Uraiyur

Woraiyur Woraiyur Urayur
Neighbourhood
Nickname:  Capital of Trichy
Woraiyur Show map of Tiruchirapalli Woraiyur Show map of Tamil Nadu Woraiyur Show map of India
Coordinates: 10°49′51″N 78°40′48″E / 10.8308°N 78.6799°E / 10.8308; 78.6799
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
Elevation	316.86 ft (96.58 m)
Time zone	UTC+5.30 (IST)

Uraiyur (also spelt Woraiyur) pronunciation^ⓘ is a locality in Tiruchirapalli city in Tamil Nadu, India. Uraiyur was the ancient name of Tiruchirappalli City. Now, it has become one of the busiest areas in Trichy City. It was the capital of the early Cholas, who were one of the three main kingdoms of the ancient Tamil country. Sometimes spelt as Urayur, this location is also known as Thirukkozhi, Nikalaapuri, Uranthai, and Kozhiyur or Koliyur.

There is definite mention of the Cholas, and their capital in Ashokan inscriptions in Orissa pushing back the antiquity of the Cholas as well as Uraiyur to 272–232 BCE, which was the period of Ashoka (ca. 304–232 BCE) who was ruler of the Maurya Dynasty of Pataliputra (modern Patna). Inscriptions and rock edicts of Ashoka and the Satavahanas describe Urayur as "the citadel and centre of the Cholas".^{[citation needed]} Uraiyur was ruled by Karikala Cholan. A revered Digambar Jain Acharya, Samantabhadra, was born here in the later part of the second century CE.^{[citation needed]} His notable works include Ratnakarandaka Shravakachara, Aaptamimamsa and Swambhu Stotra.