About Walajapet

A Grade II municipality, Walajapet is located in the historic district of Vellore. Walajapet, fondly called as Walajapettai or simply Walaja in the local language of Tamil, is one among the important localities of the Vellore district. Walajapet is situated along the banks of the Palar River (originates in Nandi Hills, Karnataka and courses approximately 222 km in Tamil Nadu before its merging into the Bay of Bengal). Located on the Chennai Central - Bangalore City line, Walajapet can easily be reached by bus in about half-hour from the fort city of Vellore and in about 150 minutes from the southern metropolitan of Chennai.

Furthermore, Walajapet is regarded to be the first municipality (administrative division) and taluk (revenue division), considered to have been constituted during the year 1866. It is significant to mention that Walajapet is one of the oldest townships in the North Arcot area. It is celebrated for its silk weaving business and sometimes called as 'The Silk City'. Also, Walajapet is noted for its bamboo furniture which is renowned all over the state.

History of Walajapet

The commencement of the last half of the 18th century witnessed the British's association with the Arcot Nawab in eliminating the French invaders from the region. In return, the English powers granted the Arcot Nawab with a great title called as 'Walajah' in its honor. The Arcot Nawab titled the area as 'Walajah' in his remembering. In addition to, holding Arcot as his base and Ranipet as the headquarters, the Arcot Nawab with an intention to defend the distinguished title of 'Walajah' (which literally means most dignified gentleman) as rather appropriate to the township in its real sense, wanted to modernize this township in commercially.

Administration in Walajapet

The municipality of Walajapet was originally established during the year 1866, as a consequence of enactment authorized by the then government. In point of fact, Walajapet was the first ever municipality that was established in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Also, it was one among the oldest municipalities masterminded in the Presidency of Fort St. George (Madras Presidency or Madras Province) along with Madurai and Adoni. The local governance of the Walajapet municipality commenced operations from the month of November in the year 1866.

The office of the local administration of Walajapet is situated in its own building at Nawab Devadi Street. Besides, Walajapet has electoral wards. During the year 1869, the office of local administration of Walajapet was shifted to a location close to the trunk road on a rental basis. The Walajapet municipality was a third grade (Grade III) municipality at that time. The year 1966 was a very important in the history of Walajapet as the year marked the centenary celebrations of Walajapet municipality. The municipality is led by a appointed commissioner who is assisted by various officials.

Important Contact Details:

Walajapet Municipality
Walajapet, Vellore District - 632513
Phone Number: +91-4172-232837
Email: walajapet@tn.gov.in

Tahsildar of Walajah
tahrwlj.tnvlr@nic.in

Transportation in Walajapet

Being located along the banks of the Palar River on the Chennai Central - Bangalore City line, Walajapet has excellent connectivity features by road and rail transport. Walajah road junction railway station (station code: WJR) is the primary railway station serving the region of Walajapet. The first division of the line from Royapuram (a neighbourhood of Chennai) to Walajah road junction was operated on 1st July 1856.


It is important to mention that the Walajah road junction railway station is the first train station in all of South India. Besides, the junction train station is one of the oldest surviving railway junctions in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The junction railway station is Ammoor which is just 5 km away from the city center of Walajapet. Some of the important trains passing through the Walajah road junction railway station include

Train Name: Yercaud Express
Train Number: 22649
Arrival at Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 00:29
Departure from Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 00:30
Duration of Halt: 60 Seconds
Schedule: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Train Name: West Coast Express
Train Number: 16628
Arrival at Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 13:04
Departure from Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 13:05
Duration of Halt: 60 Seconds
Schedule: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Train Name: Lalbagh Express
Train Number: 12607
Arrival at Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 17:14
Departure from Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 17:15
Duration of Halt: 60 Seconds
Schedule: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Train Name: Chennai Mail
Train Number: 12602
Arrival at Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 03:34
Departure from Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 03:35
Duration of Halt: 60 Seconds
Schedule: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Train Name: Mangalore Mail
Train Number: 12601
Arrival at Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 21:44
Departure from Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 21:45
Duration of Halt: 60 Seconds
Schedule: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Train Name: Kaveri Express
Train Number: 16022
Arrival at Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 04:33
Departure from Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 04:35
Duration of Halt: 2 minutes
Schedule: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Train Name: Mas Cbe Express
Train Number: 06625
Arrival at Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 13:58
Departure from Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 14:00
Duration of Halt: 2 Minutes
Schedule: Friday

