Vadalur

Vadalur is a town and 2nd-grade municipality in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu. It is 208 km from Chennai, the state capital of Tamil Nadu.



History
Ramalinga Swamigal, often called Vallalar, established the Sathyagnana Sabhai. He built a temple which is open year-round. Thousands of visitors attend festivals and monthly puja dates at this temple. Vadalur is well connected by rail and road, and it provides transport to major cities like Trichy, Chennai, Tanjore, Puducherry, and Kumbakonam.

Festivals
The Thai Poosam (தைப்பூசம்) celebration in January is a festival held annually in Vadalur. The Swamigal sang thousands of songs called Thiru Arutppa. The district was named after him for a while. On Thai Poosam, thousands of devotees from all over Tamil Nadu visit the temple. More than 10,000 market stalls are available for at least a week for the pilgrims. Food, water, and fresh juice are available for devotees to purchase.



Demographics
As of the 2011 census, Vadalur had a population of 39,514. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Vadalur has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. The male literacy rate is 78%, and the female literacy rate is 61%. In Vadalur, 11% of the population is under six years of age. The literacy level is high because of the private schools and government schools.

Vadalur runs a ceramic factory called Neycer which employs many people in the city.

Revenue villages

 * Serakuppam
 * Abatharanapuram
 * Parvathipuram

Economy
Agriculture plays an important role in Vadalur's economy. The SIDCO Industrial Estate creates many job opportunities for the people of Vadalur. NLC's coal loading station is located in Vadalur as well. Small businesses also help in improving Vadalur's economic development.

Train

 * Vadalur Railway Station (VLU), located 1 km from the Vadalur Main Bus Terminal



Bus
Buses are available from Vadalur to major cities at all times.
 * Vadalur - Chennai (TNSTC)
 * Vadalur - Bangalore (TNSTC)
 * Vadalur - Tirupati (TNSTC)
 * Cuddalore - Trichy (TNSTC)
 * Chennai - Kumbakonam (TNSTC & SETC)
 * Chennai - Tanjore (TNSTC & SETC)
 * Cuddalore - Salem (TNSTC)
 * Chidambaram - Salem (TNSTC)
 * Puducherry - Tiruchendur (SETC)
 * Puducherry - Sengottai (SETC)
 * Puducherry - Thiruvananthapuram (SETC)
 * Puducherry - Ooty (SETC)
 * Puducherry - Pampa (SETC Seasonal Route)
 * Puducherry - Mahe (PRTC)
 * Neyveli - Karaikkal (PRTC)
 * Chidambaram - Vellore (TNSTC)
 * Chidambaram - Gudiyatham (TNSTC)
 * Chidambaram - Thiruvannamalai (TNSTC)
 * Kumbakonam - Vellore (TNSTC)
 * Cuddalore - Vridhalachalam (TNSTC)
 * Cuddalore - Madurai (TNSTC)
 * Cuddalore - Tiruppur (TNSTC)
 * Cuddalore - Palani (TNSTC)
 * Chidambaram - Tirupati (TNSTC)
 * Chidambaram - Bangalore (KSRTC)
 * Chidambaram - Bangalore (TNSTC)

Local transport

 * Auto rickshaws are available anytime in Vadalur. The auto rickshaw stand is called Vallalar Auto Stand.

Nearby airports

 * Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ) - 157 km from Vadalur
 * Pondicherry Domestic Airport (PNY) - 63 km from Vadalur
 * Neyveli Domestic Airport (NVY) (Not in service) - 8.8 km from Vadalur

Hospitals

 * Government Upgraded Primary Health Centre
 * Government Veterinary Hospital, Vadalur

Landmarks
Satya Gnana Sabha is a major tourist and spiritual center in Vadalur. Vadular is also home to Iyyan Lake and the Sacred Heart Church. The NLC mines can be seen from the observation site in the Kattukollai area of Vadalur.


 * The vegetable market is held near Vadalur bus stand every Saturday.
 * Meat markets run daily in Raghavendra City.
 * The farmers' market (உழவர் சந்தை) is open daily in Raghavendra City.
 * The cattle and goat market is held every Saturday on the grounds of Abatharanapuram.
 * Sathya Ganana Sabai

Areas in Vadalur

 * Serakuppam
 * Abatharanapuram
 * Baktha nagar
 * Parvathipuram
 * Pudhunagar
 * Kattukollai
 * Kottakarai
 * Poosalikuppam
 * Vengattankuppam
 * Neththanankuppam
 * Ragavendra City
 * Jayapriya Nagar
 * NLC Officers Nagar
 * R.C. Colony
 * Thomaiyar Nagar

Major cities from Vadalur
Chennai (the state capital) is located directly north of Vadalur. Trichy and Salem are located west of Vadalur. Cuddalore (District Capital) and Puducherry are to the east. Kumbakonam and Thanjavur is to the south.

Notable people

 * O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu

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 * A. Thangarasu, an Indian politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly