TN Archaeology Department begins excavation investigation in Nagapattinam

Officials conducted an investigation at the Nagapanham District Court Building to initiate an archaeological excavation. |Picture source: Special arrangement

The Archaeology Ministry of Tamil Nadu is conducting an exploration in the port of Nagapatinam after an excavation to find the remains of the famous Buddhist gardening Chudamani Vihara, believed to have been constructed during the Rajaraja Chola I (985-1014 CE).

Over the past few days, the department has been conducting investigations using Light Detection and Range (LIDAR), a remote sensing method that is believed to exist in the monastery. A drone was deployed to conduct the investigation to evaluate and determine the location of systematic archaeological excavations.

The exploration was explored by R. Sivanantham, Director of Archaeology and Archaeological Officer K. Vasanthakumar, Director of GIS Project of the Ministry of Monitoring and Information Technology of France, G. Muthusankar, Director of GIS Project of the Institute of French Monitoring and Information Technology, France, and G. Muthusankar, Director of GIS Project of the Institute of French France, France, France, and K. Vasanthakumar, Director of GIS Muthusankar.

Sources from the department told the source Hindu.

The Tamil Nadu government, in its Budget 2025-26, had announced that archaeological excavations would be undertaken at eight locations, including Keezhadi, Telunganur in Salem, Vellalur in Coimbatore, Adichanur in Kallakurichi, Manikollai in Cuddalore, Karivalamvanthanallur in Tenkasi, Pattanamarudur in Thoothukudi, and Nagapattinam.

Nagapattinam is believed to have been a Buddhist castle in southern India. The ancient port city of Poompuhar, also known as Kaveripoompattinam, was the capital of early Joras. The state government has also announced plans for a deep-sea excavation between Poompuhar and Nagapattinam this year.

The District Court Complex in Nagapattinam now houses the Munsif District Court, which incorporates the court buildings, believed to have been around for more than a century. The buildings were recently renovated by the Public Works Department’s Building Center and the Protection Department.