Why visit Chidambaram
Townapedia lists 2 parks and trails, 6 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Annamalai University.
Weather in Chidambaram
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Chidambaram
Chidambaram (also known as Thillai) is a major town and municipality in Cuddalore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, on the banks of the Vellar River where it meets the Bay of Bengal. It is the headquarters of the Chidambaram taluk. The town is believed to be of significant antiquity and has been ruled, at different times, by the Pallavas until ninth century, Medieval Cholas, Later Cholas, Later Pandyas, Vijayanagara Empire, Thanjavur Nayakas, Marathas and the British. The town is known for the Thillai Nataraja Temple and Thillai Kali Temple,
From the Wikipedia article Chidambaram (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Chidambaram on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do4
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Annamalai University
School · 2.7 km
State public university in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, India
Lena Theater
Cinema and theater · 1.0 km
Senkazhani Pillayar Kovil Street(S.P.Kovil), Chidambaram
Vaduganathan Teater
Cinema and theater · 0.9 km
Senkazhani Pillayar Kovil Street(S.P.Kovil), Chidambaram
Parks, trails and playgrounds2
Restaurants and cafes6
Thillai Ganesh Hotel Vegetarian
Restaurant · 0.9 km
Senkazhani Pillayar Kovil Street(S.P.Kovil), Chidambaram
Where to stay7
History
There is reference to the temple or the town in Sangam literature of the first to fifth centuries and the earliest mention is found in Tamil literature. The temple and the deity were immortalized in Tamil poetry in the works of Thevaram by three poet-saints belonging to the seventh century - Thirugnana Sambanthar, Thirunavukkarasar and Sundaramoorthy Nayanar. Thirugnana Sambanthar has composed two songs in praise of the temple, Thirunavukkarasar aka Appar eight songs in praise of Nataraja and Sundarar one song in praise of Nataraja. Sundarar commences his Thiruthondar Thogai (the sacred list of Lord Shiva's 63 devotees) paying his respects to the priests of the Thillai temple - "To the devotees of the priests at Thillai, I am a devotee". The works of the first three saints, the Thirumurai were stored in palm leaf manuscripts in the temple and were recovered by the Chola King Rajaraja Chola under the guidance of Nambiandarnambi.
From the History section of Chidambaram on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship11
Thillai Nataraja Temple
Place of worship · Shaivism
Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu 608001
Kezha Theru Mariamman Kovil
Place of worship · 0.8 km
Keezhutheru Mariyamman Koil St, Chidambaram
Thillai Kaali Amman Kovil
Place of worship · 0.9 km
Thillai Kaali amman Kovi, Street, chidamabaram
Gas and EV charging5
HP Petrol Pump (R.R & Sons , HPCL Outlet)
Gas station · 2.0 km
Chidambaram Bypass, chidambarm
Schools, colleges and libraries6
Venus Higher Secandory Metriculation School
School · 1.1 km
Last Cross Thillai Nagar, chinambaram
Healthcare7
Kamaraj Government Hospital
Hospital · 1.0 km
Senkazhani Pillayar Kovil Street(S.P.Kovil), Chidambaram
Map of Chidambaram
48 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Neyveli Airport (NVY) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 30 km away.
- Usuppūr 2 km south, about 2 min by car
- Neyveli 31 km northwest, about 31 min by car
- Mayiladuthurai 33 km south, about 33 min by car
- Cuddalore 41 km north, about 41 min by car
- Tharangambadi 45 km southeast, about 45 min by car
- Kāraikāl 56 km south, about 56 min by car
- Kumbakonam 59 km southwest, about 59 min by car
- Puducherry 61 km north, about 1 h by car
- Villupuram 64 km north, about 1 h by car
- Thiruvarur 70 km south, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Chidambaram Temple, Ryan, CC BY 2.0
- The Administrative Building, Annamalai University 01, Arunshariharan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Le temple de Shiva Nataraja (Chidambaram, Inde) (14037020332), Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0
Page built November 3, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.