Ariyalur district
Ariyalur district is an administrative district, one of the 38 districts in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The district headquarters is located at Ariyalur. The district encompasses an area of 1,949.31 km2.
Ariyalur District | |
|---|---|
District | |
Brihadiswara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, bus stand road in Jayankondam, Cholagangam Lake, Kodandaramaswamy Temple, Ariyalur, Thirumazhapadi Siva Temple | |
| Nickname: Cement city | |
Location in Tamil Nadu | |
| Coordinates: 11.13704°N 79.075821°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Headquarters | Ariyalur |
| Taluks | Ariyalur, Sendurai, Udayarpalayam, Andimadam |
| Government | |
| • District Collector | P. Ramana Saraswathi, IAS |
| • Superintendent of Police | K. Feroze Khan Abdullah |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,949.31 km2 (752.63 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 754,894 |
| • Density | 390/km2 (1,000/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Vehicle registration | TN 61 |
| Website | ariyalur |
Gangaikonda Cholapuram, built by King Rajendra Cholan of Chola Empire, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in this district. The district is also known for its rich prehistoric fossils. Many fossils of gigantic molluscs and jawed fishes, at least one fossilized dinosaur egg, and several fragmentary fossils of sauropod and theropod dinosaurs have been discovered here. An on-site museum is being set up at Keelapazhur to preserve and conserve fossils. Ariyalur is noted for its cement industries and Jayankondam has huge reserves of lignite.