Tiruchengode

Tiruchengode is a special grade municipality, and town located in western part of southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, in Namakkal district. It is famous for the ancient hilltop Ardhanareeswarar Temple, dedicated to the unique combined male-female form of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. This important place of pilgrimage is mentioned in the Tamil work Silapathikaram as 'Nedulkundru' and is celebrated in the hymns of Saivite saints. The equally famous Chenkottu Velavar Temple, dedicated to Lord Murugan, is situated on the same hill. As of the 2011 census, the municipality had a population of 95,335. The estimated population as of 2026 is approximately 1,39,000. As per 2011 population, Tiruchengode is the largest city in Namakkal district. It is also famous for rig business.

==History== In ancient days, Tiruchengode was known as Thirukodimaadachenkundrur – one of the historic places in Tamil Nadu.l. Tiruchengode was formed on November 22 and that day is celebrated as tiruchengode day. It was also known as Thiruchengottankudi Nageswaram. It enshrines the Ardhanareeswarar (man-woman) manifestation of Shiva, representing the unity of Shiva and Parvati, is enshrined in this revered hill temple of great significance, accessible by a motorable road; this is an ancient temple mentioned in the Tamil work, Silappadikaram as Neduvelkunru. The red color of the hill is the reason that it was called Chengode. The image above shows the view of the surrounding area from the top of the Tiruchengode hill. This temple is regarded as the 4th of the 7 Tevara Stalams in the Kongu Region of Tamil Nadu. It is believed that Kannagi (Silappathikaram), after demolishing the city of Madurai by fire is called to Sorgam (Heaven) by her husband Kovalan and is in a wrath at the peak of the Tiruchengode hill. The modern history of Tiruchengode includes many memorable events. Eminent leaders like Rajaji, EVR Periar, T.S. Pattabiraman, T.M.Kaliyannan Gounder and EVK Sampath are bound to this town. Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam was the 6th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army from 1967 to 1969. who is from Tiruchengode, His father Paramasivan Subbarayan was the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency, India's ambassador to Indonesia and Union Minister of Transport and Communications and Governor of Maharashtra was also from Tiruchengode Tiruchengode has the pride of having the country's first Gandhi Ashram a tribute to India's great leader Mahatma Gandhi and opened by country's then viceroy Rajaji (Rajagopalachari).