Tamil Nadu
- Overview
Tamil
Nadu, the land of the Tamils, is one of the most beautiful and captivating
states of India. Since time immemorial Tamil Nadu has attracted a large
number of travellers from the country and abroad.
Situated in the far south of the Indian subcontinent, Tamil Nadu is bounded
by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the north and Kerala in the west. The
eastern and western points of Tamil Nadu are marked by the Point Calimere
and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuaries, while the northern and southern tips are
defined by the Pulicat lake and Kanyakumari respectively. Tamil Nadu is also
washed by the waters of Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. The state
spreads over an area of 1,30,058 sq. kms and has a population of
6,21,10,839.
Tamil Nadu is a land where various cultures and traditions have been
flourishing in perfect harmony for past several centuries. The state abounds
in magnificent temples and enchanting forts & monuments, which portray
the glory of the Dravidian culture, art, architecture and spiritual values.
Not only the temples, but also the mosques and churches depict the religious
harmony of the Tamils.
A number of fairs and festivals are celebrated throughout the year, which
add colour and mirth wherever you go. With a long coastline stretching for
more than 900 kms, Tamil Nadu offers many ideal location for sun and surf.
The golden sandy beaches dotted with coconut and palm groves abound to brace
your health and enhance your happiness.
In addition to these, Tamil Nadu is also a land of sanctuaries and parks
for birds and animals, dry and evergreen forests, mystic mountains,
picturesque hill stations, natural sceneries and shimmering waterfalls. In
fact, the moment you enter this land, you enter a tourist paradise and
forget everything else. A trip to Tamil Nadu ensures good vacation and gifts
you with some everlasting memories.
Tamil Nadu - History
With a history that dates back to pre-historic times, the state of Tamil
Nadu is considerably older than northern India. Over the years the
pre-historic tools and weapons and burial sites have been discovered from
several parts of Tamil Nadu, which point to this area being one of the
longest continuous habitations in India. For a better understanding Tamil
Nadu’s history can be broadly divided into two ages - Sangam Age and
Post Sangam Age.
Sangam Age: The ‘Sangam Age’ is the earliest
known period of organized life and history of the Tamils. Though there are
some disputes about the exact dates, but roughly it goes back to the period
of pre-Aryan and non-Aryan. During this period the first, second and third
Sangams flourished and Tamil poets of that era produced several literary
works. The Tamil poets throw considerable light on the everyday life and
also reveal their culture, polity and social set-up. In the Sangam age Tamil
Nadu was ruled by three kingdoms namely the Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas. The
Sangam Age is considered the Golden Age of Tamils.
Post Sangam Age: The bright Sangam Age is followed by a
dark period when the country came under the control of an alien race called
the ‘Kalabras.’ During the Kalabras rule, there was a great chaos
and confusion. Eventually they were expelled by the Pandyas and the
Pallavas. Around 580 AD, the Pallavas emerged into prominence and ruled over
the country for over two centuries till 800 AD. Kanchipuram was the
headquarters of the Pallavas and they were patrons of art, architecture and
literature.
After the Pallavas, the later Cholas ruled the region from the 9th century
to the 13th century. The Cholas were great conquerers and temple builders -
art, architecture, literature and spiritualism flourished during their
reign. With the decline of the Cholas around the 13th century, the later
Pandyas rose to prominence in the early 14 th century.
After a brief period, the Muslim Khiljis sacked the Pandyas and a Sultanate
was formed. The invasion of Muslim caused the establishment of Hindu
Vijayanagar empire, which prevented the spread of the Muslim rule to south
of river Thungabadra. The Vijayanagar Hindu Kings and their governors
renovated most of the temples razed by the earlier Muslim invaders.
With the fall of the Vijayanagar empire in mid-16th century, Tamil Nadu
went under the rule of Nayaks. The Nayaks of Madurai and the Nayaks of
Thanjavur were most prominent among all Nayaks. After the Nayaks, Tamil Nadu
was under the Muslim rule of the Nawab of Arcot. Around 1609, the Dutch
established a settlement in Pulicat and in1639, the British East Company
established the first presidency in Madras, present day Chennai. The British
regime ended with the India’s independence in 1947 and in 1968, the
Madras State was renamed as Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu - Tourist Destinations
Tamil Nadu, the land of varied beauty and several wonderful tourist
destinations, attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world every
year. Referred as a tourist paradise, Tamil Nadu is famous for its rich
cultural heritage, magnificent temples and imposing colonial structures,
picturesque beaches and mystic hill stations and an amazing variety of
wildlife. With such a wide variety of attractions, Tamil Nadu is a perfect
destination for a enjoying a memorable holiday. There are more than hundreds
of tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu, which you can visit on your trip. Most
popular tourist destinations in Tamil Nadu are Chennai, Madurai, Ooty,
Kodaikanal, Coimbatore, Kanyakumari, Thanjavur, Trichy and Rameshwaram.
