Melur is located in Madurai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a town known as Thaikramam meaning Mother of Villages. Melur specialises in manufacturing and exporting of ploughs. Within the Madurai District it is the biggest known taluk. The town is located at an elevation of 149 metres (489 ft). Production of granite serves as an important industry here. Granite from this town is exported throughout the world. The town is surrounded by a largely agricultural area hence agriculture is the main source of income for the people residing here. They are mostly employed in cultivation of rice.
Demography of Melur
According to the 2001 India census, Melur had a population of 33,743. The males constituted 51% and females constitute 49% of the population. The average literacy rate is 81%. It is much higher than the national average of 59.5%. The male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 76%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age in Melur.
Pilgrimage Places in Melur
Melur is a famous pilgrimage place visited by many devotees from different places. Vethanayaki Amman Temple, Lord Thirumarainathar Temple and the Manickavasagar Temple are located here. The Hanuman Temple is located at the Pakulam road. The town also has a temple dedicated to Lord Rama. There are five mosques in Melur namely, Masjid Noor close close to Al Ameen High School, Jamiya Masjid Moiyadeen Mosque near Chekkadi, Thaqva Masjid near Baskaran Hospital, Koofa Masjid close to Nondi Kovil Patti and Mohamadhiya Puram Mosque.
There are temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas are here. The festivals of Bhima-Keesakan fight and the Pookkuli Festival are celebrated here with much enthusiasm and gaiety. During the festival of Bhima-Keesakan fight a person acts as Bhima and the other as Keesakan. The person dressed as Keesakan tries to run away while Bhima tries to catch him and kills him. The Draupadi Amman Temple celebrates the Pookkuli festival. On this day devotees who offer prayers to the goddess walk on ignited coals. The Naagammal Temple Festival is another event celebrated here. The main event of this festival is Poochorithal. Every year the mosques in this town celebrate the Santhana Koodu Festival. Other than these the Kottakudi Eruthu Kattu, the Ealai Katha Amman Temple festival, Ayyanar Temple Puravi Eduppu Festival and the Kaliamman festival are also celebrated in Melur on a grand scale.
Melur is well connected with all modes of transport. The Madurai Airport is the nearest airport for Melur. Domestic flights are available to New Delhi, Kochi, Vijayawada, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and other Indian cities. Madurai Railway Station is the nearest railway station. The town also has a bus stand that ply from different places for the town.
