Shawnzus at 11:40, 23 January 2026

2026-01-23T11:40:51Z

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{{About|the district|its eponymous headquarters|Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Dharmapuri district
| settlement_type =
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
|size = 250
|photo1a =
|photo2a = Vathalmalai in dharmapuri.jpg
|photo2b = Hogenakkal Tamil Nadu.JPG
|photo3a = Vaiyar Dam, Pappireddipatti 2.jpg
|photo3b = St. Mary's Church - Kadagathur.jpg
|photo4a = Chendrayaperumal Temple Easternside view.jpg
}}
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Clockwise from top-left:[[Sri Kalyana Ramaswamy temple]], Vathalmalai, [[Hogenakkal Falls|Hogenakkal Waterfalls]], St. Mary's Church in [[Kadagathur, Dharamapuri|Kadagathur]], [[Chenraya Perumal Temple]], Vaiyar Dam near [[Pappireddipatti]]
| nickname =
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-point = none
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates = {{coord|12|7|33.6|N|78|9|14.4|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[File:TamilNadu Logo.svg|22px]] [[Tamil Nadu]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 2 October 1965
| founder = [[M. Bhakthavatsalam]]
| named_for =
| seat_type = Headquarters
| seat = [[Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu|Dharmapuri]]
| parts_type = [[Taluka|Taluks]]
| parts = [[Dharmapuri taluk|Dharmapuri]], [[Nallampalli taluk|Nallampalli]], [[Palacode taluk|Palakcode]], [[Karimangalam taluk|Karimangalam]], [[Pennagaram taluk|Pennagaram]], [[Harur taluk|Harur]], [[Pappireddipatti taluk|Pappireddipatti]], [[Eriyur taluk|Eriyur]]
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| leader_title1 = [[District Collector]]
| leader_name1 = R.Sadheesh, [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]]
| leader_title2 = [[Superintendent of Police]]
| leader_name2 = S.S.Maheswaran, [[Indian Police Service|I.P.S]]
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 4497.77
| area_rank = 11
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 1,506,843
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank = 24
| population_demonym =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 636(xxx)
| area_code = 04342
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:IN]]
| registration_plate = [[List of RTO districts in India#TN—Tamil Nadu|TN]]-29<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/sta/a2.pdf |title=www.tn.gov.in |access-date=26 September 2011 |archive-date=23 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823194333/https://www.tn.gov.in/sta/a2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| blank1_name_sec1 = Largest city
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu|Dharmapuri]]
| website = {{URL|dharmapuri.nic.in}}
| footnotes =
| demographics1_info1 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = Largest metro
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu|Dharmapuri]]
| blank3_name_sec1 = [[IUCN protected area categories|IUCN category]]
| blank3_info_sec1 = 
| blank4_name_sec1 = Central location:
| blank4_info_sec1 = {{coord|12|7|N|78|9|E}}
| official_name =
}}

'''Dharmapuri district''' is one of the 38 districts in the state of [[Tamil-Nadu]], India. It is the [[List of districts in Tamil Nadu|first district]] created in Tamil Nadu after the [[independence of India]] by splitting it from then-[[Salem district]] on 2 October 1965. Dharmapuri District is one of the major producers of mango in the state, fine quality [[granite]] is found in the district. It is also one of the main [[sericulture]] belts in the state. Around 30 percent of the district's area is under forest cover. [[Kaveri]] enters Tamil Nadu through this district. Dharmapuri district had the lowest literacy rate of 74.23% in Tamilnadu during the 2011 census.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dharmapuri District Population, Tamil Nadu, List of Taluks in Dharmapuri|url=https://www.censusindia2011.com/tamil-nadu/dharmapuri-population.html|access-date=2021-12-07|website=Censusindia2011.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Etymology==
Dharmapuri was called ''Thagadur'' during the [[Sangam period|Sangam era]]. The name Thagadur is derived from two [[Tamil language|Tamil]] words, ''Thagadu'' meaning iron ore, and ''ur'' meaning place. The name Thagadur was changed to Dharmapuri after the Sangam period, possibly during the period of the [[Vijayanagara Empire]] or the period of the [[Kingdom of Mysore]]. The name Thagadur is still used by some of the people of Dharmapuri.

