Chidambaram taluk
Chidambaram taluk is an administrative area in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, with the town of Chidambaram as its headquarters. Chidambaram is famous as a temple town and is linked to groves that shelter the main deity of the temple. The area was once known as Thillai, named after the Tillai mangrove trees and the nearby Pichavaram wetlands. In the 10th century, the Chola kings made it their capital and built the Nataraja Temple for their family deity.
The name Chidambaram comes from Tamil Chitrambalam, meaning "wisdom atmosphere" (citta or chitthu meaning consciousness or wisdom, ampalam meaning atmosphere). It is closely connected with Shiva Nataraja, the cosmic dancer and a cultural hub for the arts. Some scholars translate the name as "clothed in thought."
According to the 2011 census, Chidambaram taluk had a population of 469,416 (236,170 men and 233,246 women), with a sex ratio of 988 women for every 1,000 men. The literacy rate was 75.15%. Children below age 6 numbered 23,599 boys and 21,446 girls.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 06:00 (CET).