Tamil Nadu Travel Essentials
Rating:
Ideal duration: 4 - 12 days
Best Time: November - February
Major Airports: Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli
"Enchanting Tamil Nadu"
Tamil Nadu, India
Situated along the Bay of Bengal in south India, Tamil Nadu is one of India's most well-known tourist destinations owing to its natural splendour, unique culture as well as religious significance. The state boasts of a plethora of religious sites that attract pilgrims, historical attractions, vast plantations, mesmerising hill stations, diverse wildlife, delicious cuisine and loads of festivities.
A visit to Tamil Nadu surely warrants a trip to its capital, Chennai, the 'Detroit of India'. A metropolitan with a rich colonial heritage, it is best known for Marina Beach, Fort St. George, Ashtalakshmi Temple etc. One of Tamil Nadu's treasures is the stunning hill station of Ooty, the "Queen of the Nilgiris," which is famous for the Ooty Lake, Botanical Gardens, many trekking trails and more. Kodaikanal is another gorgeous hill station popular for attractions like the Kodaikanal Lake, cascading Thalaiyar Falls and Kukkal Caves.
Mahabalipuram is an ideal destination to experience Tamil Nadu's religious glory; it is home to the Shore Temple, Five Rathas which are a set of rock temples, Krishna Cave Temple and Ganesh Ratha Temple. Coimbatore is a must-visit city, with its massive Adiyogi Shiva statue, Vydehi Falls, Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park and Velliangiri Hill Temple. There are plenty of local handicrafts for tourists to pick from, such as Tanjore paintings, beautiful silk sarees, brass and bronze work, Mysore Pak etc.
What's more, Tamil Nadu is also known for Kanyakumari, which is India's southernmost tip and is renowned for the gushing Thirparappu Falls, Kanyakumari Beach, Vattakottai Fort and the Chitharal Jain monuments. Mouthwatering dishes like the uttapam, dosa, rasam, paruppu payasam and Pongal make the Tamil Nadu cuisine a favourite among many. Tourists would undoubtedly enjoy attending some of its most anticipated festivals like Pongal, Thaipusam, and Mahamaham, which provide an excellent opportunity to experience local customs and taste yummy food. It is quite easy to get to Tamil Nadu via car, train, bus or flight.
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Holidify's opinion on Travel to Tamil Nadu
What's Great about Travelling to Tamil Nadu?
Very well connected nationally and internationally by land, sea and air. Diverse range of tourist activities. Many beaches, hill stations and forests.
What's Not So Great about Travelling to Tamil Nadu?
Summers may get very hot. The state is prone to cyclones during the late monsoons. Some popular tourist destinations may get very crowded during peak season.
Who should Travel to Tamil Nadu?
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FAQs on Tamil Nadu
Why is Tamil Nadu called the Land of Temples?
Which animals are found in Tamil Nadu?
What is the traditional dance and music of Tamil Nadu?
What are the popular art forms of Tamil Nadu?
How are the local people of Tamil Nadu?
Tamil Nadu state is one of the most urbanised states in India, though a lot of people are still living in the rural parts of the state. Around 80% of the population follow Hinduism which includes the caste system and is still a significant issue here. A majority of the population live in Chennai and cities like Madurai, Coimbatore, etc. which is the commercial concentration of the state. Tamil is the official language spoken here. However, there are different dialects of the same and over 18 other languages exist here too. Tamil Nadu has a great tradition of heritage and culture that developed over 2,000 years ago and continues to flourish. The people here are very particular about their culture, traditions and customs. Even the most modern person here will be likely to follow the age-old traditions. The people of Tamil Nadu are rather welcoming and warm.
What is the history of Tamil Nadu?
During this time, many majestic temples have been constructed on the seashores and are admired as pieces of fascination even today. The British then took over this region and after many bloody battles with the then ruling Nayak Dynasty, formed the Madras presidency, one of the three most important parts of British India. Tamil Nadu, in its present form, was constituted in 1969 and renamed from the earlier Madras state.
What is the landscape of Tamil Nadu?
This state is also very rich in vegetation and different types of forests including evergreen, deciduous and scrub forests. The Western and Eastern Ghats, two of the country's most biologically diverse zones converge at the Nilgiri hills. Tamil Nadu also has one of the most extensive coastline, second only to Gujarat. The capital of this state is Chennai (formerly known as Madras) and Thanjavur, Coimbatore, Trichy and Salem are some of the other main cities.
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