Arikamedu is the site of extensive archeological ruins that tell tales of a bygone era. It once was an important trading and manufacturing hub on trade routes used by the Romans along the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean. It’s importance can be deduced by the fact that the Romans actually built a settlement here to access the precious spices and gemstones that passed through it. Subsequently, the Cholas, The Marathas, the French and the English held sway here. The ruins of an ancient French seminary still stands forlorn as a reminder of a rich past.