Watrap is a taluk in Virudhunagar District, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Vathirairuppu
Vathirayiruppu
Town panchayat
Vathirairuppu is located in Tamil Nadu
Vathirairuppu
Vathirairuppu
Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Vathirairuppu is located in India
Vathirairuppu
Vathirairuppu
Vathirairuppu (India)
Coordinates: 9°38′7″N 77°38′20″E / 9.63528°N 77.63889°E / 9.63528; 77.63889
Country India
StateTamil Nadu
DistrictVirudhunagar
Government
 • BodyTaluk
Elevation
73 m (240 ft)
Population
 (01-Jan-2001)[1]
 • Total15,999
Languages
 • OfficialTamil
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
626 132
Telephone code04563
Vehicle registrationTN-67, TN-84
Nearest cityMadurai
Lok Sabha constituencyTenkasi
Vidhan Sabha constituencySrivilliputtur
Civic agencyTown Panchayat
ClimateApr-May - Min 20 Deg C Max 42 Deg C and May - Mar - Min 20 Deg C Max 30 deg C (Köppen)

History

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Watrap's traditional name before the British came was Vatratha Iruppu, which translates as "surplus water".

Culture

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A Perumal temple (Pěrumāḷ Kōyil, பெருமாள் கோயில்) sits in the centre of the village and a Shiva and Hanuman temple is at the outskirts of the village.

The holy uphill shrine "Sundara Mahalingam (Lord Shiva) temple" (also known as Thaani Paarai and Sathuragiri Malai) is there. Aadi amavasai (New Moon Day in the month of Aadi) is when devotees throng here.

A Krishna, Rukmini and Sathyabama temple called Gopala Swamy Malai tops a small hill, 22 km from Watrap. A Shiva Cave temple called Motta Malai is 16 km from Watrap.

Economy

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Agriculture is the primary livelihood. The main work is cultivatioagriculture, led by paddy, coconut and cotton.

Branches of State Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Virudhunagar District Cooperative Bank and Rural Cooperative Bank are there.

Education

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Three government-aided schools and two private schools operate there.

Geography

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The town sits on the bank of the Arjuna River. Dams Pilavakal (பிளவக்கல் அணை) and Kovilaaru provide irrigation.

Sathuragiri Hills contains dense tropical greenery, undisturbed forests and wildlife. Natural caves, some 2 km away from Sathuragiri temple and a fresh water pond at the top of the hill attract visitors. Perrumal Mottai is the highest and coldest spot in these hills.

Natural spring Maavuthu (big spring) us 8 km from Watrap. It is situated at the foot of the western Ghats.

References

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  1. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.