Karur

Karur is a city and municipality in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Karur district and lies on the banks of the river Amaravathi, a tributary of the Kaveri. The town is one of the older settlements in the region and is known nationally for its textile industry, bus body building units, and as a centre of several private sector banks.

Key facts

Geography

Karur is situated in the central part of Tamil Nadu, in the Kongu Nadu region. The city lies on the southern bank of the Amaravathi river near its confluence with the Kaveri. The terrain is largely flat with rocky outcrops, and the climate is hot and dry through much of the year, with most rainfall received during the northeast monsoon. Karur is connected by National Highway 44 (the north–south corridor through Tamil Nadu) and lies on the Erode–Tiruchirappalli rail line.

History

Karur is an ancient settlement with references in Tamil Sangam literature. It is widely identified with Karuvur or Vanji, associated in early Tamil tradition with the Chera dynasty. Archaeological work in and around the town has yielded Roman coins, punch-marked coins, and other artefacts indicating that the area was a centre of trade in the early historic period.

Over the centuries the region passed through the rule of the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Vijayanagara empire, and the Madurai Nayaks, before coming under the control of the Mysore rulers and eventually the British, who administered it as part of the Madras Presidency. After Indian independence in 1947, Karur formed part of Tiruchirappalli district. Karur district was carved out as a separate district in 1995.

Economy

Karur is among the most prominent industrial towns in Tamil Nadu and is recognised by the Government of India as a Town of Export Excellence in textiles.

• Home textiles: Karur is a major exporter of bed linen, kitchen linen, table linen, towels, and curtains. The cluster supplies to retailers in Europe, North America, and West Asia.
• Handloom and powerloom: The surrounding region has a long-standing weaving tradition, with several thousand looms operating in and around the town.
• Bus body building: Karur has a large concentration of bus body fabrication units, supplying chassis builders and state transport corporations.
• Banking: Karur is the registered headquarters of Karur Vysya Bank (founded 1916) and Lakshmi Vilas Bank (founded 1926, since amalgamated with DBS Bank India), and historically also of the institution that became Tamilnad Mercantile Bank's regional ecosystem. The town is sometimes referred to as a banking hub of Tamil Nadu.

Civic administration

The town is administered by the Karur Municipality, which is responsible for water supply, sanitation, roads, street lighting, and other urban services. Karur is the headquarters of Karur district, and houses the offices of the District Collector, the Superintendent of Police, and the district judiciary. It forms the Karur Lok Sabha constituency in the Indian Parliament and includes the Karur assembly constituency in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

Transport

• Road: National Highway 44 passes through Karur, linking it to Salem and Dindigul. Other highways connect the town to Erode, Tiruchirappalli, and Coimbatore.
• Rail: Karur Junction lies on the Erode–Tiruchirappalli line of Southern Railway and serves as a junction for the line towards Dindigul.
• Air: The nearest airports are at Tiruchirappalli and Coimbatore.

Culture and landmarks

Karur has a number of historic temples, including the Pasupatheeswarar Temple, dedicated to Shiva, which is among the principal religious landmarks of the town. The Kalyana Pasupatheeswarar Temple at Thanthonimalai, situated on a small rocky hill, is a popular pilgrimage site. Other notable shrines in the surrounding district include those at Thirumuk