Tamilnadu

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TAMIL NADU – A VIEW ON INDIAN MAP

GENERAL INFORMATION

Area (sq. km) 130,058

State Capital Chennai

Population  61.5 million people per sq. km.

 Language Tamil

Climate Humid subtropical

climate

Best time to visit 

January-MarchAnd

July-September

HISTORY•Tamil Nadu has a glorious history and great civilization that flourished in the region during the Sangam Age with developments in the fields like art, literature and occultism.

•After India got her independence in 1947, Madras Presidency became Madras State, comprising of present day Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh, northern Kerala, and the southwest coast of Karnataka. The state was later divided on the basis of linguistic lines.

•The Bellary and South Kanara districts were given to Mysore state, and Kerala was formed from the Malabar district, the former princely states of Travancore and Cochin. Finally, in 1968, when the Central Government imposed Hindi as the national language, the state of Madras was renamed as Tamil Nadu.

• Tamil Nadu is well renowned for its temple towns and heritage sites, hill stations, waterfalls, national parks, local cuisine and the fabulous wildlife and scenic beauty.The state boasts the second largest tourism industry in India

CITIES FAMOUS

FOR

WATERFALLS BEACHES

HERITAGE SPIRTUALITY

MOUNTAIN

S AND HILLS

Chola Temple(Thanjavur)Monuments(Mahaballipuram District)Nilgiri Mountain Railway(Nilgiri District)

Chidambaram(Chennai)Srirangam (Triuchirapalli) Kumbakonam(Thanjavur )Kanchipuram(Chennai)

Ooty(Nilgiri )Yercaud(Salem District)Conoor(Nilgiri)Kolli Hills(Namakkal)

Courtallam(Tirunulveli)Catherine(Nilgiri District)Hogennakal(Dharmapuri District)Tirparappu(Kanyakumari District)

Marina (Chennai)Elliot(Besant Nagar)Mahaballipuram DistrictKanyakumari District

PLACES OF INTRESTS

UNESCO World Heritage SitesTHE CHOLA TEMPLES

(Is 336 km form chennai and take 6 hours by local bus)

The Great Living Chola Temples constructed by the king Raja Raja Chola are sites of glorious heritage and architectural achievements.The Cultural heritage site includes the three great temples of 11th and 12th century.

• The Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur.• The Brihadisvara Temple at

Gangaikondacholisvaram • The Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram. The temples testify to the brilliant

achievements of the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting.The site was inscribed under UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004 as Cultural heritage.

Group of Monuments in Mahabalipuram(It is around 60 km south from the city of Chennai)

The Group of Monument atMahabalipuram declared as a WHS in 198, in Tamil Nadu, about 58 km from Chennai, were built by the Pallava kings in the 7th and 8th centuries. The town is said to have gained prominence under the rule of Mamalla. These monuments have been carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway(Route passes through nilgiri mountain range)

Part of the Mountain Railways of India, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway(NMR) was stated to be an "outstanding examples of bold, ingenious engineering solutions for the problem of establishing an effective rail link through a rugged, mountainous terrain."

TEMPLES AND TEMPLE TOWN OF TAMILNADU

CHIDAMBARAM(It is located 240 km south of chennai by rail)

Chidambaram is the seat of the cosmic dancer Lord Nataraja .It is one of the Pancha Bhutasthalas.The Chidambaram Temple dedicated to Lord Natraja built in the 9th century has an unusual hut-like sanctum with a gold-plated roof and four towering gupras.

SRIRANGAM(It is present in Triuchirapalli district)

Srirangam another example of classic temple town, houses the Ranganathaswamy Temple a major pilgrimage destination for the Vaishnava community.It is the biggest functioning Hindu temple in the world (156 Acres) and the temple tower measuring 60 m (196 ft)is the tallest Hindu temple tower in the world.

KUMBAKONAM(Kumbakonam, 40 km from Thanjavur district)

It has about 188 temples within its municipal limits.Apart from these a thousand more are estimated to be nearby.The Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is the biggest Saivite temples in the region and has a huge complex covering an area of 30,181 sq ft having three gopurams in the Northern,Eastern and Western entrances of the temple KANCHIPURAM

(Kanchipuram 72 km from Chennai)

One of the most visited destinations in the state, Kanchipuram was the capital of the ancient Pallava Kingdom and is considered one of the seven holiest cities to the Hindus of India.Over 100s of ancient temples are located in this town, though most of them are in ruins, there are a few prominent ones which attract a large no. of devotees every year.

