Parangipettai (Tamil: பரங்கிப்பேட்டை), historically called Porto Novo, is a panchayat town in Cuddalore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. From Chennai, Parangipettai can be reached through the National Highway NH45A stretch between Cuddalore and Chidambaram. It has an interesting historical background. Due to its geographical position on the Coromandel Coast, Parangipettai has long been
a major trading centre. In particular, it was an important trading destination for the Arabs, especially the Yemenis. During the colonial era the Portuguese, Dutch and English successively colonized the area. Today, Parangipettai has a thriving trade with nations in the Middle East and South East Asia. It also hosts a Marine Biology Station affiliated with the Annamalai University. Parangipettai is an important pilgrimage centre for both Hindus and Muslims. It is ironic that Parangipettai still remains as a town in Tamil Nadu, as it has seen the arrival of wealth and different people even before the dawn of globalisation. [Source: wikipedia.org]
