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Akkur (ஆக்கூர் is a village(Medium Town) and a municipality in Tiruvarur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Tiruvarur is the administrative headquarters of Tiruvarur district. Tiruvarur is one of the oldest towns which has been popular as cultural head quarters for many centuries. This ancient town in Chola heartland is famous for its Sri Tyagaraja temple, as well as the annual chariot festival held in the month of April. Tiruvarur also happens to be the birth place of Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri, popularly known as the Trinity of Carnatic music.

History
According to history, the central temple in Tiruvarur was installed by Muchukanta Chola. Tiruvarur is also associated with another legendary king, Manuneedhi Cholan.

Tiruvarur is mentioned in the works of Thirugnana Sambanthar and Tirunavukkarasar, the foremost Saivite saints of 7th century CE. Tirunavukkarasar mentions several Tiruvarur temple traditions, such as Marghazhi Aathirai Vizha, Panguni Uttirai Perunaal and Veedhivitakanin Veedhi Panni. The granite structure of the Tyagarajaswami temple was first constructed by Aditya Chola I in 9th century and revamped during the reign of Rajaraja Chola I. The temple was upgraded and rebuilt with stone by Rajendra Chola I. The royal patronage continued and the town flourished as a cultural centre during the rule of the Nayaks, Vijayanagar kings and Marathas. This temple is one of the biggest in the country and this has the biggest temple chariot in Tamil Nadu. The chariot is very beautiful and Arulmigu Thyagarajaswamy Car festival celebrated here in months of March -April attracts large crowds. Tiruvarur car is very famous one and it is called as 'Aalithre' in Tamil meaning car like ocean. In this temple there is an excellent and unique musical instrument called "Panchamuga Vadyam" with five faces. Each face is ornamented; one with a snake, another with lotus and another one is plain without decorations. One has a Swastik sign. Over each face leather is spread and over the central one Deerskin is spread. It is said that Nanchi Devi played on this instrument when Lord Shiva danced.

The current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr. M.Karunanidhi, was born in the village of Thirukuvalai, near Tiruvarur, and spent his childhood here.

Tiruvaur was part of the Thanjavur District until 1991 and Nagapattinam District until 1997. Tiruvarur was made the headquarters of Tiruvarur District when it was carved out of Nagapattinam in 1997.

A region inside the town called Kodikkal Palayam and Adiyakkamangalam forms a major Muslim dominated area.

Thiruvarur car festival 2008 was celebrated very grandly.The people came from all the surrounding areas.

Geography
Tiruvarur is located to the east of Tamil Nadu, roughly halfway between the northern and southern borders. It has an average elevation of 3 metres (9 ft). Tiruvarur is situated at a distance of 24 km from Nagapattinam, 40 km from Karaikal, 40 km from Mayavaram, 40 km from Kumbakonam, 56 km from Thanjavur, 27 km from Mannargudi and 28 km from Thiruthuraipoondi.

Economy
Tiruvarur lies in the Kaveri River basin and the main occupation of the inhabitants of Tiruvarur and surrounding areas is agriculture.

As of the 2001 India census, Tiruvarur had a population of 56,280. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Tiruvarur has an average literacy rate of 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 76%. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Education
A Government medical college and health care centre is coming up in Tiruvarur shortly. The State Government is setting this up at a cost of Rs 100 crore. The Local Administration Minister, M.K. Stalin, laid the foundation stone on 6th of August, 2007.

Colleges in and around Tiruvarur are as follows:
 * University
 * The Government of India is planning to build Tamil Nadu's first Central University in Tiruvarur.


 * Arts and Science
 * Thiru-Vi-Ka Govt. Arts College, Thiruvarur
 * Nethaji Subash Chendra Bose College, Thiruvarur
 * Rabiammal Ahamed Maideen College for Women, Thiruvarur
 * Sulthana Adbullah Rowther College for Women, Thiruvarur
 * Govt. Cooperative College, Pallivasal Street, Thiruvarur
 * T.T. Narasimhan - Swami Dayananda College of Arts and Science, Thiruvarur Dist.
 * M.R. Govt. Arts College, Mannargudi
 * Semgamala Thaayar Educational Trust Women's College, Mannargudi


 * Engineering Colleges
 * A.R.J. College of Engineering and Technology, Mannargudi
 * Anjalai Ammal Mahalingam Engineering College, Kovilvenni


 * Medical Colleges and Institutions
 * The Government of Tamil Nadu is building a Tiruvarur Medical College in Tiruvarur near to Thandalai.
 * DK Paramedical College, Tiruvarur.
 * Bharath Paramedical College, Tiruvarur.


 * Catering Colleges
 * Bharath Catering College, Tiruvarur.
 * Royal Catering College, Tiruvarur.
 * SELVIES CATERING COLLEGE,TIRUVARUR

Arooran polytechnic college
 * Polytechnic Colleges


 * ITI Institutions
 * Tamil Nadu ITI, Tiruvarur.
 * Rethna ITI, Tiruvarur.
 * SCHOOLS
 * V.S.Boys Higher Secondary School, Thiruvarur. This School have produced more successful students as Kalaigar M.Karunanidhi, Murasoli Maaran.


 * Shri G.R.M Girls higher Secondary School, Thiruvarur.
 * Veludaiyar Higher Secondary School, Thiruvarur.
 * Government Higher Secondary school,Kodikkal Palayam Thiruvarur.
 * Kasthuriba Gandhi Marticulation Higher Sec. School, Vilamal Thiruvarur
 * R.C. Fathima Matriculation School, Kodikkal Palayam, Thiruvarur.

Tyagaraja temple
The ancient Sri Tyagaraja temple at Tiruvarur is dedicated to the Somaskanda aspect of Shiva. The temple complex has shrines dedicated to Vanmikanathar, Tyagarajar and the Kamalaamba, and covers an area of over 20 acre. The Kamalalayam temple tank covers around 25 acre, is one of the largest in the country. The temple chariot is the largest of its kind in Tamil Nadu. The annual car festival is celebrated in the month of Chitrai (April/May). Every year after the car festival, the Theppam festival is celebrated. The temple Kumbabishekam is performed every twelve years, most recently in 2001.

Kekkarai
3 kms from Tiruvarur, just beyond the railway tracks, is a small village called Kekkarai. There is a Ramar Temple and a Shiva temple here.

Top Officials

 * 1) DIG of Police..Mr Abhash Kumar IPS.
 * 2) District Collector. Mr.Chandrasekaran IAS
 * 3) District Superintendent of Police  Mr.Amit Kumar Singh IPS

Politics
Tiruvarur assembly constituency is part of Nagapattinam (Lok Sabha constituency).