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UDAIYLUR
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A PROJECT REPORT
On

RURAL STUDY at
UDAIYALUR, KUMBAKONAM
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for qualifying

Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch)

Submitted by

The students of architecture

Batch 2018 – 2023
From

MISRIMAL NAVAJEE MUNOTH JAIN SCHOOL

OF ARCHITECTURE, THORAIPAKKAM,
CHENNAI – 600097
ANNA UNIVERSITY: CHENNAI 600 025
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Sincere gratitude is expressed to the
college administration, director and the head of the
department for providing the opportunity to perform
rural study at Udaiyalur, Kumbakonam.

The architectural design staffs Ar.

Hemalatha, Ar. Ravi Kumar and Artist Mr. Robert
Fernando are thanked gratefully for their guidance
through all the stages of the process.

The services and coperation rendered

by the villagers are appreciated and thanked. Other
staffs of the college are also thanked for their moral
support.
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CHAPTER NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

I INTRODUCTION 7
1.1 Aim for documentation 7
1.2 Selection criteria 7
1.3 Location of the village 7
1.4 Reason for selection 8
1.5 Approach for the project 8
2 HISTORY 9
2.1 Origin of the name 9
2.2 Natives of the village 9
2.3 The forced settlement 10
2.3.1 Udayar settlement 10

2.3.1 Brahmin settlement 11

2.4 Migration to the village 11
2.5 Changes due to advent of the British 11

2.6 Changes after Indian independence 12

2.7 Temple history 12

2.7.1 Paalkulathi amman temple 12

2.7.2 Kailaasnathar temple 12

2.7.3 Selvakaali amman temple 14

2.7.4 Draupathi amman temple 14

2.7.5 Vishnu temple 14

2.8 Cenotaph of Raja Raja chola 14

3 CURRENT SCENARIO 15
3.1 Population 15
3.2 Natality and mortality rate 16
3.3 Literacy rate 17
3.5 Government schemes 17
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CHAPTER NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

3.6 Flora and fauna 18

4 VILLAGE MAPS 19
4.1 Location 19
4.2 Base map 20
4.3 Figure and ground 21
4.4 Land use 22
4.5 Vegetation 22
4.6 Caste map 23
4.7 occupation 23
4.7.1 map 23
4.7.2 Income and 24
expenditure

5 CULTURE 26
5.1 Day to day activities 26
5.1.1 Day life 26
5.1.2 Night life 28
5.2 Thiruvizha 29
5.2.1 Draupathi amman koil thiruvizha 29

5.2.2 Common festivals 29

6 BUILT STRUCTURES 30
6.1 Age of the buildings 30
6.2 Roof types 30
6.3 House typologies 31
6.3.1 Agraharam house 31
6.3.2 Vanniyar house 33
6.3.3 Farmer’s house 34
6.3.4 Mud house 35
6.3.5 Cluster house 36
6.3.6 Analysis 38
6.3.7 Condition of the houses 38
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CHAPTER NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

6.4 Infrastructure 39
6.4.1 Temples 39
6.4.1.1 Paalkulathi amman temple 39

6.4.1.2 Kailaasanathar temple 40

6.4.1.3 Selvakaali amman temple 40

6.4.1.4 Draupathi amman temple 41

6.4.1.5 Vishnu temple 41

6.4.1.6 Temple map 42
6.4.2 Church 43
6.4.3 Rja raja chola memorial 43

6.4.4 Public buildings 44

6.6 Ariel view 45
7 SERVICES 46
7.1 Road typology 46
7.2 Electricity network 46
7.3 Water tanks 47
7.4 Landmarks 47
8 SWOT ANALYSIS 48
9 NEIGHBOURING VILLAGES 49
10 PROPOSAL 50
11 SUMMARY 53
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INTRODUCTION
1.1 AIM FOR DOCUMENTATION
To understand the rural reality, its
status, survival challenges. The documentation is
performed to understand the character of the village
and the developments that occurred. It helps the
students to channel the developments and to retain its
cultural values.

