Poompuhar is in the Sirkali Taluk of Nagapattinam district and it is also known as Kaveripoompattinam. The place has great historical importance.

Among the dynamic dynasties that ruled over Tamil Nadu the Cholas held a place of esteem and used this ancient town as their port capital. Puhar in Tamil means the estuary of river in the sea.

This port town of Kaveripoompattinam has been mentioned and cited on the temple inscriptions, in ancient literature and travelogues, different names and it has been referred to as Kaganthi, Sampapathi, Palarpukar Moothur, Mannagathu Vanpathi, Cholapattinam, Kaberia Emporium, and Kolapattinam.

There are frequent references to this important port town in ancient Tamil literature. Books like the Akananooru, Purananooru, Pattinappalai, Pathirruppathu, Mutthollayiram, Silappathikaram, Manimekalai, Devaram, Thirutthondarpuranam and Nandhikkalampagamrefer to this town. Ancient Pali literature like Milindapan, Buuttha Jathakakathaikal Abithamma Avathar and Buddhavamsakatha and the travelogues of Periplus, and Merris Erithroy contain the references to Kaveripoompattinam. Ptolemy and Pliny also mention Poompuhar in their writings.

Sillappathikara Art Gallery A beautiful seven-tiered building of great sculptural value has been built to house the Sillappathikara Art Gallery. The first storey is 12 feet high, and each storey above it has a height of 5 feet. The topmost part, which has kalasams, has a height of 8'. The total height of Art gallery is 50 feet.

The Magara Thoranavayil at the entrance of the Art Gallery imparts an imposing and beautiful look to the whole structure. Its height is 22½ feet. It has been designed on the pattern of Magara Thoranavayil, found in Suruli Malai Mangala Devi Koil. There is also an anklet-shaped tank in the Art Gallery. On one side of this tank are installed the statues of Kannagi 9½ feet tall, and Madhavi 8½' in height.

Thirusaikkadu (Sayavanam) It is situated 2 kms away from the Poompuhar estuary. The temple is dedicated to Thirusayavaneswarar and Iraivi Kuyilinam Nanmozhi Ammai. This temple has been praised by Nayanmars in their hymns. Chola inscriptions are found in the temple.

Thiruppallavaneeswaram (Poompuhar) This is an ancient and very beautiful temple. Iyarppakai Nayanar and Pattinatthar were born here. The hero and heroine of Sillappathikaram - Kovalan and Kannagi were also born here. The Saivaite saint Thirugnana Sambandar praised this temple.

Thiruvengadu is situated at a distance of 10 kms from Sirkali near Poompuhar. Four great Saivaite Saints have sung hymns about this town. This is the place where Meykandar was born. Budhan the zodiac sign Mercury has a separate sthalam in Thiruvengadu temple. The presiding deity here is Sri Swetharanyeswarar.

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