District Collector explores Erode’s cultural and historical sites with schoolchildren

District Collector S. Kandasamy, along with school students, on Sunday visited several heritage and historically significant sites across the district.

A release said Erode, regarded as the heart of Kongu Nadu, holds within it cultural treasures spanning from ancient to modern times. Known for its textile industry, the city also has many temples, monuments, and landmarks of historical and spiritual importance.

The Collector, accompanied by the students, visited the Erode Municipal Corporation, Thindal Arulmigu Velayuthaswamy Temple, Sri Periya Mariamman Temple on Meenakshi Sundaranar Road, and the Kottai Arudra Kabaleeswarar Temple. He explained their origins, historical background, mythological references, architecture, presiding deities, spiritual significance, and tourism value.

At the VOC Park and Government Museum, the team viewed sculptures, inscriptions, hero stones, artefacts, stone carvings, natural science exhibits, and geological treasures. At the Kalaimagal Museum, they observed memorial stones, Vatteluttu inscriptions, trade inscriptions, ancient household vessels, coins, palm-leaf manuscripts, and an elephant skeleton.

The tour also covered the CSI Brough Church, known for its architecture and history, the Taluk Office building on Cutchery Street with its heritage value, the Thanthai Periyar–Anna Memorial on Periyar Street, and the Erode Clock Tower, where the Collector spoke about its origin and transformations.

At Karungalpalayam, the team visited the Mahakavi Bharathiar Memorial Library, which houses journals, essays, and collections highlighting Bharathiar’s stay in Erode. The final stop was the Hazrat Syed Moinuddin Auliya Dargah, noted for its architectural and spiritual heritage.

Deputy Commissioner K. Dhanalakshmi, Erode Tahsildar Muthukrishnan, and other officials accompanied the Collector during the visit.