Tamil Nadu is famous for its temples, festivals, and celebration of the arts.
Tamil Nadu literally 'The Land of Tamils' or 'Tamil Country') is one of the 29 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai (formerly known as Madras). An enticing mix of historical splendor, color and modernity, Tamil Nadu in India is a land that simply charms all its visitors. As one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, Tamil Nadu receives a good number of footfalls every year. In fact, a visit to South India can never be considered complete without a Tamil Nadu Tour and its delightful tourist attractions. Right from beautiful beaches to ancient temples, a Tamil Nadu Tour in India is sure to throw up many delightful surprises for its visitors to remember. Interspersed with the Tamilnadu tourist attractions is its rich history that is simply fascinating. It is indeed common to see tourists devouring every little detail offered by the tourist guides or the locals. Tamil Nadu Tour will also introduce you to the state's rich culture that amazes visitors from all across the world. Be it a Bharatanatyam performance or a shopping tour around some of its colorful markets, you will see that the culture of Tamil Nadu is reflected in everything you can see around you. Indeed, nothing can beat the splendor of this Indian state that has remained in perfect touch with its roots even as it makes giant strides in the modern world.
| Area | 130,060 sq km (50,220 sq mi) |
|---|---|
| Capital | Chennai |
| Population | 72,147,030 |
| Official Languages | Tamil, English |
| Boundary | Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Puducherry and the South Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. It is bounded by the Eastern Ghats on the north, by the Nilgiri, the Anamalai Hills, and Kerala on the west, by the Bay of Bengal in the east, by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait on the southeast, and by the Indian Ocean on the south. The state shares a maritime border with the nation of Sri Lanka. |
The State Of Tamil Nadu Is The Origin Of Dravidian Culture. All The Temples And Monuments In The State Are The Best Examples Of Dravidian Architecture. The State Has Made Priceless Contributions To The Music, Art, And Literature Of India. Bharatnatyam, One Of The Famous Indian Dance Forms, Has Its Origin Here. Tamil Nadu Fairs And Festivals Are Important Events That Happen Round The Year And Lead To Millions Of Footfalls From Different Corners Of The World.
Natyanjali Dance Festival This Festival Takes Place At Chidambaram, Which Is Located Beside The Shoreline Of The Bay Of Bengal At A Distance Of 75 Km From Pondicherry. The Carnival Begins From The Day Of Mahashivaratri And Goes On For Five Days. The Natyanjali Dance Festival Is The Ideal Means To Pay Tribute To Lord Nataraja, Who Is Regarded As The Lord Of Dancers. The Nataraj Temple Is Situated In A Heavenly Ambience. Pongal The Pongal Is Also Known As The Harvest Festival. It Is Observed To Offer Homage To The Nature, Sun And Cattle For Supporting People With A Thriving Harvest And Affluence. The Conventional Cuisine Of Pongal Or Boiled Rice With Milk And Jaggery Is Made At Every House.
The Pongal Is Also Known As The Harvest Festival. It Is Observed To Offer Homage To The Nature, Sun And Cattle For Supporting People With A Thriving Harvest And Affluence. The Conventional Cuisine Of Pongal Or Boiled Rice With Milk And Jaggery Is Made At Every House.
Tamil Culture Is The Culture Of The Tamil People. Tamil Culture Is Rooted In The Arts And Ways Of Life Of Tamils In India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore And Across The Globe. Tamil Culture Is Expressed In Language, Literature, Music, Dance, Theatre, Folk Arts, Martial Arts, Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Sports, Media, Comedy, Cuisine, Costumes, Celebrations, Philosophy, Religions, Traditions, Rituals, Organizations, Science, And Technology. Tamilnadu Has A Great Tradition Of Heritage And Culture That Developed Over 2,000 Years Ago And Still Continues To Flourish. This Great Cultural Heritage Of The State Of Tamilnadu Evolved Through The Rule Of Dynasties That Ruled The State During Various Phases Of History. Many Of The Ruling Dynasties Gave Patronage To Art And Culture That Resulted Into The Development And Evolution Of A Unique Dravidian Culture That Tamilnadu Today Symbolizes With. Under The Rule Of The Pallavas, Cholas And The Pandya Kings, There Were Tremendous Growth And Development In The Field Of Art, Architecture And Literature, Which Reached Great Heights. The History Of Tamil Language Can Be Traced Back To The Age Of The Tolkapiyam, The Tamil Grammar Text, Ascribed To Around 500 B.c. Similarly, The Sangam Literature Dates Back To 500 B.c.