1.2 SELECTION CRITERIA

I. The village should have a population more than

100 families.
II. Presence of the original settlement
III. The village should contain atleast one
resettlement.
IV. The village should be flexible for future
developments
V. The character of village should not be lost

1.3 LOCATION OF THE VILLAGE

The village Udaiyalur is located in
the Kumbakonam talk of Thanjavur district.
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1.4 REASON FOR SELECTION

The village satisfies the selection
criteria. The changes occurred in the village by the
course of time provides a good view on the future
developments.

1.5 APPROACH FOR THE PROJECT

A village is chosen after careful
literature analysis. The students are taken to the site
and become aware of the macro aspects of the
village. The students are split into five groups namely
social, physical, housing, infrastructure and visuals.
The entire data necessary for the documentation is
split under these groups and are collected from the
site within a time period of five days. Later all the data
are correlated and presented in the modes of sheets,
photographs, movie and a report.
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HISTORY
2.1 ORIGIN OF THE NAME
This region was under the reign of the
king karikala chola, an early chola king. The early
cholas appointed kizhars or mannars to administer
smaller regions. King Boopathiraja was the kizhar who
ruled this region which led to its name
boopatirajapuram.
Later, the region was conquered by
the pallavas and was ruled by a kizhar named king
Kaangeyan. Hence the village was renamed as
Srikaangeyapuram.

2.2 NATIVES OF THE VILLAGE

The natives of the village were gold
smiths. This skill has been passed down from
generation to generation. These people are
specialised in making scabbards.
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2.3 THE FORCED SETTLEMENT

The later chola, King Raja Raja Chola
reconquered the land and established his reign. The
later cholas were against the concept of kizhars and
deeply discouraged it. Hence this region came directly
under administration of King Raja Raja Chola.

2.3.1 UDAIYAR SETTLEMENT

King Raja Raja Chola sent a small
population of black smiths to this village. He
considered that forging of sword and scabbard in the
same region is convenient. Hence he also donated a
few patches of land for cultivation. Due to this fact the
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village was named as ‘Udaivaalur’ which later

morphed into udaiyalur.

2.3.2 BRAHMIN SETTLEMENT

The need for maintenance of proper
accounts for the agricultural land arose. Hence the
king sent brahmins to maintain the accounts. The
brahmins settled on higher levels of the village. Their
house were built by the king.

2.4 MIGRATION TO THE VILLAGE

In the 10th century a heavy flood
devastated a nearby village named Kudambaram.
Hence the villagers migrated to various regions. A
small part of the villagers who migrated to this village
belonged to the category Vanniyars which includes
Vanniya kula Kshathriyars, kallars and padaiyaatchi.
Due to the increase in population, the king donated
more lands for agriculture and the vanniyars
extensively practised farming.

2.5 CHANGES DUE TO THE

ADVENT OF THE BRITISH
By the end of 18th century the need
for swords became scarce. The well settled udaiyars
use their assets to find a livelihood outside the the
village. They were called agam udaiyars. The poor
peoplebeloning to the udaiyar caste started practicing
dhobi.
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The preachings of the britishers

converted the people belonging to the padaiyaatchi
caste to christians.

2.6 CHANGES
AFTERINDEPENDENCE
In the 19th century after the Indian
independence, the dhobi ghats failed to flourish. The
over Kaveri dwindled which gave a serious blow to the
washermen community. Hence some members of the
community started to work under the vanniya kula
kshatriyars as farmers while others worked in brick
kilns.

2.7 TEMPLE HISTORY

The village has 5 temples, a church
and many cenotaphs all built during various courses
of time. Each temple play a prominent role in the
expansion of the village.

2.7.1 PAALKULATHI AMMAN TEMPLE

This temple was situated near a
theppakulam which contained water as white as milk
due to the constant presence of sulphur fumes. Hence
the temple and the diety were named ‘Paalkulathi’.
This temple was built by the when the brihadeeshwara
temple was being built by king Raja Raja Chola.
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Ruins from a shiva temple which was

present in the capital of chola kingdom was placed in
this temple.

2.7.2 KAILAASANATHAR TEMPLE

This temple was built by the king raja
raja chola and was dedicated to lord shiva and
parvathi. this temple has a series of black lingas and
the rear side of the main structure.
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2.7.3 SELVAKAALI AMMAN TEMPLE

A small shrine was built to the
selvakaali Amman by the villagers. The king sharpens
the sword before his battles and always pays a visit to
the selvakaali Amman temple.

