Vaniyambadi

Another hill station leading way through Andhra Pradesh is a short way to Kolar Gold Fields and Karnataka.

Indeed, temples dedicated to Sundara Varadaraja Perumal (Vishnu) and Athitheeswarar (Shiva) dot both banks of the fast-flowing Palar River.

Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan have been known to have camped in Vaniyambadi during their battles against the British empire, also Vaniyambadi battle is first for Tippu at the age of 17 when his Father was ill.[4] The Mysorean army set off on its fresh round of campaigning in the beginning of November 1767.

The main army marched towards Vaniyambadi while another detachment had been sent earlier in the direction of Tirupattur which had again fallen into British hands.

The scouting parties of cavalry and infantry had reported an easy approach to Vaniyambadi along the course of the Palar river which flowed past the town and the route was covered with thick undergrowth and trees.

The Mysorean army reached the outskirts of the fort at dusk on November 6 and set up a battery of 12 cannons on the ridge at night.

Throughout the night he sat under a tree nearby and directed the setting up of the artillery unmindful of the firing by the British who had now noticed his approach.

The cannons commenced firing soon after dawn on November 7 and soon the British garrison in Vaniyambadi capitulated, probably due to its inadequate strength though no breach had been made.

Vaniyambadi is located at 12.6872° N, 78.6303° E.[6] It has an average elevation of 354 metres (1,161 ft) and lies in the Eastern Ghats region and on the banks of the Palar river.

Law and order is maintained by the Tamil Nadu Police, headed by a Deputy superintendent.

[16] Asia's second-largest telescope, Vainu Bappu Observatory of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics is situated at Kavalur near Vaniyambadi.

[citation needed] The town also has a number of mosques built in the medieval as well as modern Islamic architectural styles.

[citation needed] The dargah of Janab Masthan Ali Aulia Saheb draws devotees from all faiths, while the Avanghali temple nearby proclaims this town's great record in harmonious co-existence of different religions.

[citation needed] Devotees to the temples here often extend their stay to visit one of the two hill stations that lie within half-hour drives from the town centre.

The structure of tribal houses and the locals' small-scale industries, such as honey gathering and weaving, attract tourists to this hill station.

[citation needed] Vaniyambadi plays a major role in the field of leather industry.

A state highway connects the town to Tirupattur on the Vaniyambadi-Salem(SH-18), Vaniyambadi-Gudiyattam via Gadambur(SH-130) and Polur-Vaniyambadi via Jamunamarathur, Alangayam(SH-215).

From the town, one can easily travel to the Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and also to the southern parts of Tamil Nadu.

According to news reports, the couplings of a goods train had snapped and the loose wagons slipped onto a second line.

Due to their reputation, students from the surrounding towns of Ambur, Tirupattur, Jolarpet, Pallikonda, Gudiyattam and Alangayam travel here to pursue their higher education.

Map of Vaniyambadi [ 15 ]
A view of Javadi Hills
A view of Yelagiri Lake
A view of the Vainu Bappu Observatory
A view of Vaniyambadi Railway Station
Vaniyambadi Toll Plaza in the Golden Quadrilateral Chennai – Bangalore Highway