Devarshola

Devarshola
Devarsolai
Town Panchayat
Devarshola is located in Tamil Nadu
Devarshola
Devarshola
Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 11°32′0″N 76°27′12″E / 11.53333°N 76.45333°E / 11.53333; 76.45333
CountryIndia
StateTamil Nadu
DistrictThe Nilgiris
Area
 • Total
35 km2 (14 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
24,954
 • Density710/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialTamil
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Postal code
643207
Vehicle registrationTN 43

Devarshola or Devarsolai, is a town panchayat in Gudalur taluk, Nilgiris district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located about 62 km (39 mi) from Ooty. Spread across an area of 35 km2 (14 sq mi), the town panchayat is divided into 18 wards. It had a population of 24,954 as per the 2011 census.

Geography

Devarshola is a town panchayat in Coonoor taluk of Nilgiris district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located approximately 62 km (39 mi) from Ooty and 4 km (2.5 mi) from Gudalur. The town panchayat covers an area of 35 km2 (14 sq mi) and consists of 18 wards and 102 streets.

Administration and politics

Devarshola town panchayat was established on 30 April 1934 and was upgraded as a selection grade (annual revenue between 10 to 20 million) town panchayat on 13 April 1985. The panchayat administration is responsible for providing basic services including maintenance of roads, water supply, health and sanitation. Devarshola forms part of the Gudalur Assembly constituency that elects its member to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly and the Nilgiris Lok Sabha constituency that elects its member to the Parliament of India.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census, Devarshola had a population of 24,954 across 5,594 households. The population consisted of 12,342 males and 12,612 females. About 2,970 (11.9%) of the population were children aged less than six years. The town panchayat had a literacy rate of approximately 84%, with male literacy at 88.7% and female literacy at 79.6. Scheduled Castes accounted for approximately 18% of the population, while Scheduled Tribes accounted for 10.82%.

Culture and religion

According tot he 2011 census, Hinduism was the predominant religion, practiced by 56.6% of the population, followed by Islam (36.4%) and Christianity (6.8%). There are two Hindu temples in the town panchayat, dedicated to Shiva and Vettaikaran. Maha Shivaratri is the major festival celebrated annually at the Shiva temple.

Economy

Plantation farming is the major occupation in the town panchayat. It is known for its tea cultivation. Others include coffee, and spices including cardamom, clove, and pepper. Due to its plantation cover, wild animals such as tiger, leopard, and elephant often venture into the town panchayat leading to human-wildlife conflict and deaths of wildlife, humans, and cattle.

The working population constituted approximately 40.8% of the total population, comprising 10,185 workers, of whom 6,639 were males and 3,546 were females. Of the total working population, 88.1% were engaged in main work, while 11.9% were engaged in marginal work.

Infrastructure and services

Buses connect Devarshola with Gudalur. The nearest railway station is Udagamandalam railway station located approximately 62 km (39 mi) away and the nearest airport is the Coimbatore International Airport. There is a hospital, and government run primary and high schools in the town panchayat.

References

  1. ↑ "Town Panchayats in Nilgiris district". Nilgiris District Administration. Archived from the original on 14 July 2026. Retrieved 5 November 2026.
  2. ↑ "Town Panchayats in Tamil Nadu" (PDF). Government of Tamil Nadu. p. 19. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Devershola Town Panchayat". Directorate of Town Panchayats, Government of Tamil Nadu. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 "Devershola Town Panchayat Profile". Directorate of Town Panchayats, Government of Tamil Nadu. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Town Panchayats". Directorate of Town Panchayats, Government of Tamil Nadu. Archived from the original on 31 July 2026. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
  6. ↑ Polling stations in Gudalur Assembly Constituency comprised within the Nilgiris (SC) Parliamentary Constituency (PDF) (Report). Election Commission of India. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 April 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "Devarshola Town Population". Census 2011. Archived from the original on 21 January 2026. Retrieved 5 November 2026.
  8. ↑ PCA TV: Primary census abstract at town, village and ward level, Tamil Nadu - District Nilgiris - 2011 (Report). Census Commission of India. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Devarshola". City Population. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2026.
  10. ↑ Religion: Census of India 2011 (Report). Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "Tiger movement triggers scare at Devarshola". Deccan Chronicle. 17 August 2026. Archived from the original on 18 August 2026. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  12. ↑ "48-hour shutdown over tiger attacks paralyses Gudalur". DT Next. 27 August 2026. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  13. ↑ "Devarshola locals in Tamil Nadu panic as leopard kills two cows". The New Indian Express. 1 February 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  14. ↑ "Elusive tiger shot dead in the Nilgiris". The Hindu. 20 March 2016. Archived from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  15. ↑ "Two killed in encounter with wild elephant in Nilgiris". The Hindu. 9 March 2026. Archived from the original on 12 March 2026. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  16. ↑ "Devarshola locals in Tamil Nadu panic as leopard kills two cows". The New Indian Express. 1 February 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  17. ↑ "Nilgiris cattle-hunting tiger captured, relocated". The Times of India. 29 November 2025. Archived from the original on 5 February 2026. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  18. ↑ "Hospitals". Nilgiris District Administration. Archived from the original on 26 September 2026. Retrieved 5 November 2026.
  19. ↑ "List of Schools". Directorate of Town Panchayats, Government of Tamil Nadu. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  20. ↑ District Disaster Management Plan: The Nilgiris (PDF) (Report). National Disaster Management Authority. p. 561. Retrieved 5 November 2026.
  21. ↑ "A degree of hope: Higher education no longer a distant dream for this youth from Nilgiris". The New Indian Express. 29 June 2025. Archived from the original on 24 July 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2026.