Karaikal

Karaikal lies on the Coromandel Coast in the fertile delta of the Kaveri. The Arasalar, a branch of the river, reaches the sea here, giving the town access to the produce of the delta and to maritime trade. Its sacred associations include Karaikal Ammaiyar, a Tamil devotee of Shiva remembered among the Nayanmar saints.

In the eighteenth century the French sought a foothold on this part of the coast. Negotiations with the ruler of Thanjavur took place amid the rivalries of southern Indian powers, and in February 1739 the French took possession of Karaikal, the fort of Karakalacheri and neighbouring villages. The settlement became one of their possessions in India. British forces occupied it during wars between the European powers, but it was restored to France after the Napoleonic wars.