Cuddalore is a district in the Southern state of Tamil Nadu and the district headquarters is also located here. With an area of 3,564 sq Km and a population of about 2,285,395 it is surrounded by the Viluppuram district in the North by the Bay of Bengal in the east, Nagapattinam district in the South and Perambalur district in the west.

Cuddalore district was previously called the South Arcot district and Captain Graham was appointed as the First Collector of South Arcot when the Nawab transferred the Carnatic region to the Company .At that time the district consisted of twenty-one taluks of Arcot ,Vellore ,Thiruvathur ,Polur , Arani, Wandiwash, Chetpet , Thiruvannamalai , Gingee ,Tindivanam , Valudavur, Villupuram , Anniyur , Tirukoilur , Thiruvennainallur Tiruvadi , Elavanasur, Kallakurichi , Vridhachalam , Tittagudi and Bhuvanagiri .The present Cuddalore District was formed on 30th September ,1993. Now the district is divided into six taluks, thirteen blocks, five Municipalities and sixteen town Panchayats. The district has a literacy rate of 71.85%, which is higher than the national average literacy rate, which is 59.5%. However this is low by standards of Tamil Nadu.

In Purana this district is described as part of Sri Rama Khetra and is an ancient district. The famous Sri Natarajan temple is situated in this district and is the subject of research for scientists and innovators.

The district is the top cashew nut producer in the State and accounts for about 52% of the total state production. The tourist spots in the district are Silver beach at Devanampatinam (Cuddalore ) and Neyveli Lignite Corporation at Neyveli.