Oddanchatram

Oddanchatram ஒட்டன்சத்திரம்
Municipality and Taluk Headquarters
Oddanchatram Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 10°29′N77°43′E / 10.48°N 77.72°E / 10.48; 77.72
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Dindigul
Region	Kongu Nadu
Town Panchayat	1 April 1959
Government
• Type	Second-grade Municipality
• Body	Oddanchatram Municipal Council
• MLA	R. Sakkarapani (DMK)
Area
• Total	13.05 km2 (5.04 sq mi)
Elevation	350 m (1,150 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	30,064
• Density	2,304/km2 (5,970/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	624619
Telephone code	04553
Vehicle registration	TN 94Z (before TN57)
Website	oddanchatram.in www.tnurbantree.tn.gov.in/oddanchatram/

Hills nature place

Oddanchatram is a municipality and the administrative headquarters of Oddanchatram Taluk in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, India. Known as a vital agricultural hub, it hosts the Gandhi Vegetable Market, one of the largest regulated wholesale vegetable market in Tamil Nadu. The town serves as a key commercial link between the Western Ghats and the southern plains of the state.

History

Pre-colonial and colonial periods

The region surrounding Oddanchatram was historically part of the Tamilakam polity, influenced by the Chola, Chera, and Pandya kingdoms. Inscriptions suggest Chola influence reached this area as early as the first century AD under King Karikala. By the 10th–12th centuries, agrarian communities flourished in the fertile plains, primarily cultivating millets and pulses.

During the 14th–16th centuries, the region came under Vijayanagara rule, which introduced the Poligar (Palaiyakkarar) system for local administration and revenue collection. Following periods of Nayak and Mughal influence, Tipu Sultan conquered Dindigul in 1783. The British East India Company seized the territory in 1790 after the Third Anglo-Mysore War. Under the British Madras Presidency, the Ryotwari system was implemented in the 1820s, which incentivized cash crops but also led to significant peasant indebtedness. The region suffered severely during the Great Famine of 1876–1878, which caused massive crop failures in Oddanchatram’s vegetable and grain fields.

Post-independence

Oddanchatram was constituted as a town panchayat in 1959. Following the bifurcation of Madurai district, it became part of the newly formed Dindigul district on 15 September 1985. The adoption of Green Revolution technologies in the late 1960s transformed the local economy, enabling the town to emerge as a major vegetable hub through high-yielding varieties and tube-well irrigation.

Geography and climate

Oddanchatram is located at 10.48°N 77.72°E, at an average elevation of 350 metres (1,150 ft) above sea level. It sits at the base of the Palani Hills, part of the Western Ghats. The topography is characterized by flat to gently undulating plains, with the Nanganji River serving as the primary drainage route.

The town experiences a tropical savanna climate.

• Summer (March–May): Temperatures reach a maximum of 38°C (100°F).
• Winter (December–February): Temperatures drop to a minimum of 20°C (68°F).
• Rainfall: The area receives an average annual rainfall of 700 mm, mostly during the Northeast monsoon (October–December).

The soil is predominantly red loamy soil (approx. 85%), which is highly suitable for vegetable cultivation.

Economy

The economy of Oddanchatram is almost entirely driven by agriculture and trade.

Agriculture

Approximately 70% of the local population is engaged in agriculture. The total cropped area of the block is 31,922 hectares. Small and marginal farmers own 87.88% of landholdings, with an average size of 1.01 hectares.

Crop Production in Oddanchatram Block

Crop	Area (ha)	Production (tonnes)	Average Yield (tonnes/ha)
Onion	1,333.9	12,005	~9
Tomato	184.8	2,032	~11
Drumstick	302.7	15,587	~51.5

Gandhi Vegetable Market

The Gandhi Vegetable Market is one of the largest wholesale vegetable market in Tamil Nadu and one of the largest in South India. It handles daily arrivals of approximately 1,000 tonnes of produce, which is exported to other districts in Tamil Nadu and the neighboring state of Kerala. In 2022, the state government announced a ₹29 crore revamp of the market infrastructure.

Industry and trade

Secondary economic activities include groundnut oil extraction, tobacco processing, and logistics. There are numerous cold-pressed groundnut oil units and tobacco distribution centers. The transport industry is significant, with logistics firms supporting the inter-state haulage of perishable goods.

Demographics

Population Growth

Census	Pop.	%±
2001	24,132	—
2011	30,064	24.6%

As of the 2011 Census of India:

• Total Population: 30,064.
• Sex Ratio: 996 females per 1,000 males (above the national average).
• Literacy Rate: 84.65% (Town), significantly higher than the Dindigul district average of 76.3%.
• Caste Composition: Scheduled Castes (SC) constitute 20.3% of the town population and 22.4% of the broader taluk population. The Kongu Vellalar (Gounder) community is the numerically and economically dominant group in the region.