2.7.4 DRAUPATHI AMMAN TEMPLE

A temple was built for Draupathy,
queen of the Pandava kingdom. The villagers believe
that the goddess bestows bravery to the soldiers and
mental strength to their families.

2.7.5 VISHNU TEMPLE

The iyengar division of the brahmin
caste required a vishnu temple and hence a small
shrine was built.

2.7.6 CENOTAPH OF KING RAJA RAJA

CHOLA
The inhabitants of this village
considered that the soul of the departed rejoices with
the god and hence a cenotaph is laid and a black
lingam is placed over it.
The parting wish of King Raja Raja
Chola was to be buried among his subjects. Hence his
cenotaph was laid in this village.
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CURRENT SCENARIO

3.1 POPULATION

MALE FEMALE

1237.5

1215 Male Female

1,2
14
1192.5 600
300 450
0 150
1170
0-6 96 102

1147.5 7-18 186 163

1,1 19-3 218

1125 226
39
31-50 266
1102.5 248
51-70 261
228
1080
>70 187
172

3.2 NATALITY AND MORTALITY RATE

BIRTH RATE = 14.86/ YEAR
DEATH RATE = 22.09/YEAR
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3.3 LITERACY RATE

LITERACY RATE
80.00%

70.00%

60.00%

50.00%

40.00%

30.00%

20.00%

10.00%

0.00%
LITERACY RATE
MALE FEMALE

The developing status of the village is

clear from the literacy rate. The population of men is
more educated than the women. This problem is
being solved by various schemes introduced by the
government.
The village only has schools and is
devoid of any college. Hence the degree holders rate
is very low.

3.4 GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

UJALA ROAD SCHEME:
The ujala road scheme
benifitted the villagers by providing better accessibility
and promotes transportation.

SOLAR STREET LIGHTS SCHEME:

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It promoted the concept of

renewable energy and helped in optimizing the
electricity consumption of the village.

WOMEN SELF HELP SCHEME:

This scheme allowed the
women of the village to survive independently and
promoted them to socialize.
AGRICULTURAL LOANS:
The agricultural loan provided
by the government of TamilNadu, benefits the farmers
in practicing agriculture irrespective of the previous
harvest.
FREE EDUCATION:
The madhiya sathunavu
scheme introduced by late chief minister Kamarajar
and regularized by the late chief minister Dr. M.G.
Ramachandran promoted the children to join the
schools which helps in increasing the literacy rate of
the village.

GOAT SCHEME:
Late chief minister selvi J.
Jayalalitha introduced free goat kids for upliftment of
the poor.

100 DAYS WORK SCHEME:

By the Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Act, the villagers were
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able to live a decent life by working as unskilled

workers.

PASUMAI VEEDU SCHEME:

Many villagers have been
provided with a solar powered house in an area of 300
sq.ft.

3.5 FLORA AND FAUNA

MEDICINAL PLANTS : Neem, keezhanelli,
thoothuvalai, aloe vera, karpooravalli, tulasi.

ORNAMENTAL PLANTS : Manoranjitham, pavala

malli, arali, calotropis, hibiscus, peepal, kiluvai tree,
banyan tree, poovaram tree, Mast tree.

FRUIT/VEGETABLE BORING PLANTS : Jamun,

narthai tree, pomegranate, paakku tree, banana
plantains, coconut tree, palm tree, drumstick trees.

Other wild trees which maybe thorny, poisonous

or edible are also found.
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3.5 LOCATION

NAME : Udaiyalur
TALUK : Kumbakonam
DISTRICT : Thanjavur
STATE : Tamil Nadu
COUNTRY : India

3.6 TRANSPORTATION

TRANSPORTATION

9%
26%
17%

4%

38%

BULLOCK CART BICYCLE TWO WHEELER CAR BUS

The villagers use bullock carts

only for transpotation of goods.
The nearest railway stationis
present in Darasuram, a town in Kumbakonam which
is present 6.1 km away from the village. The village
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can also be accessed by the Kumbakonam railway

station which is 9.2 km away.
VILLAGE MAPS

4.1 BASE MAP

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4.2 FIGURE AND GROUND

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4.3 LAND USE

4.4 VEGETATION
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4.5 CASTE MAP

4.6 OCCUPATION
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4.6.1 MAP

4.6.2 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

INCOME

Agriculture : Rs. 200-300/day ( labourers)

Rs. 700-1500/sack (owners)

Brick making : 50p/brick (labourers)

Rs. 5/brick (owners)

Masonry : Rs. 400-500/day (male)

Rs. 300-350/day (female)

Carpentry : Rs. 5000-10,000/month

EXPENSES
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Agriculture : Rs. 10,000-15,000/acre for a

month.

