Parangipettai

Historically called Porto Novo is a panchayat town in Cuddalore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.PortoNovo is situated on the north bank of the mouth of Vellar at a distance of 32km from Cuddalore and 22Km from Chidambaram. Porto Novo was an important trade centre during colonial era. Portuguese were the first European settlers of this place from whom it passed into the possession of the Dutch and finally handed it over to the English in 1824. This town has a large Muslim population engaged mostly in sea-trade. Today, Parangipettai is mainly a fishing village. Parangipettai has a Marine Biology Station affiliated with the Annamalai University.

The town was called Porto Novo by the Portuguese who controlled the region from early 16th century to early 18th century when they were defeated by the British. This town was also called as "Mahmood Banthar" by the time of Mughal Empire period. The town flourished as an industrial centre during the British rule, Iron made here was exported to England. The Second Anglo-Mysore War was also fought here between Hyder Ali and the British under Sir Eyre Coote in July 1781