Tourism in Viluppuram district offers a suitable opportunity to explore its glorious past. There are several forts, temples, hills, etc in this district which speak of its rich history. The district of Viluppuram was bifurcated from the previously composite South Arcot district on the 30th of September, 1993. It is the second largest district in the Tamil Nadu state which lies in the middle of the Tiruchirapalli to Chennai National Highways No. 45. The district is conveniently connected by the rail road and is a major junction. From this place, one can go to any corner of the Tamil Nadu state and also to other parts of India. The Viluppuram district possesses a variety of tourist spots which are more than one hundred years old. The district bears temples, churches and masques which are very old and famous.
The Kalrayan hills forms a part of the Eastern Ghats and it lies on the western side of the Kallakurichi taluk. It spreads over an area of about six hundred square kilometers and a height of about one thousand to three thousand and eight hundred ft. from the sea level. Kalrayan hills have several tourist potentials like jungle streams, water falls, rivers and rivulets and lovely jungle walks. The place is a real paradise for trekkers. This place is also known as the `poor man`s hill station` of Tamil Nadu.
A geological park at Thiruvakkarai is about forty kilometers from the district of Viluppuram and about twenty five kilometres from Puducherry. The national geological park possesses a large number of petrified tree trunks known as fossil. Another major attraction is the Marakanam Beach. It is located at a distance of twenty two kilometers from Puducherry across East Coast Road in Vanur taluk. The most famous thing at this beach is the salt field. Another notable tourist place is Krishnagiri. It is a small hill made up of granite boulders, situated to the north of Rajagiri on the main road from Gingee to Tiruvannamalai. The citadel on this hill is reached by climbing a flight of steps over a steep slope. There are two stone-built granaries within the citadel and a pillared hall, two temples and an edifice constructed by brick and mortar called the Audience Chamber.
Positioned comfortably on three hills, and enclosed by a vast rampart of sixty feet thick, stands the majestic Gingee Fort in the district of Viluppuram. The fort was situated on the Thindivanam to Thiruvannamalai road about twenty five kilometers from Thindivanam and one hundred and thirty kilometers from Chidambaram. Most of the early history of this eight hundred year old fort is shrouded in mystery since the fort seems to have changed considerably before it was annexed to the Vijayanagar Empire. Apart from the forts and hills and other natural beauties, there are several Hindu temples, mosques, churches, and Jain temples which also attract a significant number of tourists throughout the year.
