Dindigul was famous during the seventh century it self. "Appar" the great poet hadvisited the city. Thus the city had been noted in "Thevaram". Dindigulwas mentioned in the book "Padmagiri Nadhar Thenral Vidu thudhu" writtenby the poet "Palupatai sokkanathar" as Padmagiri. This was later statedby OO.Ve Saminatha Iyer in his foreward to the above book. He also addedthat Dindigul was called as Dindeecharam.

Dindigul region was the border of the three great Kingdoms of South India, the Pandiyas,the cheras and the Cholas. Hence Dindigul has its set back in its growthby successive wars among the three. In the ancient time the cheran kingDharmabalan has built temples for Abirami ambigai and Padmagirinathar.After that in the book Silapthigaram it is mentioned as the Northern borderof the Pandaya Kingdom whose capital was Madurai. Historian "Strabo" hadalso written in 20 A.D. The Roman Emperor "Augustus Ceaser" has sent ateam to the pandya kingdom in 73 A.D., Pillni the great historian of thetime has described about the Pandya king in his works we have more proofsthat Pandya kingdom was established before the Christian era.

In the first century of the Christian era the Chola king named Karikal Cholanhad captured the Pandya kingdom hence Dindigul has been ruled by both Cholasand Pandyan with the change of time. In the sixth century the pallava'stook over Southern India, they were in the power until twelth century.Dindugul has been under the rule of Pallavas untill Cholas regained thestate in the Thirteenth century. In the fourteenth century Southern Indiawas invaded by the Moguls. The Vijaya Nagar rulers restricted their entryinto the part for the time being. Dindigul was safe in the hands of VijayaNagara before cheras take over the Pandya kingdom Chandrakumara Pandyanwon the war against cheras with the assitance provided The Vijaya NagarKingdom. The commander of the vijaya Nagar army Kambanna udayar playedan important role in the war.

Everyhistorical city in India have a good number of temples, reflecting cultureand prosperity of the people. In the fourteenth century KalahastheeswaraGnanambika temple was built. The seenivasaperumal temple built in the bottomof the hill was eroded by time. By the 16th century Pandyan acquired thewhole chera kingdom with the support of Vijayanagar king Sachudevarayer.Sachudevarayer, on his visit in 1538 A.D. ordered for the repair worksand Garnish the temple of Abirami amman & Padmagirinathar. This isinferred from the script written over stone in the Fort temple.

In 1559 Nayakkars became powerful, their territory ended with Dindigul inthe north. The ruler, Viswanatha Nayakkar wanted to secure the bordersof the pandya kingdom. Unfortunated he died in 1563. After his death MuthukrisnaNayakka became the king of pandaya kingdom in 1602 A.D. He built the stronghill tort in 1605 A.D. secure Dindigul from invasion. He also built a fortat the bottom at the bottom of the hill. This was later called "Pettaiwall" The East gate of the fort was near the American mission compound.the North gate was at the junction of palani & vedasenthur roads thesouth gate was at the junction of Palani & Vedasenthur roads. The southgate was adjacent to the Begampoor Mosque.

Muthuveerappa Nayakkar and Thirumalai Nayakkar followed Muthukrishna Nayakkar. Dindigulgot its significance during Nayakkars rule of Madurai. Thirumalai Nayakkarredressed the Hill tort. He built the Front hall of the Kalahastheeswaraswamy temple. Sowndaraja Perumal temple in Phadikombu was erected. Duringhis Nayakkars stay in Dindigul, he fell into sickness, he prayed Sree Rangaperumalbut his sickness remained with him. Madurai Meenakshiamman came in hisdream and ordered him to rule over with Madurai as his capital. He didso and got himself relived from his sickness. His successords did not farewell. They died soon. This made Rani Mangammal became the ruler of theregion. She ruled ingenusly. She built the six hundred steps for the hillfort.

In 1736 Sanda Saheb Seized power from Vangaru Nayakkar. Hence, Dindigul cameunder his regin. In 1742 Mysore army under the leadership of Venkatarayerconquered Dindigul. He governed Dindigul as a representative of Maharajaof Mysore. He built the Chatram (a macting place for the civils) in thewest car street. By then the street is called as chatram street. Therewere Eighteen Palayams (a small region consists of few villages) duringhis reign. They were 1. Kandamanayakkanur 2. Thevaram 3. Bodi Nayakkanur4. Erasakka Nayakkanur 5. Pilliappa Nayakkanur 6. Nilakottai 7. Virupatchi8. Kannivadi 9. Marunuthu 10. Thottaian Kottai 11. Emakalapuram 12. Ambathurai13. Ammayanakkanur 14. Tharasimadai 15. Edayakottai 16. Sholavandan 17.Kombai 18. Sandhaiyur. Now these palayams present under Dindigul taluk,Periyakulam taluk, Palani taluk, Nilakottai taluk & Thirumangalam taluk.At old times all these palayams were under Dindigul Semai with Dindigulas capital. These palayams refused to pay respect to venkatarayer. So in1748 A.D. Venkatappa was made governer of the region after the dismissalof Venkatarayer. Even this leadership failed.

In 1755 Mysore Maharaja sent Haider Ali to Dindigul. He handled the Situationin an adept manner and captured Sholavandan alos. Later Haider Ali becamethe Maharaja of Mysore. In 1765 Haider Ali went back to Mysore. In 1777he appointed Purshana Mirsaheb as governor of Dindigul. He strengthenedthe fort and made few changes. One among them is the construction of presentgate and he ordered to close the East Gate. His wife Ameer-um-Nisha-Begamdied during delivery. Her tomb is now called Begambur.

In 1783 British army, lead by captain long Dindigul. In 1784 after an agreementbetween the Mysore province and British army. Dindigul was restored byMysore province. In 1788 Thippusultan, Son of Haider Ali was crowned asKing of Dindigul. He ordered to broguht docon the statues of padmagirinathar& Abiramiambigai from the hill temples to the Kalahastheeswara Swamytemple.

In 1790 Tames stewart gained control over Dindigul by invading it in the secondwar of Mysore. In a pact made on 1792 Thippusulthan give back Dindigulto the English. Dindigul is the first region to come under English rulein the Madurai District. In 1798 the British army Strengthened the hillfortwith cannons, and by building sentinal rooms in every corner.

The British army, under statten stayed at Dindigul fort from 1798 to 1859.After that Madurai was made head quarters of the British army and Dindigulwas attached to it as a taluik, In 1866, 11th November Dindigul becamea Municipality. The city got its railway station in 1875 when rail linefor Trichy to Tuticorin was constructed. Dindigul given to British in 1792was under the rule of the British. Untill we got our Independence on 15thAugust 1947.

The Great sri Ramanamaharishi who born in Dindigul and studied in Nehruji memorial school upto 7th std before he moves to thiruvannamalai.