Noyyal River - History

History

The "Noyyal" is a sacred river in Tamil history. Its original name was Kanchinadi but changed later to the name of the place where it drains into the Kaveri River in 1750 A.D.

The Noyyal village is situated at the banks of Noyyal and Kaveri (Ponni) Rivers where they both merge. An ancient temple to the goddess Sellandiyamman is also situated at Sangamam. This temple belongs to "Karadi" Kulam people of Kongunadu Vettuva Gounder community.

The Western region of Tamilnadu was known as the Kongunadu. Though during the supremacy of the Chera kings, Kongunadu was the heartland of the Cheras with Karur as their capital. Next came the Gangas (Kongas) with their capital in Dharapuram (Tarakapuri or Vijayaskandapuram). Then it fell under the later Cholas and was under their control for a short time of five kings from Veerachozha to Rajaraja. The heirs to the Cholas settled in Coimbatore and continued to rule the country. The Kongu Cholas were soon defeated by the native Kongu vassals under the Hoysalas. Then Vijayanagara, Mysore, and Dheeran Chinnamalai ruled Kongu which in 1805 was annexed by the British East India Company.

Successive dynasties established trade links with the Greeks and the Romans. Many trade routes crisscrossed the basin. A number of temples and schools were established in the area. The Patteeshwarar Temple at Perur was built in line with Tamil architecture. Art flourished in the basin. Even today Natyanjali is held in Perur every year.