Cuddalore district is an administrative district located on the Coromandel Coast in the eastern part of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The district headquarters is the coastal town of Cuddalore, situated at the mouth of the Gadilam and Ponnaiyar rivers, about 200 km south of Chennai. The district is known for its long coastline, agricultural economy dominated by paddy and sugarcane, the historic port of Cuddalore, and the Neyveli lignite mining and thermal power complex.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Region | Coromandel Coast |
| Headquarters | Cuddalore |
| Adjacent districts | Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Mayiladuthurai (and the Bay of Bengal to the east) |
| Major rivers | Ponnaiyar, Gadilam, Vellar, Coleroon (Kollidam) |
| Principal language | Tamil |
Cuddalore district lies along the Bay of Bengal in the northern Cauvery delta zone. Its coastline extends for several tens of kilometres and includes river mouths, estuaries, and mangrove patches such as those at Pichavaram, one of the largest mangrove ecosystems in India, located near Chidambaram. The terrain is largely flat coastal plain, supporting wet cultivation in the southern taluks where the Coleroon (Kollidam) marks part of the southern boundary. The Vellar and Ponnaiyar rivers drain the central and northern parts of the district.
The district is divided into revenue divisions and taluks, with major towns including Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Panruti, Kurinjipadi, Virudhachalam, Neyveli, and Bhuvanagiri. Local administration is carried out through municipalities, town panchayats, panchayat unions, and village panchayats, while the district administration is headed by a District Collector. The district falls under the jurisdiction of multiple Lok Sabha and Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly constituencies.
The territory of present-day Cuddalore was historically part of the Chola heartland, with Chidambaram serving as a major religious centre under the Cholas, who developed and patronised the Thillai Nataraja Temple dedicated to Shiva as Nataraja. After the decline of the Cholas, the region passed through the rule of the Pandyas, the Vijayanagara Empire, and the Nayaks before becoming a focus of European trading rivalries.
The town of Cuddalore became an important colonial port. The British established Fort St. David, a few kilometres south of the town, in the late 17th century. Fort St. David was the seat of British administration on the Coromandel Coast at times when Madras was under threat, and Robert Clive served there early in his career. The fort and the Cuddalore region were repeatedly contested between the British and the French during the Carnatic Wars in the 18th century, including the Battle of Cuddalore in 1783.
Under the British Raj, the area formed part of South Arcot district in the Madras Presidency. After Indian independence, South Arcot district continued in Tamil Nadu until it was bifurcated in 1993 into Cuddalore district (then often called South Arcot Vallalar) and Villupuram district.
Agriculture remains a major source of employment, with paddy, sugarcane, groundnut, cashew (notably around Panruti), and pulses being important crops. The district has a substantial industrial base anchored by the Neyveli lignite belt, where NLC India Limited (formerly Neyveli Lignite Corporation) operates open-cast lignite mines and thermal power stations that supply electricity to several southern states. The State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) has industrial complexes in Cuddalore that host chemical and pharmaceutical units. Fishing is an important coastal occupation, with harbours and landing centres along the coast.
Cuddalore is connected by National Highway 32 (formerly NH-45A) and other state highways to Chennai, Puducherry, Villupuram, and the Cauvery delta districts. The Indian Railways' Southern Railway operates lines through Cuddalore, with key stations at Cuddalore Port, Cuddalore Junction, Chidambaram, and Virudhachalam