Dharapuram

Dharapuram is a town in Tirupur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Dharapuram is one of the oldest towns in Tamil nadu and was the capital of Kongu Nadu under the Cheras, Western Ganga Dynasty and later Kongu Cholas, at which time it was known as Vanchipuri. Amaravathi River flows through the town. As of 2011, the town had a population of 67,007.HistoryDharapuram was part of the Chera kingdom until 850 A.D. From 1000 A.D. to 1275 A.D., the area was ruled by the Kongu Cholas under the name Vanchipuri. The Cholan capital was under attack by a hitherto unknown group in South India, called Kalabhars. As a result, the Kongu Cholas made Dharapuram their military and political headquarters. The Later Cholas named the city as Rajarajapuram. After 1276 A.D. the Pandyas took control of the region. The Sultanate, Nayaks of Madurai and Vijayanagara empire rules followed by Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan. In 1799, when Tippu fell to the British, the East Indian Company took over administration of this region.Dharapuram attained the status of a Municipality in the year 1916 and it was promoted to first grade municipality on May 9, 1983.