Tamil Nadu Is Famous For Its Deep Belief That Serving Food To Others Is A Service To Humanity, As It Is Common In Many Regions Of India. The Region Has A Rich Cuisine Involving Both Traditional Vegetarian And Non-vegetarian Dishes. Rice, Legumes And Lentils Are Used Extensively And Flavor Is Achieved By The Blending Of Various Spices. Vegetables And Dairy Products Are Essential Accompaniments And Tamarind Is Used As The Favored Souring Agent.
On Special Occasions, Traditional Tamil Dishes Are Prepared In An Elaborate And Leisurely Way And Served In Traditional Style On A Banana Leaf. The Traditional Way Of Eating A Meal Involves Being Seated On The Floor, Having The Food Served On A Banana Leaf, And Using Clean Fingers Of The Right Hand To Transfer The Food To The Mouth. After The Meal, The Fingers Are Washed, And The Banana Leaf Becomes Food For Cows. Typically Breakfast Includes Idli Or Dosa And Rice Accompanied By Lentil Preparations Sambar, Rasam And Curd For Lunch.
The Graceful Arts And Crafts Of Tamil Nadu Have Found Generous Mention In The Archives Of Kautilya, Pliny And A Number Of Other Scholars Who Were In Awe Of The Soft Muslin, Fine Silk, Elaborate Ivory Work And Precious Gems Like Tortoise Shells, Diamonds, Pearls And Rubies Produced By The State. Lying On The Zenith Of Ancient Culture And Customs Of The Erstwhile Pallava, Pandya And Vijayanagar Dynasties, Tamil Nadu Houses Abundant Remnants That Are A Proof Of Architectural Magnificence And Cultural Blossoming That Belonged To That Period. Popular As The ‘cultural Capital’ Of India, Tamil Nadu Is Extremely Well-known For Its Marvelous Temples And Other Architectural Gems. The State Rose To Prominence Primarily Because Of Its Well-known And Outstanding Tanjore Paintings That Flourished At The Time Of Chola Dynasty In Ancient Tanjavoor. In This Traditional Art Form, The Paintings Showcase The Embellished Form Of The Sacred Deities Of The Region. The Deities In The Paintings Are Festooned With Glass Pieces, Pearls, Semi-precious Stones, And Gold And Other Vibrant Colors. In The Modern Times, Tanjore Paintings Look Up To Human Figures, Animals, Floral Motifs And Birds As Muses. The Art And Culture Of Tamil Nadu Also Thrives In Its Musical Instruments That Are Played During The Vibrant Festivals Of The State. The Kumbu, The Naadaswaram, Various Lutes And Percussion Instruments, Thamburas And The Silappadikaaram Are Some Of The Popular Instruments Of Tamil Nadu.
Tanjore Paintings Of Tamil Nadu Are A Stamp Of The Rich Cultural Heritage Of India. Done Up In Effervescent Shades And Studded With Vibrant Pearls, Semi-precious Stones, Glass Pieces And Gold, This Art Work Is A Masterwork That Is Done On Bases Like Ivory, Wood, Or Mica. Tanjore Style Of Painting Also Drapes The Canopies, Chandeliers, Garlands Of Ropes, And Pillars. The Unique Style Of These Paintings Is Also A Subject Of Study. In The Starting, A Wooden Board Is Made. The Painting Is Done On A Different Unbleached Piece Of Cloth That Is Later Treated With A Mix Of Chalk Powder And Glue. The Drawing Then Is Traced Down On The Board, Trailed By Decorations, Which Is Then Painted With A Mixture Of Gum And Chalk Powder For Making 3 Dimensional Style Shade Effect. The Result Is Simply Mesmerizing.
Madurai, the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of India. Ruled by Pandya kings for the longest time in its history, it is called as the ‘Lotus City’ as it was planned and built in the shape of a lotus. Madurai is known for Meenakshi Amman Temple, dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi with a sanctum for her consort, Sundareshwarar.
There are many other ancient temples in Madurai, including Thiruparankundram. It is one of the important old temples dedicated to Lord Muruga(Karthikeya) and is located on a hillock approximately 8 km from the city. Having trade ties with ancient Rome, the place holds a great cultural heritage. With bustling bazaars and fantastic street food, Madurai has heritage walks conducted throughout the day. Madurai is instrumental in promoting Tamil language and preserving the culture.
