Dharmapuri, the administrative headquarters of Dharmapuri district, is situated in the north western part of Tamil Nadu and is close to Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts to its east, Salem district to its South, Krishnagiri district to its north and Kaveri River flowing on the western side.
Dating back to history, Dharmapuri was ruled by many dynasties like the Rashtrakutas, Cholas and the Pandyas. And it was an important town even during those times.
The best time to visit Dharmapuri would be during the winter. That is from November through February. Mango is the main horticultural crop here and it also well-known as the place with the best quality marble stone reserves in the world. Dharmapuri is well-connected to neighbouring cities and states by road as well as by rail.
The major tourist attractions in Dharmapuri include the Shri Theerthagirishwarar temple, which according to history is one of the most respected temples of the Chola and the Vijayanagara dynasties. The celebrations held here during Mahashivarathiri, is very well-known. Hanumanthathirtham located about 10 km away, at Uthangarai, located on the banks of the river Pennaiyar is a place believed to have strong associations dating back to the Ramayana era.
Another important tourist attraction of Dharmapuri is the famous Hogenakkal Falls which is at the border of the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and this where the Kaveri River enters Tamil Nadu. The name 'Hogenakkal' is taken from Kannada which literally means ‘Smoky Rocks.’ The Krishnagiri dam is located between Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri also enjoys the repute of being one of the most scenic spots of Dharmapuri.
Adhiyamankottam which is about 7 km from Dharmapuri houses the ruins of a roughly oval shaped fort. The Chenraya Perumal temple is a protected monument situated there. Kottai Kovil is a temple built for Lord Shiva located a little away from Dharmapuri. The main speciality of this temple is the 'Hanging pillar'. There is a fable that there used to be a secret passage that connected this temple to Adhiyamankottai.
How To Reach :
By Road/Bus :
Buses play to Dharmapuri from all major cities that are nearby including frequent buses from Bangalore and Chennai. Both semi deluxe buses and deluxe buses are available to the town of Dharmapuri, and air conditioned and non air conditioned buses are also available.
By Plane/Air :
The nearest airport from Dharmapuri is in Bangalore, one hundred and fifteen kilometeRs away. Domestic and international flights will be available from here.
By Train/Rail :
Dharmapuri has a railway station that is very well connected. There are frequent trains to the cities of New Delhi, Tuticorin, Kannur, Coimbatore, and Mysore. Trains are a faster option, and they are quite cheaper than buses.