Carpentry: Rs. 550-1500/cubic feet

Milk : Rs.30-35/litre

Education: Rs.3000-10,000/year (School fee)

Rs. 5,000-60,000/semester
(College fee)

Electricity : Rs. 0-1500/month (Household)

Rs. 1500-2000/month
(Agriculture)

Transportation : Rs. 10-40/day (Bus ticket)

Rs. 76.25/litre (Petrol)

Household provisions : Rs. 100-1500/week

Gas and fuel : Rs. 650/cylinder

Private and government banks

provide agricultural, educational, housing and
personal loans to the villagers for upliftment of their
lifestyle.
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CULTURE

5.1 DAILY ACTIVITIES

The villagers spend their days
performing various activities which are monotonous in
the weekdays. The weekends provide the villagers an
opportunity to relax from the routine.

5.1.1 DAY LIFE

Their days are spent in
preparation and their jobs. The kids spend their days
in the school.
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5.1.2 NIGHT LIFE

The villagers enjoy their leisure
time chatting and playing. The villagers dine and retire
to their beds early.

5.2 THIRUVIZHA
The thiruvizha season promotes
social gathering and breaks the work cycle of the
villagers.

5.2.1 DRAUPATHI AMMAN TEMPLE

THIRUVIZHA

This is the grandest thiruvizha of

the village. This is also known as theemedhi
thiruvuzha since the villagers walk on blazing coals
requesting the goddess to fulfill theur desires.

The main event of this thiruvizha

is beheading Aravaan, son of Arujuna and Ulupi( a
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Naga princess) to commomerate his sacrifice in the

war of Mahabaratha.

5.2.2 COMMON FESTIVALS

Every festival is commenced with
rooting a long pole coated with turmeric and
decorated with neem leaves. The villagers join
together and root the post in the ground. This
increases the bond between the villagers.

The villagers wear sacred

bracelets made of neem, turmeric and sirupeelai to
stay immune to the pathogens.

A palanquin carrying the urchavar

passes through all the streets of the village. This
‘Veedhi ula’ commences at selvakaali amman temple
and ends in the paalkulathi amman temple.
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BUILT STUCTURES
6.1 AGE OF THE BUILDINGS

6.2 ROOF TYPES

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6.3 HOUSE TYPOLOGIES

6.3.1 AGRAHARAM HOUSE
The houses in Agraharam share their
walls made of chubb bricks, as these houses were
continuously built like giant chambers by the king Raja Raja
Chola.

The house has a closed linear plan

divided into three stages. These stages are called ‘Kattu’.
The first stage comprises of the verandah, linving area,
storeroom, bedroom and courtyard.
The second stage contains the
kitchen and its ancillary spaces.

The third stage comprises then

restroom and backyard.
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The entrance and the courtyards

ate adorned with circular steps to emphasize their
importance.The doors are aligned in a single line. The
entrance has tapering cylindrical columns made of
wood.
The beams and rafters are joined
together by cross joints and the roof is covered with
pot tiles.
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6.3.2 VANNIYAR HOUSE

This house has a typical planning

for agricultural land owners. The house gets a
majestic appearance due the presence of a flight if
steps at the entrance. A bathing area is found in the
kitchen. An intricate cornice made of terracotta adorns
the wall made of chubb bricks at the rear end of the
house. The joinery details are similar to the
Agraharam house and the roof is covered with pot
tiles.
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6.3.3 FARMER’S HOUSE

The house has a simple, closed,

linear plan with the doors aligned in a straight line.
The only spaces of this house are the verandah, living
area, kitchen and backyard with bathing area.
The backyard has a fixed mud
stove. A separate space is provided in the front of the
house to tie goats. The walls are made of chubb
bricks and has a stucco finish.
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The roof is made of bamboo

frames which are tied with square and diagonal
lashing and is thatched with coconut leaves.

