Tamil Nadu Tour

Capital : Chennai
Area : 130,000 sq.km
Principal Language : Tamil, English
Best Time To Go : January to September
Religion : Hinduism (88.67%), Islam (5.46%), Others (5.87%)
Annual Rainfall : 1,133.8 mm
Temperature : Maximum 45.2°C ,Minimum 1.0°C
This is one of the most ancient regions in Indian history which dates back some 6000 years. The state represents the nuceus of Dravidian culture in India, which antedated the Aryan culture in India by almost a thousand years. Tamil Nadu was variously ruled by the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas prior the Christian era. Karikalan Chola, the greatest of the earlier Chola. With the establishment of East India Company at Madras in 1639, a new chapter was opened in the Tamil Nadu. Slowly and steadily the state came under British sway. When India became independent, the old Madras Province comprising Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and part of Kerala continued as the state of Madras. After some years of agitation for separate, Andhra Pradesh was created. On 14th January 1969, Madras state changed its name to Tamil Nadu. The capital city Madras was renamed Chennai in 1996.

Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the majority of the population. Irrigation has been practiced since the earliest times; today there are more than 20,000 km (12,430 mi) of irrigation channels. Important crops include sugarcane, groundnuts, oilseeds, cotton, bananas, potatoes, tea, and spices. Major forest products are timber, sandalwood, pulpwood and fuel wood, while the minor products include bamboo, eucalyptus, rubber, tea, cashew, honey and ivory.

Major Cities in Tamil Nadu

• Chennai
  Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu is also its principal harbour and has one of the finest beaches in Asia. It was founded at Fort St.George in 1640 A.D. by Francis Day of the East India Company.
• Rameshwaram
  Rameshwaram ia an sacred island town at extreme south-eastern limit of the Indian Peninsula. It has one of India's most venerated temples. The temple is renowed for its many pillared corridors, about 1220 metres in length.
• Chidambaram
  Between two rivers in a 40 acre temple-complex, lies the temples of Chidambaram, one of the oldest, and magnificent temples of the South.
• Madurai
  Madurai, the most famous of the temple towns of the south is known for the Meenakshi Temple.It is located on Vaigai River, is the capital city of the Pandyan rulers-Madurai. It is the city of nectar and the oldest and second largest city of Tamil Nadu.
• Kanyakumari
  Kanyakumari is the southernmost point of peninsular India. It is the meeting point of three oceans - the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.It is a very important as a pilgrim centre. It is famous for its beautiful views of sunrise, sunset and moonrise over the waters.
• Coimbatore
  Coimbatore known as the "Manchester of South india" is a commercial city of considerable importance, the chief commodity being textiles.
• Mamallapuram
  It is 64 kms from Chennai, connected by regular bus-services. A major beach resort also famous for its magnificent monuments hewn out of rock.The city of Mahabalipuram is famous for the seven pagodas. There is an interesting group of ancient rock hewn temples on the seashore which are the examples of Dravidian style of Architecture.
• Pondicherry
  Pondicherry is a living monument of French Culture in India, a french colony upto 1954. The Aurobindo Ashram and 'Auroville' the international township are famous all over the world.
• Kancheepuram
  Kancheepuram, the capital of the Pallava and dynasty is one of the serene sacred cities of India. It is situated 76 kms from Chennai, 35 kms from Chingleput & 64 kms from Mahabalipuram via Chingleput. It is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines.
• Thanjavur
  Thanjavur derives its name from Tanjan-an asura (giant), who according to local legend devastated the neighbourhood and was killed by Sri Anandavalli Amman and Vishnu, Sri Neelamegapperumal.The world famous Brihadeeswara temple is situated here. It is built by Raja Chola. The empire builder in the early Dravidian style.
• Yercaud
  Yercaud is quiet little hill station on the Shevaroy hills of the Eastern ghats. It is the only one of its kind in northern Tamil Nadu. While the rest of this region is generally dry.
• Pudukottai
  Pudukkottai town lies on the Chennai - Rameswaram Railway line. It is 390 kms from Chennai. 53 kms from Tiruchirappalli and 57 kms. from Thanjavur. The rulers of Pudukkottai have built several beautiful places and also constructed tanks canals and palaces.
• Tirunelveli
  Tirunelveli is situated on the banks of the river Thamiraparani. It was an important city of the Pandya Kingdom as it served as their capital for sometime. The town is surrounded on all sides by paddy fields and earlier the town was called as 'Nelveli' i.e., Paddy-Hedge.Since the temple in the town is dedicated to Lord 'Shiva', the town around the temple was called Tiru-nel-veli.

