British after the French failed to subdue the king of Tanjore.During the British period, Vedaranyam was part of Thiruthuraipoondi Taluk under Tanjore district. Salt from Vedaranyam was transported to Nagapttinam port through a 32 mi long canal. The channel was constructed in 1869 because road transportation facilities between these two towns were limited.

During India's independence struggle, Gandhi launched the Dandi March along India's west coast to protest against the sales tax levied on salt extraction.