Government Arts College, Chidambaram has been started by the Government of Tamilnadu in 1982 at a crucial moment when the nearby Annamalai University suddenly suspended all it's under graduate courses. Chidambaram, a prominent town in the District of Cuddalore is famous for its temples and culture. It constitutes many villages and the students hailing from such villages are mostly first generation of literates in their families. So, when there was a void created due to the abolishment of under graduate courses in the Annamalai University, the Government of Tamilnadu started this college in the old Government Hospital building for the welfare of all the students of the nearby rural community. Then, in August 1987, the college started functioning from the new building at C-Mutlur, a village away by 8 km from heart of the town.