Tamilnadu

Tourism

Geogrpahy

Tamil Nadu is located in the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula bordered by Kerala to the west, Karnataka to the northwest, Andhra Pradesh to the north and Bay of Bengal to the east. The total area covered by the state is 130058 sq. kms of which 22933.79 sq. kms is under forests. The state has been divided into 5 major physiographic divisions - the Kurinji or mountainous region, the Mullai or forest region, the Palai or arid region, the Marudham or the fertile plains and the Neidhal or coastal region. The Eastern and Western Ghats meet in this state and run along its eastern and western borders. Tamil Nadu extends from the Coromandel Coast in the east to the forested Western Ghats in the west. The state is also the site of ancient Cholamandalam where the Chola kings built magnificent temples at Thanjavur and at other places. You will be amazed to see the temples at Madurai and Chidambaram which witnessed an efflorescence of dance, music and literature in Tamil Nadu.

The main places of tourist interest in the state are Chennai- the beautiful capital city, Mahabalipuram - the beach resort, Kanchipuram - the land of 1000 temples, Madurai - famous for the Meenakshi temple, Rameswaram, Tiruchirapalli and Thanjavur - the temple trio, the charming hill resorts of Yercaud, Ootacamund & Kodaikanal and Kanyakumari, the southern tip of India, renowned for its sunrise and sunset.



Chennai:

Popularly regarded as "The Gateway to the South", Chennai is the fourth largest city in India and the capital of Tamil Nadu state. With a vast population of about six million people, Chennai is a city that is growing, expanding and changing vigorously.

Chennai has the Bay of Bengal bordering its east, while the state of Andhra Pradesh is on its northwest. It has the Kanchipuram on its south and the states of Kerala and Karnataka on its western side.


Mahabalipuram:

Mahabalipuram, the Temple Town of Tamil Nadu, located at a distance of 58-km from Chennai, Mahabalipuram has everything that makes a site memorable; tradition, history, piety, western annals, and current importance as a centre of tourism. The history of Mahabalipuram dates back to two thousand years, it contains nearly forty monuments of different types including an "open air bas relief" which is the largest in the world, for centuries it has been a centre of pilgrimage, it figures in the early annals of the British search for the picturesque in India in the 18th century, today it attracts shoals of foreigners in search of relaxation and sea bathing, and most strange of all, it has an atomic power plant for neighbor. A small library has been written on it. Over its history and that of its monuments a number of scholarly controversies rage.

Kanchipuram:

Kanchipuram, which is called A Land of Thousand Temples, is a small, rural town about 75-km from Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu. With the Sankara Mutt acting as the hub of Hindu activities and the temples, Kanchipuram is one of the most highly visited pilgrimage spots in India, and can rightfully be called the “Pilgrimage in Tamil Nadu Religious Capital of South India".

Madurai:

Madurai or the "city of nectar" is the oldest and second largest city of Tamil Nadu. This city is located on Vaigai River and was the capital of Pandyan rulers till the 14th century. The Pandyan king, Kulasekhara had built a gorgeous temple around which he created a lotus shaped city. Mythology says when city was being named; Lord Shiva blessed the city and its people. On the auspicious occasion some Divine nectar ("Madhu") fell from the matted locks of Shiva and hence the city was named "Madhurapuri". This sacred town of south attracts thousands of pilgrims and visitors from India as well as abroad.


Kodaikanal:

At a distance of 120 Kms. from Madurai, Kodaikanal located amidst the folds of the verdant Pali hills is one of the most popular serene hill stations in India, which mesmerises any visitor. With her wooded slopes, mighty rocks, enhancing waterfalls and a beautiful lake, Kodaikanal is a charming hill station.

Kanyakumari:

At a distance of 80 Kms. from Thiruvanananthapuram, the southern most land tip of India, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, lays Kannyakumari, an important pilgrim centre. Kannyakumari is famous for its beach and the spectacular sunrises and sunsets, especially on full moon days. Kanyakumari is also famous for its vast green stretches of paddy fields, rich forests, coconut groves and mineral sands. KanyaKumari has been named after the Goddess Kannyakumari Amman who is the popular deity of the area. Legend has it that the Goddess Parvati in one of her incarnations as Devi Kanniya did penance on one of the rocks of this land's end to obtain the hand of Lord Shiva. Kanyakumari district, once known as "The Granary of Travancore" lies at the southwestern part of Indian peninsula. It was in Travancore for a long time and then merged with Tamil Nadu in 1956 under the State Linguistic Reorganization Act.

Rameshwaram:

At a distance of 154 Kms. from Madurai, Rameshwaram is a pilgrimage centre of nationwide importance Trichy, as Rama is said to have worshipped Shiva here on his way back from SriLanka. The temple is in the island of Rameshwaram, the Banares of the South, connected to the mainland by a bridge. The deity here constitutes one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of India.

Ooty:

Udhagamandalam (Ooty), the capital of Nilgiri district, is popularly known as the "Queen of hill stations' among the tourist circuits. It is situated at a distance of 105 km away from Coimbatore. It is believed that the name Nila, has been in use for over 800 years since, the King of the Hoysalas Vishnu Vardhana, who ruled from 1104 to 1141 AD seized the Nilgiris Plateau. His general Ponisia recorded this fact in 1117 AD with mention of Todas. The name Nilgiri was due to the blue haze, which envelops the range with most distant hills of considerable size.



Thanjavur:

At a distance of 65 Kms. from Trichy, the Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur is an architectural wonder and reflects the artistic skills of the erstwhile Chola rulers who ruled peninsular India in the early medieval period. Built by the Chola king Rajaraja I in the 11th century, it is one of the tallest temples in the world. It was so designed that the Vimana never casts a shadow at noon at any part of the year.

Trichy:

Situated in Tiruchirappalli district, on the banks of the River Kaveri (also spelt as Cauvery) is Tiruchirappalli, a city known for its educational institutions, industries, and temples. It is shortly called as "Tiruchi" or "Trichy".

Trichy is the district headquarters of the district of Tiruchirappalli and has its name for tourist attraction. The city is a thriving commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is famous for artificial diamonds, cigars, handloom cloth, glass bangles and wooden and clay toys.

The city and its fort, as they stand today, were built by the Nayaks of Madurai. It was one of the main centers around which the wars of the Carnatic were fought in the 18th century during the British-French struggle for supremacy in India.

Coonore: Coonore is a small, quiet hill station, 13km from Ooty and situated at an altitude of 1858 meters, perched a top a ridge of the Nilgiris, Coonore is also known for a few prominent public schools located here.

Lamb’s Rock Lamb’s Rock, Lady Caning's Seat, Dolphin’s Nose are some of the important viewing points around Coonore. Tourists can also enjoy waterfalls – Law’s fall, Rallia Dam and Kattery Falls. Sim’s park, famous for its horticultural species and the Pasteur Institute, the only institute which makes rabies vaccine in India, are also found in Coonore.

How to reach Tamilnadu

By Air:The State has an International Airport near Chennai, which serves as the most convenient entry point for Tamil Nadu. International airlines from countries like Sri Lanka, Dubai, Germany, Jakarta, Malaysia, England, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore operate regular flights to connect Chennai.

By Rail:The main Railway Station in Tamil Nadu is in Chennai. Many important trains connect Chennai to major Railway Stations in the country.

By Road:An extensive network of roadways covers the state. A number of national highways and state highways literally crisscross the land. Most of the major cities like: Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore are linked by road to Chennai and other important cities in the state.