Nagapattinam is a city located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It serves as the administrative headquarters for the Nagapattinam district, which was established in 1991. The city is administered by a Special grade municipality covering an area of 17.92 km2.
Historically, the town rose to prominence during the Medieval Chola period as a significant port for commerce and east-bound naval expeditions. It was home to the Chudamani Vihara, an important Buddhist structure constructed by the Srivijayan king Sri Mara Vijayattungavarman of the Sailendra dynasty with assistance from Rajaraja Chola I.
The city saw various colonial influences, having been settled by the Portuguese and later by the Dutch. From 1660 to 1781, it served as the capital of Dutch Coromandel before being conquered by the British East India Company in November 1781. It subsequently functioned as the capital of the Tanjore district from 1799 to 1845 under the Madras Presidency.