==History==
The region is believed to have been controlled by the [[Pallava dynasty]] in the 8th century. The [[Rashtrakuta]]s took over in the 9th century. They were defeated by the [[Chola dynasty|Cholas]] in the 11th century, and subsequently the district came under the Chola sphere of governance.<ref name="hstry"/>

[[File:Adimoolaperumal.j.jpg|thumb|[[Adi Srinivasa perumal temple]], Dharmapuri built by Pallavas]]

During 18th century, present-day Dharmapuri district was part of the [[Kingdom of Mysore]] and was called Baramahal. As part of the [[Treaty of Seringapatam]] (signed on 18 March 1792) after the [[Third Anglo-Mysore War]], Tipu Sultan agreed to give part of his territories including present-day Dharmapuri district to the [[East India Company|British East India Company]] which was then merged into the [[Madras Presidency]] an [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|administrative subdivision]] of [[British India]].

The present-day district was part of the [[Salem District]] under British rule, until the founding of Dharmapuri district on 2 October 1965. The Dharmapuri district was split into Dharmapuri and [[Krishnagiri district]]s in 2004.<ref name="hstry">{{cite web | url=http://www.dharmapuri.tn.nic.in/history.htm | title=History of Dharmapuri District | publisher=Dharmapuri District Official TN Website | access-date=1 March 2014 | archive-date=17 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217043639/http://www.dharmapuri.tn.nic.in/history.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref> Many historical rock sculptures are found in this district. Modhur, a village near Dharmapuri has remains that date back to the [[Neolithic age]]. A government museum in Dharmapuri town displays some of these significant sculptures. Excavations at another village, [[Perumbalai]], have unearthed artifacts dating back centuries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Muruganandham |first=T. |date=2024-07-03 |title=Artefacts in TN's Perumbalai excavation site reveal an Iron Age story |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2024/Jul/03/artefacts-in-tns-perumbalai-excavation-site-reveal-an-iron-age-story |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
The district is located between latitudes N 11 47’ and 12 33’ and longitudes E 77 02’ and 78 40’. Occupies an area of {{convert|4497.77|km²|abbr=on}} (i.e. 3.46% of Tamil Nadu). It is bounded on the north by [[Krishnagiri District]], on the east by [[Tiruvannamalai District]] and [[Kallakurichi district]], on the south by [[Salem District]], and on the west by Karnataka's [[Chamarajanagar District]]. The whole district is surrounded by hills and forests, and the terrain consists mostly of rolling plains.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dharmapuri District Disaster Management Plan |url=https://tnsdma.tn.gov.in/img/document/DDMPPDF/Dharmapuri%20District%20DDMA%20Plan-24.pdf}}</ref>

===Forests===
The whole district is predominantly covered with forests. Spider Valley located near [[Hogenakkal (village)|Hogenakkal]] is home to many wild animals. The district falls in the migratory path of elephants. Conflicts between man and elephant are most common in these parts. Many tribal communities depend on these forests. Vathalmalai, a mountain hamlet on top of Shervarayan hill chain has suitable conditions to cultivate coffee and [[jackfruit]]. Wild boars and [[spotted deer]] are commonly seen in Morappur and [[Harur]] forest region. [[Gaur]]s sometimes stroll near villages in the [[Bommidi]] region. [[Thoppur|Thoppur ghat]] has one of the area's scenic highways surrounded by mountains and forests.

