Cuddalore

Cuddalore, also spelt as Kadalur ( ), is a heavy industries hub, port city, and headquarters of the Cuddalore District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Situated 5.3 km south of Puducherry (union territory), the city was an important port city during the British Raj. Cuddalore district is famous for Pichavaram Mangrove Forest. While the early history of Cuddalore remains unclear, the city first rose to prominence during the Pallavas' and Medieval Cholas' reign. After the fall of the Cholas, the town was ruled by various dynasties like Pandyas, Vijayanagar Empire, Madurai Nayaks, Thanjavur Nayaks, Thanjavur Marathas, Tipu Sultan, the French and the British Empire. Cuddalore was also a theatre of conflict in the Seven Years' War, witnessing the Battle of Cuddalore in 1758 between the French and British. It has been a part of independent India since 1947. During the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Cuddalore was one of the affected towns, with 572 recorded casualties. Apart from fishing and port-related industries, Cuddalore houses chemical, pharmacological and energy industries in SIPCOT, an industrial estate set up by the state government. The city is administered by municipal corporation covering 101.6 km2 . It had a population of 308,781 in 2011. Cuddalore is a part of the Cuddalore legislative assembly constituency, which is a part of the Cuddalore Lok Sabha constituency. There are 25 schools, two science colleges and two engineering colleges in the city. There is one government hospital, six municipal maternity homes, and 42 other private hospitals that take care of the citizens' healthcare needs. Roadways are the primary means of transportation, while the town also has rail connectivity. The nearest airport is in Pondicherry Airport, located at 24 km (15 mi) away and the nearest international airport is Chennai International Airport, located 179 km (112 mi)...