Trichy is one of the oldest inhabited cities of Tamil Nadu.  Its earlier settlement dates back to 2nd BC when it was under the rule of Cholas. Uraiyur which presently forms suburb area of the city served as the capital place of the Cholas. Trichy was under rule of Cholas till 3rd century AD. From 6th to 8th century the entire southern part of India was under the rule of Palva kings.  Mahendravarman the Palva king built the famous cave-temple of Rockfort near Trichy during the period. After the decline of the Palvas, Trichy came under the rule of medieval Cholas who ruled the region till the 13th century. Thereafter Trichy witnessed the rules of several kingdoms. It also experienced the rule of Vijayanagara kingdom and then Madurai Nayak Kingdom till 1736. Trichy also served as the place of capital during the period of Madurai Nayak kingdom.

The last ruler of Madurai Nayak kingdom Meenakshi committed suicide and subsequently the region was captured by Chanda Sahib in 1736. Chanda Sahib could not hold it for long and had to lose it to Maratha in 1741.  Later on Trichy came under the rule of Carnetic kingdom. It was in the year 1801 that the Carnetic kingdom was annexed to the British Empire in India. British continued to rule it until 1947 when India got independence. During British rule Trichy rose to significance for its variety of cheroot. It was also the second largest city in Madras presidency only after the city of Madras. Post independence era of India also witnessed the large scale development of the city of Trichy.