culture

Temples

Thiruvalankadu Vadaaranyeswarar Temple Thevara Padal Petra Shiva Temple of Thondai Nadu - One of the 275 temples of Lord Shiva. Located at 15 km towards east of Arakkonam.

Sholingar Narasimha Swamy Hill Temple Lord Mahavishnu Temple - 1000 feet above on this temple. Lord Vishnu's. Located at 28 km towards west of Arakkonam.

Language

Tamil and Telugu are the languages spoken by the most. Hindi is also spoken, due to the presence of military establishments.

Politics

Arakkonam assembly constituency (SC) is part of Arakkonam (Lok Sabha constituency).^[2] DMK alliance candidate APLF M Jaganmoorthy won Arakkonam assembly constituencyfor 2006.

Education

Schools

• Govt.AdiDravidar welfare higher secondary school(Boys)
• Govt.AdiDravidar welfare higher secondary school(Girls)
• Govt.AdiDravidar welfare primary school
• Municipality Middle School, Winterpet
• Govt. Boys Hr. Secondary School
• Givt. Girls Hr. Secondary School,Housing Board
• CSI Central Higher Secondary School
• St Andrews Higher Seconday School
• Sacred Heart Matriculation Higher Secondary School
• GoodWill Nursery & Primary School
• Valluvar Matriculation Higher Secondary School
• Steelplant Matriculation Higher Secondary School
• SMS Vimal Matriculation Higher Secondary School
• Vivekanada Matriculation Higher Secondary School
• Bharathidasanar Matriculation Higher Secondary School
• Dr. V. G. N Matriculation Higher Secondary School
• Selvam Matriculation Higher sec. school
• krishna Matriculation school, Nearby Krishna Polytechnic
• Dhanam Matriculation school
  • • Mahathma Gandhiji visited to Govt.AdiDravidar welfare primary school. The ADW schools only serve to the poor and Backword cast students.
    • CSI Central High Secondary School, in the center of the town, is one of the oldest schools in India, having recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. This School was controlled and Managed by the CSI Madras Dioses. Nearly 4,000 students studing at this school. This school serve to the nation for more than 109 years
    • St. Andrew's High Secondary School, is also in the center of the town, is one of the oldest schools in India, having recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. This School was controlled and Managed by the CSI Madras Diocese. Nearly 5,000 students studing at this school. This school serve to the nation for more than 159 years

Colleges

• Sri Krishna Polytechnic, Near Mangammapet gate
• V.S. Isaac College Of Education, Attupakkam, Arakkonam
• Christian Teacher Traning Institution, Attupakkam, Arakkonam
• Arakkonam College of Arts and Science, Tiruttani Road,(near MRF), Arakkonam
• Mercury college of Arts and Science, Sholinger Road, Arakkonam
• Government ITI, Near Puliyamangalam railway station

Industries

• Ramco Cement Factory
• Tiruvalangadu Sugar Factory
• Steel plant
• Ultratech cements pvt ltd., Chitteri.
• MRF Ltd.
• Spinnig Mills
• TVS
• TTL

Nearby towns/cities

• Chennai
• Arcot
• Kancheepuram
• Tiruttani
• Tirupati
• Vellore
• Sholingur

References

See also

• Arakkonam (Lok Sabha constituency)

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