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History

Karaikal is a port city of the Indian Union Territory of Puducherry. It is the administrative headquarters of the Karaikal District and the second most populated town in the Union Territory after Pondicherry.

Overview

Karaikal is a port city of the Indian Union Territory of Puducherry. It is the administrative headquarters of the Karaikal District and the second most populated town in the Union Territory after Pondicherry. Located on the Coromandel Coast of Bay of Bengal in South India, it is situated at the center of a coastal enclave surrounded by the state of Tamil Nadu and its Cauvery delta districts (Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam).

Historical Timeline

1738

In 1738, Karaikal was promised to the French by Sayaji, the exiled Rajah of Thanjavur, in exchange for their assistance.

1739

However, the transfer of control only occurred in 1739 with the help of Chanda Sahib of Arcot, when the French formally obtained the town.

1749

In 1749, additional territories consisting of 81 villages were ceded by Pratap Singh to the French during their siege of Thanjavur, a grant that was confirmed by treaty in 1754.

1760

Karaikal changed hands multiple times in the following years due to conflicts between the French and the British, notably during the siege on 5th April 1760, when British forces captured the town after a ten-day defense, defeating then gove

1817

Karaikal was eventually restored to French control in 1817 following the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

1954

The French continued to hold control, despite occasional interruptions by the British Raj, until 1954, when it was de facto incorporated into the Republic of India.

Historical Sites

Karaikal Beach

Tirunallar Dharbaranyeswarar Temple

Karaikal Ammaiyar Temple

Kailasanathar Temple

Nithyakalyana Perumal Temple

Notable Figures

Karaikal Beach

Tirunallar Dharbaranyeswarar Temple

Karaikal Ammaiyar Temple

Tour Packages for Karaikal

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