Tamil Nadu - Temples
“Don’t
live in place where there is no any temple” is the prime motto of the
Tamil people. Therefore, in Tamil Nadu, you cannot find a hamlet, a village,
a town or a city without a temple. Around 30,000 temples with their lofty
towers dominate the skyline of the state. Each place and temple in Tamil
Nadu has its own presiding deities. Important temples of Tamil Nadu are
Meenakshi Temple, Kanchipuram Temples, Chidambaram Temples, Mahabalipuram
Temples, Rameshwaram Temples, Jain Temple, Parthasarathy Temple and
Varadaraja Temple.
Tamil Nadu - Adventure
Blessed with a unique topography including hills, rivers, lakes and other
water bodies and a rich variety of a flora and fauna, Tamil Nadu offers
excellent opportunities to enjoy a number of adventure sports. The Western
Ghats and the Eastern Ghats meet in the Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu, where the
hill stations of Ooty, Kodaikanal, Kothagiri and Yercaud make ideal base for
the adventure sport of trekking. Apart from trekking in Tamil Nadu, you can
also enjoy other adventure sports like hang-gliding, wind surfing, angling,
boating, etc, in the state.
Tamil Nadu - Forts & Monuments
Tamil Nadu, the land of great architecture, is home to several marvellous
forts and monuments, which attracts large number of tourists from all over
the world. Built several years ago, these architectural marvels still retain
their distinct charm. Some of the popular forts and monuments are St. George’s
Fort, Aranthangi Fort, Vellore Fort, Sivaganga Palace, Padmanabhapuram
Palace, Thanjavur Palace, Tanjor Maratha Marvels, Rock Fort Temple, Arjuna’s
Penance, Thirumalai Nayak Mahal, Kamraj Memorial House, Vivekanand Illam and
Valluvar Kottam.
Tamil Nadu - Arts & Culture
Often referred to as the cradle of Dravidian culture, Tamil Nadu boasts of
one of the world’s oldest art and culture. Over the past two millennia,
Tamil Nadu is known for its contributions in the field of literature, music,
dance and architecture which continue to flourish even today. Popular dance
form Bharatnatayam and music forms, like Carnatic music, have evolved in
Tamil Nadu. A number of great composers such as Tyagaraja and
M.S.Subbulakhsmi lived in the state. Besides, Tanjore paintings and Tamil
architecture are cultural icons of Tamil Nadu, the glimpses of which you can
see in huge temples with their towering gopurams and intricate rock
carvings. Rich jewel coloured silks, beautiful bronzes cast in the style of
the ancient Chola craftsmen, brass temple lamps, intricately carved wood are
the part of the artistic wealth of the state.
Tamil Nadu - Cuisine
Tamil Nadu pleases its visitors by serving a sumptuous cuisine with a
distinctive taste. The state offers a range of lip-smacking, tasty,
delectable food both for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Rice, grams,
lentils, greens, vegetables and spices feature in most food of Tamil Nadu.
Popular vegetarian dishes are idly or steamed rice dumplings, dosa, vada,
pongal and uppama, which are eaten with coconut chutney, sambar and mulaga
podi. Non-vegetarian dishes include curries or dishes cooked with mutton,
chicken or fish. Chettinad cuisine is a specialty of Tamil Nadu and it is
popular among the people who like hot and spicy dishes.
Tamil Nadu - Festivals
In Tamil Nadu, several festivals are celebrated throughout the year. In
fact, not a single month in the state ever passes without a festival. Most
of the festivals in Tamil Nadu are associated with religion and temples.
People of all religions celebrate all the festival with great gaiety and
enthusiasm. Besides, the Tourism Department of Tamil Nadu also arranges
various festivals periodically so that the tourists may enjoy them and
understand the cultural and spiritual values embedded in the festivals. Some
of the popular Tamil Nadu festivals are Pongal, Jalli Kattu-Bullfight,
Tourist & Trade Fair-Chennai, Dance Festival-Mamallapuram, Tea and
Tourism Festival -Ooty, Silk Festival, Sivarathri, Chitthirai festival,
Tamil New Year’s Day, Ram Navami, Summer Festival, Adi Perukku, Krishna
Jayanthi, Vinayak Chathurthi, Navarathri, Deepawali, Vaikunta Ekadasi,
Natyanjali Festival, Karthigai Deepam and Music & Dance Festival.
