About Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is a South Indian state, which is located on the coast of the
Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Also referred as the 'Land of Tamils'
the state has a long coastline of approximately 1,000 Kms. Tamil Nadu has an
ancient history dating back to the Dravidians. The state is home to the
Dravidian art and culture and houses several massive temples with high
gopuramas (towers). The monuments and temples speak the rich religious,
artistic and cultural past of the region. Besides, the serene beaches and
landscaped hill stations are major attractions of Tamil Nadu. The golden
beaches dotted with coconut and palm casuarina groves, are best for
leisurely activities along the sea shore. The people of the state have deep
interest in music, dance and literature. Classic dance Bhartnayam and
Carnatic music of the state are very famous all over the country. Tamil
people celebrate the festivals like Dussehra, Deepawali, Karthika and Pongal
etc. The cuisine of the state mainly includes the rice which is eaten with
vegetable dishes, sambar and chutneys. Other famous dishes are Idly, Dosa
and Lentils crisp fried on a pan, Vada and Uppuma.
Major Attractions of Tamil Nadu
Chennai :
The capital city of Tamil Nadu is one of the four metros of India. Chennai
is also called the cultural capital of India for its deep-rooted traditions
and rich heritage. The main attractions in the city include the historical
Fort St. George, where most of the history of Chennai had written. Chennai
is home to the world famous 12-km long Marina beach, the second largest in
the world. Other attractions are George Town, High Court Complex,
Corporation Complex, Government Museum, National Art Gallery and
Kapaleeswarar Temple etc.
Madurai : Madurai also called the 'Athens of the East' is
famous for its Meenakshi Temple. The city situated on the banks of Vaiga
river has historical and cultural significance. Meenkashi temple stands in
the centre of the town which draws a large number of visitors all through
the year. Apart from Meenakshi temple the town has the tourist attraction
like Thirumalai Nayak Mahal,Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam and The Gandhi
Museum etc.
Mahabalipuram (Mammallapuram) : The city situated 58 Kms
south of Chennai, is famous for the 7th century Shore Temple. Built by the
Pallava King, Rajasimha the temple is dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. The
temple has been listed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Besides the Shore
temple, the city has many attractions such Arjuna's Penance, Caves
Mahabalipuram, Rathas and Krishna Mandapam etc.
Kodaikanal : Kodaikanal is famous as a charming hill
station of India. Situated 120 Kms away from Madurai, it attracts tourists
from all corners of the country. The hill station situated amidst the slopes
of Pali hills has massive rocks, picturesque waterfalls and a lake.
Kodaikanal hills offer the facilities of trekking and other adventurous
activities. Major tourist attractions in Kodaikanal are Bear Shola Falls,
Silver Cascade Waterfall Kurinji Andavar Temple, Shenbaganur Museum,
Coaker's Walkand Dolphin's Nose.
Kanchipuram : Situated 70 Kms away from Chennai,
Kanchipuram is one of the seven
sacred cities of India.Kanchipuram has remained a centre of Tamil learning
and culture for centuries. Kanchi is known for Dravidian temples and their
architectural gems.
Trichy
: Trichy also called as Tiruchirapalli, is situated on the bank of the
river Kaveri.
The fourth largest city of Tamil Nadu, Trichy nicely mixes its modernity
with history.
The most popular attractions of the city are Rock Fort Temple, Sri
Ranganathaswamy Temple, Jambukeshwara Temple, St. Lord's Church and
Natharvali Dargah etc.
Ooty (Udhagamandalam) : Ooty is located at a distance of
105 Kms from Coimbatore. Also called as the 'Queen of Hill Stations' Ooty is
one among the most beautiful hill stations of the country. The hill station
is situated in the Western Ghats at a height of 7,500 ft. The major
attractions in Ooty include Ooty Lake, Botanical Gardens, Dodabetta Peak,
Kodanadu's View Point, Lamb's Rock and Kalhatty Waterfalls.
Kanyakumari : Kanyakumari is located at the confluence of
three oceans namely the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.
The southernmost tip of India, Kanyakumari is a popular pilgrimage and
tourist destination. The must visit places in Kanyakuri are Vivekananda Rock
Memorial, Kanyakumari Temple and Gandhi Memorial etc.
Thanjavur : The city, lying 200 miles south of Chennai,
is located on the bank of the river Kaveri. Thanjavur is popular for
Brihadeeswara Temple, built by Rajaraj Chola. The temple is designated as
the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other attractions in the city are
Vijayanagar Fort, Bell Tower and the Saraswati Mahal Library.
Reaching
Air : The airports of Tamil Nadu are connected to major
cities of the country. Chennai Airport is directly linked to Delhi, Mumbai,
Kolkata, Hyderabad, Madurai, Pune, Tirupati, Tiruchirapalli and
Vishakapatnam etc.
Rail : Chennai is major rail head which is well-connected
to major cities and towns of the country. The trains are available for Tamil
Nadu from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Cochin, Coimbatore,
Hyderabad and Lucknow etc.
Road : The National highways and other state roads
connect Tamil Nadu with major cities of the country. The state and private
buses run within the state as well as outside the state.
