The town serves as a commercial and transport hub for several smaller villages around. Although Thuraiyur achieved the status of a town long back, due to lack of ploitical or economic backing the town has not grown as much as nearby towns like Perambalur. Also, although it is a large town, it neither has an assembly constituency or Parliamentary constituency of its own (it falls under Uppiliyapuram assembly constituency). For several years the town was also shuttled between Trichy and newly created Perambalur districts (now permanently in Trichy district). Nevertheless, Thuraiyur has its own strengths and charms for people born or lived in or around Thuraiyur. The town is quite compact with two long narrow but straight main roads(kadai veedhi) cutting across the town. Most of the town's businesses are located on these two streets. One of the roads leads to the main bus station and continues to Trichy.
The other road leads to Perambalur. Along the Perambalur road lies two landmarks of Thuraiyur - a large government hospital on the town's outskirts and Perumal Malai, a bit further down. Perumal Malai is a large vaishnavite temple located on the top of a hill about 1000 feet high. People can reach the temple by steps or by car. The base of the Perumal Malai is popular with many mandapams serving as wedding halls. Tiruvellarai, one of the 108 sacred Vaishnavite temples, is about 20km from Thuraiyur on the way to Trichy. Pachamalai, a large range of fairly tall hills (upto 3000 feet), is quite close to Thuraiyur. The hills are famous for native sandalwood trees although a large number of these prized trees have been illegally cut down. Top Sengattupatti, a small village up on the hills is being considered for establishing a high altitude sports training centre. Kolli malai is another range of tall hills nearby, well known for a pictursque picnic spot called Puliancholai with many water falls, trees, birds etc. An annual festival called Iru Gnaniyar Vizha (Twin saints festival) is a major event in this hill. Kolli hills are also famous for delicious jackfruits from wild and cultivated trees. While currntly Thuraiyur doesn't wield much political influence, it had powerful Zamindars in the past(wealthy landlords authorised by colonial British to collect tax and enjoy some privileges). The most important landmark of this legacy is the large private school called Zamindar High School, still very popular in the town. While the town lies in a rainfed region, two lakes adjacent to the town irrigate a large area of paddy fields. The town also has a large Theppakulam (Temple tank) on the northern side, which many people may not be aware of. For a town of its size, Thuraiyur has a large and thriving business culture and community. The town is known for traditional weavers, gold smiths, mandis (large grain traders), and many other small and medium shops. The kadai veedhi is always busy with people, from dawn to dusk. Similarly, the large bus stand is always busy with a large number of buses conncting to nearby villages to distant cities such as Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, Salem, Coimbatore, Chidambaram etc. The town's three or four cinema halls are also popular with cine goers from in and around Thuraiyur. Thuraiyur probably got its name from the wealthy landlord class it once had (Durai in Tamil means rich and aristocratic people). Duraiyur may have changed to Thuraiyur over time. Thuraiyur also has some exotic and queer sounding place names such as Aalamaram (banyan tree bus stop), ceylon office (probably served as a Srilankan refugee camp long back), Palakkarai (a bridge over a stinking drain), Pirivu road (a bus stop where Trichy and Musiri roads separate). Thuraiyur does not have many industries or factories. A kandasari sugar factory established in late 1960's and opened by the then Indian President Zakir Hussien has closed long ago. More recently many small and medium size engineering fabrication factories have come up near Peramangalam about 20km from Thuraiyur on Trichy road. While the town itself doesn't have any college, Puthanampatti (15km) and Karattampatti (10km) have an arts and science college and engineering college respectively.
Nearby Keerambur village is the birth place of Adimoolam (late), one of Tamil Nadu's most famous modern day painter-artists. All in all Thuraiyur is a typical and nice little town with a unique character and charm of its. Although the town is slowly changing due to growth in population, traffic, technology, business etc., the town still provides a small town feel, spirit and culture for thousands of people whose life revolve or revolved around Thuraiyur. (Contributed by Jayachandran of Nakkasalem)
fantastic write up ...thanks for the whole lots of information on Thuraiyur ...But i expected more information on the temple ...(perumal malai ) ....anyway thanks for the great piece of writing
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