Tamil Nadu - Lakes and Rivers
Tamil Nadu has a number of lakes and rivers, which are important sources of
water in the state. The rivers in Tamil Nadu are not perennial, usually you
will find a sandy dry river bed in summers. Cauvery is the longest and the
most important river of Tamil Nadu, which originates at Coorg in the
neighbouring state of Karnataka. Cauvery’s water is used for the
cultivation purpose in the deltaic region of Thanjavur and Nagapattinam
districts. Other important rivers of the state are Palar, Pennar, Vaigai and
Tamiraparani. Apart from these, there are several water resources in Tamil
Nadu which are identified for adventure sports like angling.
Tamil Nadu - Hill Stations
The state of Tamil Nadu is home to some of the popular hill stations of
India. The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats meet in the Nilgiri ranges of
Tamil Nadu. The Eastern Ghats is broken and appears to be a residual
mountain, while the Western Ghats stretches along almost as an unbroken
chain, except for a 25 kms gap at Palakkadu. In these region, the popular
hill stations of Tamil Nadu are situated. With their magical and refreshing
atmosphere, Ooty (Udhagamandalam) on the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal on the
Palani Hills form two favourite tourist spots in Tamil Nadu. Apart from Ooty
and Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu has other beautiful hill stations such as
Coonoor, Kotagiri, Yercaud and Velliangiri Hills.
Tamil Nadu - Beaches
Situated
on the southern peninsular India, Tamil Nadu has a long coastal line running
around 912 kms. Tamil Nadu’s coast is named as the Coromandel coast in
the northern half and the Pearl Fisheries coast in the southern part. The
Coromandel coast, abutting the Bay of Bengal is home to some of the finest
beaches of India including the world’s second longest beach, Marina
Beach. Other popular beaches include the Mahabalipuram Beach, Rameshwaram
Beach, Kanyakumari Beach and Covelong Beach
Tamil Nadu - Wildlife
The varied topography of Tamil Nadu makes it ideal for a variety of flora
and fauna. Of its total 1,30,058 sq.kms land area, around 18% is covered
with forest area, which spread over the plains and on hilly areas. Dry lands
and Eastern Ghats are covered with dry-deciduous forests, thorn forests,
scrubs and mangroves, while the Western Ghat ranges and other cooler regions
are dotted with moist deciduous, wet evergreen forests and grasslands. Tamil
Nadu has 17 Wildlife sanctuaries and 5 National Parks, where you can see
Tigers, Elephants, Bisons and a variety of monkeys and deer roaming freely.
Famous wildlife sanctuaries and parks are Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary,
Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalakadu
Wildlife Sanctuary, Mundanthurai Tiger Sanctuary, Kunthakulam Bird
Sanctuary, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Anna Zoological Park, Snake Park and
Crocodile Bank.
Tamil Nadu - Shopping
If you are planning a trip to Tamil Nadu, then don’t forget to include
shopping in your itinerary. The state boasts of a rich cultural heritage of
arts and crafts and is known all over the world for its silk fabric,
embroidered silk sarees, hand-woven garments and handicrafts items. You can
shop silk sarees in cities like Chennai, Thanjavur, Coimbatore and
Kanchipuram. Next, Madurai is perfect for buying readymade garments of silk
and cotton and stone sculptures. At Mahabalipuram, you can buy exquisite
granite carved sculptures of Hindu Gods, fine woodcarvings and beautiful
jewellery. While shopping in Tamil Nadu also buy musical instruments, which
are used in Indian classical music.
Climate
As Tamil Nadu falls under the torrid zone, so the climate is tropical with
a little difference between the summer and winter temperatures. April to
June are the hottest months during which the temperature may soar above the
40ºC. Summer is uncomfortable in the plains, but is quite comfortable
in the coastal regions as well as hilly areas. The rainy season is marked by
the onset of the north-east monsoon between September and mid-December. A
mild winter falls between the months of December and February.
Best Time to Visit
November to February.
Tamil Nadu - Transportation
Airlines: Chennai, the state capital has an International
Airport, which is the most convenient entry point for Tamil Nadu. A number
of private as well as government flights connect Chennai with major cities
like Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai. International flights are
available from countries like Sri Lanka, Dubai, Germany, Malaysia, Britain,
Saudi Arabia, and Singapore to Chennai. Apart from Chennai, Tamil Nadu also
has airports in the cities like Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore and Madurai.
Railways: Chennai is the main railway station of Tamil
Nadu. Several express and super fast trains connect Chennai with New Delhi,
Mumbai, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Guwahati and many
other important cities and towns of India. Other major railway stations in
the state are Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirapalli and Coimbatore.
Roadways: Tamil Nadu has a road network of over 1.70 lakh
kms. A number of National Highways and state highways criss-cross the state
and connect Chennai with major cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore
and several other important cities in the state. Private and government
buses ply within the state and also to the neighbouring states like
Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
