In the early 1920s, to serve the downtrodden and to promote Tamil Literature, Rajah Sir S.R.M. Annamalai Chettiar founded Sri Mennakshi College, Sri Meenakshi Tamil College and Sri Meenakshi Sanskrit College in a rural setup at chidambaram. In 1928, Rajah Sir S.R.M.Annamalai Chettiar agreed with the local Government to handover the above said institutuion for establishing a University. Thus, on 01.01.1929 Annamalai University was established as per Annamalai University Act 1928 (Tamil Nadu Act 1 of 1929). The most significant development is the enactment of the Annamalai University Act,2013 (Tamil Nadu Act 20 of 2013), which has come into force from September 25,2013 after obtaining the assent of his Excellency, the President of India.

Annamalai University, accredited with 'A' Grade by NAAC in 2014, is one of India's largest public residential universities with 10 Faculties and 49 departments of study. Sprawling over 950 Acres of land, the University does yeoman service in taking education to the doorsteps of the people who are otherwise far from access to centers of higher learning. The University has initiated several innovative teaching programmes over the years and has been a pioneer in distance education.