The Cuddalore town is famous for its various Shiva and Vaishnava temples. Some of the most famous temples are Pataleeshwarar Temple, Tiruvaheendirapuram Temple, Mangalapureeswarar Temple and Sudarkozhunthutheesar Temple, to name a few. Cuddalore is the headquarters of the Cuddalore District in Tamil Nadu. While the early history of Cuddalore remains unclear, the town first rose to prominence during the reign of Pallavas and Medieval Cholas.