Culture
Tamil Nadu is the state most famed for its temple architecture, thanks to the Chola supremacy, amounting to 1500 years (4th century BC to 6th century AD, and 9th century to 13th century AD)—the longest reign by any Dynasty in Indian history. Tamil Nadu represents the quintessence of Dravidian culture, and the chronicle of Dravidian maturation, except during the last 300 years, when the British added a "Continental tinge" to Tamil culture. Over the centuries, the Dravidian Dynasties nurtured temple music and art at Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli and Madurai. Nataraja—the dancing Shiva—was conceived by Vira Chola Raja at Chidambaram (940 AD).

Fair & Festivals in Tamil Nadu

• Pongal festival
• Natyanjali Dance festivals (Chidambaram)
• Kanthuri festival
• Music and Dance festival, Chennai. (December)
• Velankanni festival
• Christmas festival (December)
• Arubathimoovar festival (Chennai)
• Tourist Fair (Chennai)
• Chithirai festival (Madurai)
• Saral Vizha (kuttalm or courtallm)
• Karthigai Deepam
• Dance festival (Mamallapuram)
• Mahamagam festival
• Summer festivals
• Kavadi festival
• Navarathri

Wildlife in Tamil Nadu

• Mudumali
  In the luxuriantly forested foothills of the Nilgiris,this 321 sq km sanctuary is part of a much larger reserve (3000 sq km) which includes Bandipur and Wynad in neighbouring Karnataka and Kerala. The larger reserve range in vegetation from semi-evergreen forests to swamps and grasslands. In Mudumalai, the mostly dense forest is home to chital (spotted deer), gaur ( Indian bison), tiger, panther, wild boar and sloth bear.
• Anamalai
  This is one of the three wildlife sanctuaries on the slopes of the western Ghats along the border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Though recently renamed the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, most people still refer to it by its original name. It covers almost 1000 sq km and is home to elephant, gaur (Indian bison), tiger, panther, spotted deer, wild boar, bear, porcupine and civet cat. The Nilgiri tahr, commonly known as ibex, can also be spotted as can many birds. In the heart of this beautiful forested region is the Parmbikulam Dam which has formed an immense plain of water that dpreads way into Kerala. The rights to this water used mainly for irrigation and energy purpose in Tamil Nadu are the source of one of the area's bitter disputes.
• Calimere
  It is also known as Kodikkarai, this coastal sanctuary is 90 km south-east of Thanjavur in a wetland which juts out into the Palk Strait separating India and Sri Lanka. It is noted for the vast flocks of migratory water fowl, especially flamingos, which congregate here every winter.
• Vedantangal
  About 35 km south of Chengalpattu, this is one of the most spectacular water-bird breeding grounds in India. Cormorants, egrets, herons, storks, ibises, spoonbills, grebes and pelicans come here to breed and nest for about six months from October/November to March, depending on the monsoons. At the height of the breeding season, there can be up to 30,000 birds at once. The best times to visit are early morning and late afternoon.

Hill Stations in Tamil Nadu

• Kodai Kanal
  Kodaikanal, a charming and beautiful hill station, stands amidst sylvan beauty on the southern crest of the upper Palani Hills near Madurai in Tamil Nadu. It is located 120 kms away from Madurai. It is at an altitude of 2133m on the southern tip of the upper Palani hills in the Western ghats.
• Ooty
  Ootacamund, the queen of the hill stations of South India, is situated in the Nilgiris at an altitude of 2240 metres. Ooty is nited for its extraordinary scenic beauty and salubrious climate amidst the "Nilgiris" or "Blue Mountains".green Udhagamandalam better known as Ooty is the most popular hill station in the South.

Temples in Tamil Nadu

• St. Mary's Church
• Sri Parthasarathy Temple
• Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
• The Santhome Cathedral
• Kailasanatha
• The Sri Ekambarnathar
• Rock Fort Temple
• St. John's Church
• Kamaskhi Amman
• Kapaleeswarar
• Little Mount Shrine

Hotels in Tamil Nadu
(Click below on any of the links to book your hotels)

• Hotels in Chennai
• Hotels in Rameshwaram
• Hotels in Chidambaram
• Hotels in Madurai
• Hotels in Kanyakumari
• Hotels in Coimbatore
• Hotels in Mamallapuram
• Hotels in Pondicherry
• Hotels in Kancheepuram
• Hotels in Thanjavur
• Hotels in Yercaud
• Hotels in Pudukottai
• Hotels in Tirunelveli

How to reach

• By Air
  The Anna International Airport, 16 km south of Chennai, has flights to/from Sri Lanka, Dubai, Germany, Jakarta, Malaysia, England, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. Most major Indian cities are also connected to Chennai by regular domestic flights.
• By Rail
  The railway station at Chennai has connecting trains to/from all major cities in India. The reservation office is on the first floor of the reservation complex next to the railway station.
• By Road
  The bus terminals in Chennai are on either side of Prakasham Road in George Town, near the High Court Building.