6.3.4 MUD HOUSE

This house is made of cob

supported by stone posts. The roof is framed with
bamboos using square and shear lashing techniques
and thatched with coconut leaf.
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A simple, open plan with a small

level difference distinguishes the spaces as kitchen
and living area. A front yard is present to tie the goats.

6.3.5 CLUSTER HOUSE

A cluster of two houses with an

open restroom and a cattle barn is present in the
compound.
The house has a very simple and
open plan with a roof structure similar to the mud
house.
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6.3.6 ANALYSIS

6.3.7 CONDITION OF THE HOUSES

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6.4 INFRASTRUCTURE
The village has necessary
infrastructure that are required for the village to
function efficiently. These may include social and
religious buildings, offices, institutions, service
buildings etc.

6.4.1 TEMPLES

6.4.1.1 PALKULATHI AMMAN TEMPLE

It is located in the east of the

village.It is the oldest temple built by the villagers. It
was present near the theppakulam with water so white
due to the presence sulphuric fumes.

Columns obtained from the ruins

of a shiva temple in the capital of the chola kingdom is
placed in the temple.
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6.4.1.2 KAILAASANATHAR TEMPLE

The temple is present in the

centre of the village facing the East. The temple has a
typical Dravidian style architecture consisting of
garbagriha, arthamandapa and mahamandapa.

The three walls of the garbagriha

has sannidhis for lordsDhakshinaamoorthy,
Lingothbhavar and Brahma.

The temple also has subshrines

for lords Nandikeshwara, Durga, Arthanaarishwarar,
Subramaniyar, Ganesha, Bhairavar and Agasthiar.

The mahashivaraathiri is
celebrated in a grand manner with abhishekams and
archanais.
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6.4.1.3 SELVAKAALI AMMAN TEMPLE

It is located in the north side of

the village. The temple was built by the villagers
around the initial shrine. The temple was recently
undertaken by the government before the construction
of gopuram was completed. The temple is still devoid
of a gopram.

The villagers believe that

constructing buildings taller than this temple brings
upon many misfortunes.

6.4.1.4 DRAUPATHI AMMAN TEMPLE

It is located to the west of the

village. The temple has a very simple plan consisting
of a garbagriha, anthrala and arthamandapa.
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6.4.1.5 VISHNU TEMPLE

The temple is located in the

Agraharam and is 500 years old. It is a very simple
columnated structure.

The festivals celebrated in this

temple are ekadesi and navaraathiri.
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6.4.2 CHURCH
The church is located in the
southern end of the village. It is dedicated to St.
Joseph. The church has a transverse plan.
Masses are conducted on the
weekend. The auspicious days are September 8th,
September 19th and august 15th. A procession for
Mary is held in these days.

6.4.3 RAJA RAJA CHOLA MEMORIAL

The memorial has a square plan

with a lingam at its centre.
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6.4.4 RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS MAP

6.4.5 PUBLIC BUILDINGS

The various public buildings

present in the village are ration shop, e- service
centre, co-operative society, library, women self help
group centre, post office, vermi compost and schools.

6.4.6 COMMUNITY SPACES

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6.4.7 LOCATION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS

6.5 ARIEL VIEW

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SERVICES

7.1 SANITATION
SEWAGE DISPOSAL : Soak pits are built in every
house and the consumed water is let into them.
Septic tanks are used only in
limited houses. Most of the houses let their grey water
directly into the ground.

GAEBAGE DISPOSAL : The wastes are collected and

segregated into biodegradable and non biodegradable
wastes and the bio degradable wastes are dumped on
the vermi compost pits as humus.

PUBLIC TOILETS : 20% of the houses lack

bathrooms and 40% lack toilets. Hence a few public
toilets were built by the government.
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7.2 TYPES OF ROADS

7.3 ELECTRICITY NETWORK

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7.4 WATER SUPPLY

7.5 LANDMARKS
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SWOT ANALYSIS
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NEIGHBOURING VILLAGES
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PROPOSAL
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SUMMARY
The village has been
surveyed and documented by the students and an
understanding on their culture, architecture and habits
have been dawned.