Located between the Palani and Sirumalai Hills, Dindigul is located at an elevation of about 879 feet and has a reserved forest area of 85 hectares. The population of the city is 2,07,000, the literacy rate is 90% and Tamil is the main spoken language. The 2011 census data indicates that Dindigul district has a total population of 2.1 million, the literacy rate is 76% and 51% of the population belongs to the working age group. Out of this 57 percent work in the agriculture sector, 3 percent in the household industry and 40 percent in services and industry. Agriculture is the main and traditional occupation of the district and non-food crops like coffee, flowers, tobacco and eucalyptus are cultivated. Traditional industries include lock making, leather, textile spinning, administrative services, agricultural trading and machinery, banking and educational services. Silk, Muslin and Blanket manufacturing is undertaken in Dindigul and the city has the second largest textile spindling capacity in the State. It was also an important center for tobacco and cigar manufacturing under the British rule. A favorite cigar of Winston Churchill called Churut, the Light of Asia, was produced in Dindigul. Historically, Dindigul was a part of the main dynasties that ruled the region - the Pandyas, Cholas, Pallavas, Madurai sultanate, Vijaynagar empire, Madurai nayak dynasty and the Carnatic kingdom.