Administration and politics

Oddanchatram is a second-grade municipality. The local administration is managed by the Oddanchatram Municipal Council, headed by a Municipal Commissioner.

Assembly constituency

The Oddanchatram Assembly Constituency (No. 128) is part of the Dindigul (Lok Sabha constituency).

• Dominant Parties: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
• Current MLA: R. Sakkarapani (DMK), who has represented the seat for six consecutive terms since 1996. In the 2021 election, he won with a margin of 28,742 votes.

Politics in the region is heavily influenced by the Kongu Vellalar Gounder community, which exerts significant leverage over candidate selection and voting patterns.

Infrastructure

Transport

• Road: The town is situated on National Highway 83 (NH-83), connecting Coimbatore to Nagappattinam via Pollachi, Palani, and Dindigul. A major four-laning project for the Dindigul-Pollachi section is slated for completion by late 2025.
• Rail: Oddanchatram railway station (ODC) is on the Dindigul–Coimbatore line under the Madurai division of Southern Railway.
• Bus: The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) operates frequent services to major cities like Madurai, Trichy, and Chennai.

Recent projects

In 2025, infrastructure projects worth ₹41.12 crore were inaugurated, including civic improvements and industrial estate development. However, a proposed drinking water scheme to draw water from the Aliyar Dam (120 km away) has faced opposition from local farmers concerned about irrigation water diversion.

Society and culture

The social fabric is primarily agrarian. The Gounder community plays a central role in social and economic hierarchies. Scheduled Castes, while a significant minority (approx. 18-22%), are primarily engaged in agricultural labor.

Festivals

• Pongal: Te most significant festival, marking the harvest over four days in January.
• Weekly Santhai: The Friday market acts as a major cultural fair for the taluk.
• Kali Amman Festivals: Annual temple celebrations involving processions and community feasts (Annadhanam).
• Thai Poosam: A major transit point for pilgrims heading to the Palani Murugan Temple.
• Onam (Trade Peak): A period of peak commercial activity due to heavy vegetable exports to Kerala.

Education

Oddanchatram has several educational institutions:

• Colleges: Christian College of Engineering and Technology (founded by Jacob Cherian), Christian Polytechnic College, Sakthi College of Education for Women.
• General: K.R.Govt.Hr.SEC.School, Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Christian Matriculation Higher Secondary School, and Akshya Academy Matric School, Krishna Matriculation School, Holly Cross Convent, SPM Oxford Matriculation School, Vivekanandha High School, Akshya Academy Matric Hr. SEC. School (AAMS), AKNI Public School (APS).
• Teacher Training: Shakthi College of Education.

References

General and administrative

Oddanchatram Municipality Official Website – Government of Tamil Nadu.

Public Utility - Oddanchatram Municipality Profile – Dindigul District Administration.

Oddanchatram Town Population Census 2011 – Official Census Data.

Oddanchatram Taluk Statistics and Population Charts – CityPopulation.de.

Geography and natural resources

Ground Water Brochure of Dindigul District – Central Ground Water Board.

Oddanchatram topographic map and elevation data – Topographic-map.com.

District Mineral Survey Report for Dindigul – Tamil Nadu Mines Department.

District Climate Profiles: Dindigul – Anna University.

Economy and agriculture

Gandhi Vegetable Market Revamp News – The Indian Express (June 2022).

Detailed Project Report for Oddanchatram Market Infrastructure – via Scribd.

District Agriculture Plan - Dindigul – Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

Potential Linked Credit Plan: Dindigul District – NABARD.

History and land records

Historical Timeline of Dindigul District – Official Administration Records.

Land Reforms and Ceiling Acts in Tamil Nadu – Official Portal.

Socio-Economic Study of Madurai and Dindigul – Shodhganga Thesis.

Politics and infrastructure

Oddanchatram Assembly Election Results Summary – IndiaVotes.

Caste Dynamics in the Dindigul Agrarian Sector – The Times of India.

Dindigul-Pollachi Four-Lane Progress Report – The New Indian Express.

Farmers Opposition to Water Project Plan – The Hindu.

Madras HC Order on Housing Pattas in Oddanchatram – The Times of India.

Education

Internal Quality Assurance - Christian College of Engineering – CCET Portal.

Student Enrollment Trends 2025 – The New Indian Express.

External links

• Oddanchatram Municipality - Official Website
• Dindigul District Administration Official Portal
• Rail Connectivity and Schedule for Oddanchatram (ODC)
• Agriculture and Farming Profile of Dindigul - TNAU Agritech Portal