Wikipedia:Today's featured article/January 20, 2014

Tiruchirappalli is the fourth largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and is the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli District. Its recorded history begins in the 3rd century BC, when it was under the rule of the Cholas. The city has also been ruled by the Pandyas, Pallavas, Vijayanagar Empire, Nayak Dynasty, the Carnatic state and the British. It played a crucial role in the Carnatic Wars (1746–63) between the British and the French East India companies. During British rule, the city was popular for the Trichinopoly cigar, its unique brand of cheroot. Monuments include the Rockfort (pictured), the Ranganathaswamy temple and the Jambukeswarar temple. It is an important educational centre in Tamil Nadu, housing nationally recognised institutions such as the Indian Institute of Management and the National Institute of Technology. The presence of a large number of energy equipment manufacturing units in and around the city has earned it the title of "Energy equipment and fabrication capital of India". Located almost at the centre of Tamil Nadu, the city has become a major road and railway hub in the state and is served by Tiruchirappalli International Airport.

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