Train Name: Kovai Express
Train Number: 12676
Arrival at Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 20:23
Departure from Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 20:25
Duration of Halt: 2 Minutes
Schedule: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Train Name: Yesvantpur Express
Train Number: 12292
Arrival at Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 00:59
Departure from Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 01:00
Duration of Halt: 60 Seconds
Schedule: Saturday

Train Name: Brindavan Express
Train Number: 12640
Arrival at Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 18:49
Departure from Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 18:50
Duration of Halt: 60 Seconds
Schedule: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Train Name: Lalbagh Express
Train Number: 12608
Arrival at Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 10:08
Departure from Walajah Road Junction Railway Station: 10:10
Duration of Halt: 22 Minutes
Schedule: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Tourist Places in Walajapet

Walajapet is a pilgrim's paradise as the region houses a lot of celebrated Hindu temples that receives devotees from all over the state, throughout the year. Some of the most important religious sites of Walajapet include

Visalakshi Ammai Sametha Kasi Viswanathar Temple

A historic temple that is dedicated to Lord Shiva who offers his blessings in this temple in the form of Kasi Viswanathar. This is a unique temple as Lord Shiva is seen with his consort Sri Visalakshi Ammai in the same temple complex. Also, the Hindu temple is regarded as a Shani dosha nivarthi sthalam as Kala bairavar and Shani bhagavan who are opposite to each other are worshiped here with special poojas from time to time.

Rathinagiri Arulmigu Balamurugan Tirukkovil

Located in the small town of Ratnagiri which is about 12 km away from the city center of Vellore, Arulmigu Balamurugan Tirukkovil in Walajapet is one among the important murugan temples in the state. Situated on the peak of a hill, this Hindu temple is historic for the fact that Saint Arunagirinathar (a Tamil poet who lived during the 15th century) had sung Thiruppugazh (a 15th-century collection of literary or musical works of Tamil religious songs consecrated to Lord Murugan) on this very temple.

Location:
Arulmigu Balamurugan Tirukkovil
Rathinagiri, Kilminnal, Walajah Taluk, Vellore Dist.
Tamil Nadu - 632 517
Phone Number: +(91)-4172-266330

Some of the other important temples of Walajapet include:

• Theerthgiri Arulmigu Murugan Thirukkovil
• Kangeyanallur Murugar Aalayam
• Sri Danvantru Arogaya Peedam

Health Care in Walajapet

The Government District Headquarters Hospital (GDHH) in Walajapet is the primary health care facility serving the medical needs and demands of the local population of Walajapet. The government hospital runs under the administrative ambit of Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu. Besides, Walajapet houses a lot of clinics, hospitals and registered physicians who offer health care services to the population.

Government District Headquarters Hospital (GDHH), Walajapet - Quick Facts

• Number of Beds: 84
• Number of Doctors: 15
• Number of Nurses: 27
• Number of Health Care Technicians: 21
• Number of Pathological Units: 01

Walajapet - Quick Facts

Total Area Covered under Walajapet's Jurisdiction: 2.64 sq.km
District: Vellore
Taluk: Walajapet
Local Adminsitrative Body: Municipality
Walajapet Municipal Chairman: Shri. Vedagiri
Elevation: 520 ft
Population (Census 2011): 32,397
Sex Ratio: 1,031 females for every 1,000 males
Average Literacy Rate: 77.25%
Official Language: Tamil
Pin Code: 632513
Telephone Code: 04172

Distance Chart:

• Walajapet to Chennai: 108.2 km
• Walajapet to Kancheepuram: 42 km
• Walajapet to Thiruvallur: 76.5 km
• Walajapet to Vellore: 29.6 km
• Walajapet to Coimbatore: 419.1 km
• Walajapet to Trichy: 287.2 km
• Walajapet to Madurai: 415 km
• Walajapet to Salem: 257 km
• Walajapet to Tirunelveli: 575.1 km
• Walajapet to Thiruvananthapuram: 679.2 km
• Walajapet to Hyderabad: 621.5 km
• Walajapet to Bengaluru: 221.7 km

Nearby Villages of Walajapet:

• Kondakuppam - 17.1 km
• Vannivedu - 3.3 km
• Gudimallur - 4.1 km
• Seekarajapuram - 13.6 km
• Valluvambakkam - 5.2 km

Nearest Districts to Walajapet:

• Kancheepuram - 5.8 km
• Chittoor - 43.4 km
• Thiruvallur - 61.3 km
• Tiruvannamalai - 93 km