Tirupathur district is a district in the northern part of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It was carved out of the erstwhile Vellore district and came into existence in 2019, when the state government reorganised Vellore into three separate districts. The district headquarters is the town of Tirupathur (also spelt Tirupattur). The district is largely rural and is known for its agriculture, sericulture, and the Yelagiri hill station.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Region | North Tamil Nadu |
| Headquarters | Tirupathur |
| Formed | 2019 |
| Parent district | Vellore |
| Language | Tamil |
| Notable hill station | Yelagiri |
Until 2019, the area of present-day Tirupathur district was part of the larger Vellore district. To improve administrative reach, the Government of Tamil Nadu announced the bifurcation of Vellore district into three new districts: Vellore, Ranipet, and Tirupathur. The new districts were inaugurated on 28 November 2019.
Tirupathur district lies on the western edge of northern Tamil Nadu, bordering the state of Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka in the wider region. It shares boundaries with Vellore and Ranipet districts to the east, Krishnagiri district to the west, and Tiruvannamalai district to the south. The terrain is a mix of plains and hill country, with the Eastern Ghats forming prominent ranges in the district. The Yelagiri hills, a cluster of villages on a plateau, form one of the most recognisable geographical features and a popular tourist destination.
The district is administered by a District Collector appointed by the Government of Tamil Nadu. It is divided into administrative taluks, with Tirupathur, Vaniyambadi, Ambur, and Natrampalli being the principal urban centres. The district falls under the jurisdiction of the Tirupathur revenue division.
The district has a diversified economy. Agriculture, including paddy, groundnut, sugarcane, and horticultural crops such as mango, supports a large part of the rural population. Sericulture is widely practised. The towns of Ambur and Vaniyambadi are historically significant centres of the Indian leather industry, with several tanneries and footwear units catering to domestic and export markets. Jolarpettai functions as an important transport and trade node owing to its rail connectivity.
Tirupathur district is well connected by rail and road. Jolarpettai Junction is one of the major railway junctions in southern India, lying on the Chennai–Bangalore main line and serving as a branching point towards Salem and beyond. National Highway 44 (the Chennai–Bengaluru corridor) and other state highways pass through the district, linking it to Bengaluru, Chennai, Salem, and Tirupati.
The Yelagiri hills are the principal tourist attraction, drawing visitors for trekking, boating, and the cooler climate. Other points of interest include temples, forts, and reservoirs spread across the district. The Jalakandeswarar-related religious circuit and several local shrines are also visited by pilgrims.
The creation of Tirupathur district was part of a broader administrative reform in Tamil Nadu aimed at bringing governance closer to citizens by reducing the geographical and population span of large districts. The new district carries forward the leather industry legacy of Ambur and Vaniyambadi and the hill tourism profile of Yelagiri, while gaining direct administrative attention for its rural and forested areas.