Dharapuram (Tamil: தாராபுரம்) also known as Rajarajapuram by the Tanjore Cholas is a town and a municipality in the Tirupur district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Dharapuram is one of the Oldest Town in Tiruppur District. Dharapuram, then known as Vanchipuri was the capital of Kongu Nadu under Kongu Cholas. The Amaravathi River flows through the ancient city of Dharapuram. It's the birth place of Tamil actor Nagesh.

Dharapuram is located at 10°44′N 77°31′E / 10.73°N 77.52°E / 10.73; 77.52. It has an average elevation of 245 metres (803 feet). It is strategically located in the line of Palakkad pass from where it gets lot of wind for its numerous windmills. Water scarcity is high here.

Dharapuram and the region around the town were part of the Chera and Kongu country in ancient times. They had their own Chera and Kongu kings ruling them till 850 A.D. Thereafter (in 1000 A.D. - 1275 A.D.) it was ruled by the Kongu Cholas who renamed Dharapuram as Vanchipuri (also Viradapuram) and made it as their military and political headquarters because the Cholan capital was under invasion by an hitherto unknown group in South India called Kalabhars during the dark age of Tamilakam. The Tanjore Cholas named the city as Rajarajapuram. Sometime later, the Pandyan empire took control of the region (from 1276 A.D.). A Pandyan ruler Veerapandian made Kalingarayar, a Kongu chieftain (meaning slayer of Kalinga King's head in battlefield), the Prime minister of the Pandyan empire. During this period, the famous Kalingarayan Channel was dug by this visionary and it continues to irrigate the region.