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. 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.