Ancient - Road Systems

ANCIENT PERIOD

The ancient period revealed thedevelopment of roadways in Tamil Nadu during theperiod of Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas.

Sangam Age

During the Sangam period, the main trade routes, such those going over the Western Ghats, went through thick forests. It was the duty of the state to protect the merchant caravans on these trade routes from robbers and wild life. Main roads,known as Peruvali, were built that connected the distant parts of the country. These roads were as important to the army as they were to the merchants.The Sangam literature Silapathikaram spoke about the existence of road between Uraiyur(Trichy) and Madurai. This road linked Trichy, Pudukottai, Thirumayam, Tirupathur and Madurai. Lingaapuran, a Lankan Chieftain who waged war against Kulasekara Pandyan in 1170 A.D. used this road for transport. Sundara Pandyan conqueredChola country through this road only.The inscriptions of this Pandyan are seen in thishighway, particularly in Velankudi and Ponamaravathi. Malik Kafur who robbed off Madurai in 1311 reached Madurai through this road from Trichy. Through todays’ Kasi-Rameswaram highway he reached Rameswaram.The 14th century Muslim scholar Amir Kusuru also mentioned about this road.

Pallava Period

The travelogue of Hiuen-Tsang, a Chinese traveller who paid visit to India during the first part of the 7th century B.C., when Harsha in the north and Pallavas in the south were reigning, leaves avivid account of the ancient highways in South India. As accounted by him, the major routes of these periods were almost the same as they were during the earlier centuries. The major routes whenformed underwent little change with the passage of time. From Hiuen Tsang’s account it is evident that the roads during that time were maintained in good condition and were safe. Pilgrims were able to move about freely all over the country.

Chola Period

Cholas who are the great builders of temples are also the excellent road makers. The Cholas from 10th to 14th century extended manyroads to improve trade and commerce of the country. Roads are mentioned in several inscriptions of the Chola period from all parts ofthe country. To maintain these roads, great andsmall, in good repair were part of the duty of local authorities and the villagers were often expected to give freely the labour (vetti, amanji) required for it.Two classes of roads may be distinguished -vadis and peruvali; the vadis were only slightly better than footpaths and apparently not suited to wheeled traffic. One such vadi in Uttarmerur was washed away by the floods and the path became unfit for use even by cattle; in remaking the path,the sabha decided to widen it and purchased the adjoining lands from the ryots to whom they belonged. The better class of roads is called peruvali, the great road, in the inscriptions.

Pandyas Period

In Fahien’s (a Chinese traveller) account,mention has been made about the roads in Chengalpattu district. This account which was made in 1845, may be the earliest mention of the roads in the district. Fahien’s records provide even the minutest details of the route and locations of the places he visited. Albeit he did not pay any visit to South India, he has made reference to Kancheepuram, which was then the capital of Tondaimandalam and stated that it was well linked by roads to the north as far as Prathisthana, the capital town of Satavahana Empire.Thus in the ancient period, Tamil Nadu had good communication facilities, especially road networks were fit for carts and animal transport.The pilgrims and merchants were the major passengers of the ancient period. These good roads only paved the way for the entry of British into India as traders.

TRANSITION PERIOD

With the decline of the ancient kings, the Tamil territories were parcelled out among several petty kings such as the Nayaks of Madurai and Thanjavur and Poligars who declared themselves independent. This period was termed as transition period as this was a period of political, economic and social instability which enabled the British to take full advantage. Because of political instability, there was no promotion in the development of roads during Nayaks and Poligars period.

Nayaks Period

Existence of good roads during the early days, very particularly before the advent of the English was rare. The Nayaks who ruled over the southern part of Tamil Nadu for quite a number of years neither spent their money nor applied their mind on the need for road construction, despitethey diverted their abundant treasures for erecting temples and mahals. The Queen then decided that roads with avenue trees, where passers-by can rest in the shade during the fierce heat of the day maybe an atonemnet for the misdeed. These roads were lined by trees on either side. Many miles of such avenues or salais are still extent in southern districts of Tamil Nadu and they go by the name Mangammal Salai.But the roads constructed by Mangammalin Madurai and Dindigul Districts were good enough for wheeled traffic and that they were being constantly used by country bullock carts for conveying merchandize from place to place.Mangammal salai are still seen in some districts of the State. There is one such salai which occasionally breaks connecting Tirunelveli with Srivilliputtur. Another salai runs along the side ofthe modern road from Cheranmahadevi to Kalakad(the ancient counterpart of the present National Highways) and then from Alwarkuruchi to Sivasailam; the old route from Tirunelveli through Vaippar to Rameshwaram was one such salai.

Poligars Period

The Poligars who ruled the southern districts of Tamil Nadu under the auspices of the Nayaks whowere under the authority of the Nawabs (1529-1802) did not spend any money on public works,not to mention roads. It was a continuous period ofstrife; strife among themselves and strife against the paramount.

Tipu Sultan

Tipu Sultan was considered to be a pioneer in the construction of roads. The primary purpose of the roads connecting Madras to Calcutta in the north and the kingdom of Travancore in the south was to serve as lines of communication during wars.The best known road ran through the wild broken country on the left bank of the Cauvery to the west of Hosur and Dharmapuri taluks. The route lay from Denkanikottai via Anchetti and Geratti to Pennagaram, thence via Morasarahalli and Donnakuttahalli to the Toppur River.Thus in the transition period, the good roads of the ancient period got degraded because of the non-maintenance of existing roads by the Nayaks and Poligars except by one or two