Palani: Difference between revisions

| government_type = Municipality

| population_total = 292301

'''Palani''' ({{IPA-ta|paɻani|lang}} or '''''Palni''''' <small>as in British records</small>, is a town and a [[taluk]] [[headquarters]] in [[Dindigul district]] of the western part of [[Tamil Nadu]] state in [[India]]. It is located about {{convert|106|km|mi}} south-east of [[Coimbatore]] and {{convert|122|km|mi}} north-west of [[Madurai]], {{convert|67|km|mi}} from Kodaikanal. The [[Palani Murugan Temple]] or Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple (Thiru Avinankudi), dedicated to Murugan is situated on a hill overlooking the town. The temple is visited by more than 7 million pilgrims each year. As of 2011, the town had a population of 292301<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.censusindia2011.com/tamil-nadu/dindigul/palani-population.html#google_vignette | title=Palani Population (2021/2022), Taluk Village List in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu }}</ref> which makes it the second largest town in the district after Dindigul.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, Palani {{!}} Dindigul District {{!}} India |url=https://dindigul.nic.in/tourist-place/arulmigu-dhandayuthapani-swamy-temple-palani/ |access-date=2022-06-19 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The town derives its name from the compounding of two [[Tamil language|Tamil]] words ''palam'' meaning ''fruit'' and ''nee'' meaning ''you'', a reference to poet [[Avvaiyar (Sangam poet)|Avvaiyar]]'s song praising[[Kartikeya|Muruga]] which forms part of the [[Palani Murugan Temple#Mythology|legend]] of the Palani Murugan temple. But the actual correct word is பழனி which means place surrounded by fruitful trees. The word கழனி which is similar in name, both gives agricultural meanings, here கழனி means வயல் (field).