'''Rivers and dams'''

Waterbodies in Dharmapuri - Pappireddipatti-Vaniyaru Dam is most important river and dam in this district. This river joined to Thenpennai river, [[Harur taluk]], [[Chinnar River|Chinnaru river]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-10-21 |title=Flood alert in Dharmapuri district; lake overflows in Krishnagiri |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/flood-alert-in-dharmapuri-dist-lake-overflows-in-krishnagiri/articleshow/95000522.cms |access-date=2023-10-13 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> [[Ramakkal Lake]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ramakkal lake in TN polluted & emits foul smell, residents demand rejuvenation |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2023/sep/14/ramakkal-lake-in-tn-polluted--emits-foul-smell-residents-demand-rejuvenation-2614615.html |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

==Governance==
[[Dharmapuri]] is the district headquarters. The district has been divided into two revenue divisions, namely, Dharmapuri and Harur consisting seven [[Tehsil|taluks]].

===Administrative divisions===
'''Municipality:'''

#[[Dharmapuri]],
#[[Harur]]

'''Town Panchayats:'''

#[[Bommidi]]
#[[Kadathur (Dharmapuri)|Kadathur]]
#[[Kambainallur]]
#[[Kariamangalam]]
#[[Marandahalli]]
#[[Palakkodu]]
#[[Papparapatti, Dharmapuri|Papparapatti]]
#[[Pappireddipatti]]
#[[Pennagaram]]
#[[Koothapadi]]

'''Proposed Municipal Corporations:'''

#[[Dharmapuri]]

'''Proposed Municipality:'''

#[[Palakkodu]]
#[[Pennagaram]]

'''Proposed Town Panchayats:'''

#[[Nallampalli]]
#[[Morappur block|Morappur]]
#[[Thoppur]]

'''Panchayat Unions:'''

#[[Dharmapuri]]
#[[Harur]]
#[[Nallampalli]]
#[[Palacode]]
#[[Pennagaram]]
#[[Karimangalam block|Karimangalam]]
#[[Morappur block|Morappur]]
#[[Pappireddipatti]]
#[[Kadathur]]
#[[Eriyur Block|Eriyur]]

'''Revenue divisions:'''

#[[Dharmapuri division|Dharmapuri]]
#[[Harur division|Harur]].

'''Revenue taluks:'''

#[[Dharmapuri taluk|Dharmapuri]]
#[[Harur taluk|Harur]]
#[[Karimangalam taluk|Karimangalam]]
#[[Nallampalli taluk|Nallampalli]]
#[[Palacode taluk|Palacode]]
#[[Pappireddipatti taluk|Pappireddipatti]]
#[[Pennagaram taluk|Pennagaram]].

==Demographics==
{{historical populations|11=1901|12=3,28,897|13=1911|14=3,44,203|15=1921|16=3,28,877|17=1931|18=3,83,902|19=1941|20=4,43,969|21=1951|22=4,99,582|23=1961|24=6,15,809|25=1971|26=7,96,404|27=1981|28=9,40,175|29=1991|30=11,23,583|31=2001|32=12,95,182|33=2011|34=15,06,843|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901]</ref>|align=right}}

