CHIDAMBARAM, a town of British India, in the South Arcot district of Madras, 7 m. from the coast and 151 m. S. of Madras by rail. Pop. (1931) 25,084. The fine pagodas at Chidam baram are the oldest in the south of India. Here is supposed to have been the northern frontier of the ancient Chola kingdom. The principal temple is sacred to Siva, and is visited by huge numbers of pilgrims. It contains a "hall of a thousand pillars," one of numerous such halls in India, the exact number of pillars in this case being 984; each is a block of solid granite, and the roof of the principal temple is of copper-gilt. Silk cloth is manufactured in the town.