CHENNAI: East Coast Road was known as the Vadugaperuvazhi (Vadakku Peruvazhi) or the big way to the North.
Apart from connecting Cauvery delta and the North, the road facilitated trade with several countries in South East Asia.
At the Marundeeswarar Temple in Tiruvanmiyur, inscriptions dating back to the 11th century can be found on the shrine of Tripurasundari Amman (Goddess Parvati). A work by Thirugnanasambandar suggested that it could have been a thriving region even in the 7th century.
Saadat Ali, the Nawab, built the ancient port of Covelong. In the year 1746, Covelong was taken over by French troops, and in 1752, destroyed by the British under Clive.
The Dutch built a fort in Covelong during the colonial times, which today has been made the Taj Fisherman Cove, a private luxury beach resort. It also has an ancient Siva temple named Kailasanather Temple, which perhaps dates to 13th century and the dargah of Tamim al Ansari, who is considered to be one of the Sahaba (Companions of Prophet Muhammed).
At Thiruvidanthai Nitya Kalayana Perumal Temple, an inscription talks about a merchant from Kondungallur in Malai Nadu (Kerala) making a gift to the temple. Many of the Chola inscriptions are seen on the base of the North wall of the central shrine of the temple in Tiruvidanthai . The inscription of the Rashtrakuta King Krishna III dated 959 AD is also seen on this wall.
(Excerpts from research by historians Pradeep Chakravarthy and Chitra Madhavan)