Sankagiri also known as Sankari in Tamil is a panchayat town located in Salem district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The hill situated here resembles an oyster hence the town has been named as Sankagiri. Earlier the town was completely engaged in agricultural work.
Economy of Sankagiri
The town was earlier engaged in agriculture. Presently Sankagiri is one of the chief Truck transport town in the country. The other important source of income is steel rolling mills and alloys. There are more than 6 steel alloys present here. For many years Sankagiri has remained as the largest consumer of diesel in south India. The town has a separate showroom of Ashok Leyland. Though Thiruchengode is known for bore well, Sankagiri is known for 10 wheel/12 wheel trucks.
Tourist Places in Sankagiri
Sankagiri Fort is a historical fort situated 22 km from the city of Erode and 38 km from Salem. The fort is presently under the Archaeological Survey of India. The fort was constructed by the Vijayanagar Empire in the 15th century. The fort was used for storing
British tax storage facility for Kongu Nadu. It is a region made up of districts of Salem, Tiruppur, Namakkal, Dindigul, Karur, Erode, Coimbatore. Sankagiri Fort has 14 fort walls constructed on and around a hill. The British later built the remaining part of the walls in the last phase.
Sankagiri Fort was also used as a military base by Tippu Sultan to prevent the British forces to have an easy access to Coimbatore. In the 18th century Tipu Sultan had also constructed a secret underground passage to Mysore city. The British army also used the fort as their military base. The fort is endowed with a special feature. Only one side of the hill can be climbed while all the other sides are very steep hence cannot be climbed. The fort has two oil godowns, a death well, one explosives godown, granary, 2 Varadharaja Perumal temples and two masjids. Apart from this there are ancient British Army administrative buildings and cemeteries that were earlier used by the armies who took refuge in the fort. The British had captured Dheeran Chinnamalaiand hanged at Sankagiri Fort on 31 July 1805. Dheeran Chinnamalaiand was a Kongu chieftain and Palayakkarar who has revolted against the British East India Company in the Kongu Nadu. Other than this there are other tourist places here like Varadaraja Perumal Temple located on top of a hill. It is almost 5 kms away from Sankagiri. The CSI Nathaniel Memorial Church maintained by the C.S.I Coimbatore Diocese is also built here.
Sankagiri is well connected with all modes of transports. The famous National Highway 47 passes through Sankagiri. Buses frequently ply from Sankari. Buses are also available from Chennai, Villupuram, Chidambaram, Neyvelli and so many places. The place can also be reached through trains that run from Coimbatore and passes through Sankari Railway station.