Rameshwaram is located on a beautiful island in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is separated by a small Pamban channel from Sri Lanka. According to Hindu mythology, this is the place where Lord Rama created a bridge across the sea to Sri Lanka.
Rameshwaram has the first sea bridge connecting the town of Mandapam with Pamban Island, and Rameswaram. Abdandoned town of Dhanushkodi is also located on Pamban Island which was a bustling town until it got destroyed in 1964 by cyclone.
Renowned for its magnificent prakaras with massive sculptured pillars on either side, The Ramanathaswamy Temple houses the longest corridor in the world. Agniteertham is famous for its sacred waters and Pilgrims perform poojas in honour of their ancestors at this seashore. The five-faced Hanuman Temple holds the floating stone which was used to build the bridge between India and Sri Lanka.
Bordered by the three seas – Arabian, Indian and the Bay of Bengal, Kanyakumari is the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula. A small coastal town in the state of Tamil Nadu, Kanyakumari was earlier known as Cape Comorin.
Kanyakumari offers the marvellous confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian ocean meeting together at a point. But, this is not a miracle, the miracle lies in the beauty that the water of three seas does not mix, you can clearly distinguish between the turquoise blue, deep blue and sea green waters of the three seas. To enjoy the best view of sunset and sunrise, you can visit the Triveni Sangam point and the famous View tower.
The town has a mountainous terrain with elevated patches of hills, coconut trees and lined with paddy fields. Kanyakumari is also the only place in India where you can observe the sunrise and sunset at the same beach.
The town is not only popular for its unique phenomenon but also its temples and the Vivekananda Rock Memorial among other iconic monuments.
Waterfalls in Kanyakumari that you should not miss out on include the Thirparappu falls, the Courtallam Falls, and the Olakaruvi falls. Kanyakumari has authentic South Indian cuisine, with seafood and coconuts being an integral part of almost all dishes.
Nestled amidst Nilgiri hills, Ooty, also known as Udagamandalam, is a hill station in Tamil Nadu which serves as a top-rated tourist destination. Once regarded as the summer headquarters of the East India Company, the Queen of the hills is a picturesque getaway.
Dotted with tea gardens, serene waterfalls, winding country lanes, and charming colonial architecture, Ooty is the perfect respite everyone. Popular among couples and honeymooners, Ooty allures its visitors with the panoramic views of the Nilgiri mountains.
The Nilgiri mountain railway is the steepest track in all of Asia. Remember the hit song ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ where Shahrukh Khan and Malaika Arora matching steps on top of a train? Remember the breathtaking locales as the train chugged its way across lush greenery? Yes, that was the Nilgiri Mountain Railways, and the Nilgiri Mountains all along.
Located in the state of Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal is one of the most famous honeymoon destinations in India. A Lakeside resort town of Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal has a beautiful climate, mist-covered manicured cliffs and waterfall that come together to create the ideal setting for a perfect getaway. Kodaikanal means ‘the gift of the forests’.
Nestled amidst the rolling slopes of the Palani Hills, Kodaikanal stands at an altitude of 7200 feet above sea level, and once you visit this hill station, you will find that every bit of what you have imagined it to be is real. Kodaikanal is a place you can go to take a break from the rigours of daily city life, and this hill station lets you sit back and connect with nature as you head out on biking or trekking trails or take a stroll through the vast forests surrounding the town.
Replete with waterfalls, historical caves, comfortable resorts and homestays, Wayanad in Kerala is famous for its spice plantations and wildlife. Walking through the sprawling spice plantations, trekking to the pre-historic caves and experiencing a resort holiday are one of the many things you can do to get a taste of Wayanad.
Wayanad is best known for the wildlife reserves – Wayanad wildlife reserve which is home to an exquisite variety of flora and fauna. Wayanad wildlife reserve is an integral part of the Nilgiri biosphere reserve peacefully located amidst the serene hills of Western Ghats. Wayanad homes a wide variety of wildlife like elephants, leopards, and bears. Wayanad is a perfect weekend idea from the cities of South India. If taking a road trip from Bangalore, you will drive through three national parks: Nagarhole, Bandipur and Mudumalai.
