Viluppuram District (also spelt Villuparam District) is situated in the north-eastern part of
Tamil Nadu. It is bounded by
Cuddalore District in the east and south,
Salem and
Dharmapuri districts in the west and
Thiruvannamalai and
Kanchipuram districts in the north. The district has an area of 6,191 sq km. Viluppuram was ruled by the kings of
Chera, Chozha,
Pallava,
Pandya,
Rashtrakutas,
Hoysala and Naik dynasties before the British rule.
Viluppuram District has a population of nearly 3 million. Agriculture is the main profession. The district has a rich source of black granites, blue metals and river sand minerals. Paddy, sugarcane, groundnut, coconut, cotton and casurina are the main crops. Thenpennai is the major seasonal river.
Viluppuram (the district's headquarters), Gingee Fort, Kalyana Mahal, Venugopala Swamy Temple, Krishnagiri Fort,
Marakanam Beach and Melnaariyappanoor Church are the main tourist places.
