[2][3] During Ancient times, the region was under the rules of Cholas, Pallavas and various Local Chieftains like Tirukoilur king Malaiyaman.

During the British Rule, the whole region was a part of the South Arcot District of Madras Presidency.

On 8 January 2019, the region surrounding the municipality of Kallakurichi was announced as the 33rd district of Tamil Nadu by bifurcating Villupuram.

The greater part of the district is covered by the metamorphic rocks belonging to gneiss family.

Major rivers in the district include the Thenpennai, Manimukthar, Gomukhi, and Gadilam.

The district is divided into the 6 taluks of Kallakkurichi, Sankarapuram, Chinnasalem, Ulundurpet, Tirukkovilur and Kalvarayan Hills.

There are numerous rice-processing units or modern rice mills, both small and big throughout the district.

There was an announcement by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in March 2020 to build a medical college with the initial funding of 370 crores near Pumputhottam, in Siruvangur village, which is 3.5 kilometers from Kallakurichi town and 1st batch of 150 students have started from the academic year 2021/2022.

The District is connected by roads and railways to major cities and to the rest of the state.

NH-79 Salem-Kallakurichi-Ulundurpet NH-534 Chinnasalem-Veppur-Vridhachalam SH-9 Cuddalore-Panruti-Tirukoilur-Tiruvannamalai-Vellore SH-9A Tiruvannamalai-Thiyagadurugam SH-6 Kallakurichi-Sankarapuram-Tiruvannamalai SH-68 Cuddalore-Thirukovilur-Sankarapuram SH-69 Vridhachalam-Ulundurpet-Villupuram SH-7 Thirukoilur-Villupuram SH-204 Kallakurichi-Koothakudi-Trichy SH-211 Thirukovilur Bypass Road -Kandachipuram SH-245 Kallakurichi-Kachirayapalayam-Sankarapuram SH-137 Thirukoilur-Asanur SH-246 Tirukkovilur- Thiyagadurgam