Chidambaram is a municipal town in Tamil Nadu and the taluk (tehsil) headquarters of the Cuddalore district. It is located in the Kollidam River valley about 11  km from the coast, 20 km from the towns Kollidam and Sirkazhi, 60 km from Karaikal, and 240  km south of Chennai by rail . It has an average elevation of 3 metres (9 ft).

Chidambaram is a major pilgrimage site for Shaivites as well as Vaishnavites, where one of the holiest and ancient temples of Hinduism is located.