According to [[2011 census of India|2011 census]], Dharmapuri district had a population of 1,506,843 with a sex-ratio of 946 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.<ref name="dashboard">{{cite web|title=Census Info 2011 Final population totals|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/censusinfodashboard/index.html|publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|year=2013|access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref> A total of 167,940 were under the age of six, constituting 87,777 males and 80,163 females. The average literacy of the district was 91.2% compared to the national average of 72.99%.<ref name="dashboard"/> The district had a total of 375,873 households. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 16.29% and 4.18% of the population respectively. There were a total of 751,170 workers, comprising 191,080 cultivators, 217,062 main agricultural labourers, 11,308 in house hold industries, 233,546 other workers, 98,174 marginal workers, 10,248 marginal cultivators, 50,283 marginal agricultural labourers, 4,033 marginal workers in household industries and 33,610 other marginal workers. 17.32% of the population lived in urban areas.<ref name=2011census>{{cite web|title=Census Info 2011 Final population totals – Dharmapuri district|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=703298|publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|year=2013|access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref> The population of the district is roughly equal to the nation of [[Gabon]]<ref name="cia">{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison:Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070613004507/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 13 June 2007 | access-date = 2011-10-01 | quote =Gabon 1,576,665}}</ref> or the US state of [[Hawaii]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php
|title=2010 Resident Population Data
|publisher=U. S. Census Bureau
|access-date=2011-09-30
|quote=Hawaii 1,360,301
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019160532/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php
|archive-date=2013-10-19
}}</ref>
{{bar box
|title=Religions in Dharmapuri district (2011)<ref name="religion">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-01 Population by Religion: Tamil Nadu |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11392/download/14505/DDW33C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Tamil Nadu|Hinduism]]|darkorange|96.42}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|green|2.54}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity in Tamil Nadu|Christianity]]|purple|0.94}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.10}}
}}
{{Pie chart
|caption = Languages of Dharmapuri district (2011)<ref name="language"/>
|label1 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]] |value1 = 87.90 |color1 = royalblue
|label2 = [[Telugu language|Telugu]] |value2 = 6.51 |color2 = steelblue
|label3 = [[Kannada]] |value3 = 2.95 |color3 = darkslateblue
|label4 = [[Urdu]] |value4 = 2.26 |color4 = green
|label5 = Others |value5 = 0.38 |color5 = gray
|thumb=left
}}

At the time of the 2011 census, 87.90% of the population spoke [[Tamil language|Tamil]], 6.51% [[Telugu language|Telugu]], 2.95% [[Kannada]] and 2.26% [[Urdu]] as their first language.<ref name="language">{{Cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Tamil Nadu |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10222/download/13334/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-3300.XLSX |website=[[Census of India]] |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

==Politics==
{{transcluded section|source=16th Tamil Nadu Assembly}}
{{#section:16th Tamil Nadu Assembly|MLA Header}}
{{#section:16th Tamil Nadu Assembly|Dharmapuri district}}
|}

==Economy==

===Agriculture===
Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts account for more than 60% to 70% total mango production in Tamil Nadu.<ref name="Mango cultivation in TN">{{cite web|title= Mango cultivation in TamilNadu(Dharmapuri & Krishnagiri Districts)|url=http://tnhorticulture.tn.gov.in/horti/horticulture-map|publisher=National Horticulture Board, Government Of INDIA}}</ref> It is a major producer of Ragi and saamai crops in the state. Exotic crops like dates are also being cultivated by some farmers in the areas around Ariyakulam.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Crop !! Area under cultivation (in hect.) !! in %
|-
| Paddy (Sornavari / Kuruvai / Kar / Samba / Thallady / Pisanam/ Navarai / Kodai) || 9,465 || 5.60%
|-
| Millets (Ragi) || 18,243 || 10.80%
|-
| Other Minor Millets || 69,162 || 40.90%
|-
| Pulses || 40,441 || 23.90%
|-
| Sugar Cane || 11,971 || 07.10%
|-
| Mango || 6,506 || 03.80%
|-
| Coconut || 7,037 || 04.20%
|-
| Tamarind || 1,197 || 00.70%
|-
| Other Crops || 5,067 || 03.00%
|-
| '''Total'''|| 1,69,089 ||100%
|}

[[Kaveri river]], [[Ponnaiyar river]], Thoppaiyaru river, Chinnar river, Nagavathy river, [[Vanniyar river]] and Sanathkumara river are the major water sources but mostly Agriculture here is dependent on groundwater resources and Tank Irrigation

==See also==
*[[Tribal Health Initiative]]
*[[List of districts of Tamil Nadu]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://dharmapuri.nic.in/ Dharmapuri District's Government website]
* [http://www.dpi.net.in/ Dharmapuri District's Support website]
* [http://www.facebook.com/dharmapurinambaooru Dharmapuri- Idhu Namba Ooru Machi]

{{Dharmapuri district}}
{{Tamil Nadu}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Dharmapuri district| ]]
[[Category:1965 establishments in Madras State]]
[[Category:Districts of Tamil Nadu]]

Dharmapuri district - Revision history

Shawnzus at 11:40, 23 January 2026