MADURAI(Chennai to Madurai is 464 km. Time by road is 6 hrs, 50 mins)

• Madurai being one of the world's oldest inhabited cities is the home to several temples built by the Pandyan and Nayak kings with the most famous being the Meenakshi Amman Temple which dates back to 2000 years.The city and the life of its inhabitants revolve around the temple which is one of the largest Hindu temples by size and denclosure.

• The Mariamman Theppakulam built in 1636 is a huge tank at the eastern end of the city and is almost equal in area to that of the Meenakshi Amman

•Madurai is also famous for its two mosques one being the Kazimar Big Mosque believed to be constructed by a descendant of Prophet Muhammed and claimed to be the oldest Islam monument in South India.The other is the Goripalayam Mosque which is believed to house the tombs of two of the Delhi Sultans.

HILL STATIONS UDAGAMANDALAM(OOTY)

(Chennai to Ooty  is  542 km. Time by road is 8 hrs, 20 mins.)

Popularly known as Ooty situated in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is the most popular Hill station in South India. It provides a scenic view of Nilgiri Hills. Its historic sites and natural beauty attract tourists from all over the country.

The list of attractions include :

Government Rose Garden . Ooty Lake St. Stephen's Church Ooty Golf Course Tribal Museum Doddabetta Peak Wenlock Downs Emerald and Avalanche Lakes

YERCAUD (Chennai to Yercaud  is 341 km.Time by road is 5 hrs, 10 mins.)

The Yercaud hills situated at an altitude of 1515 m in the Salem District in the Eastern Ghats.The Yercaud hills are Known for its rich flora and scenic views of the other hills nearby. It is slightly less-expensive fare as compared to Udagamangalam or Kodaikanal.Yeracud is also a great base for trekking

COONOOR(Chennai to Coonoor is 523 km.Time by road is 8 hrs.)

Part of the Nilgiri Mountain Range, Coonoor is the second largest hill station in the mountain range and is an ideal base for trekking expeditions leading into the Nilgiri. The Dolhin's Nose Viewpoint and the Lamb's Rock offer stunning views of the mountainside

KOLLI HILLS (Road Distance or driving distance

from Chennai to Kolli Hills is 451 kms will take around 6 hours by local bus)

Kolli Hills is a small mountain range located in central Tamil Nadu.

The mountains are relatively untouched by commercial tourism and still retain their natural beauty. 

The government holds a tourism festival in August.

Kolli Hills has been the top choice for nature lovers, hiking enthusiasts, trekking clubs and meditation practitioners among hill stations in TamilNadu.

WATERFALLSCOURTALLAM FALLS(621 km from chennai take 9 hour by road)

Courtallam, the 'Spa of the south', is situated at an elevation of about 167m on the Western Ghats in Tirunelveli District.It is an excellent health resort and is visited by young and old alike, because of the herbal medicinal properties the water is believed to contain

CATHERINE FALLS (521 km from chennai take 8 hour by road)

Catherine Falls is a double-cascaded waterfall located in Kotagiri, and It is also a major tourist spot in Kotagiri. The upper fall drops to the floor, and is the second highest in the Nilgiri mountains.

HOGENAKKAL FALLS(Hogenakkal waterfalls located close to the border of the adjacent state of Karnataka, is 336 km from chennai)

It is a beautiful picnic spot with its waters supposed to be having curative powers. Hogenakkal is set in thick, green woods and is considered both a sacred bathing place and a spa-like health resort.The area is surrounded by hills and offers lovely panoramic view. People can take bath in the Kaveri river, before and beyond the falls.

TIRPARAPPU FALLS(Tirparappu Waterfalls are locatedin Kanyakumari district. )

The water falls from a height of nearly 50 feet (15 m) and the water flows for about seven months in a year.On either side of the river, on the left bank of the river in between the waterfalls and the weir, there is a temple dedicated to Siva enclosed by strong fortification.

BEACHESMARINA BEACH(3 km from chennai,many buses available)

Marina Beach the world's SECOND largest and longest beache, it is located on the eastern side of Chennai.Watching the sun set and rise from the beach is an enthralling experience.With its natural sandy beauty and beautiful gardens. ELLIOT BEACH

(This beach is located in Besant Nagar,60 km from chennai)

Formerly a popular bathing beach, today, it is the favourite rendezvous of the younger generation. Good roads, pavements, illuminated sands, makes a visit to this beach a real pleasure.

MAHABALLIPURAM BEACHES(Mahaballipuram, 58 km south of Chennai.)

The place today abounds with stone carvings, caves, rock-cut temples also attract tourists. A crocodile farm, snake venom extracting centre, schools of art and sculpture and a wide choice of resorts along the beach draw holiday-seekers all round the year.

KANYAKUMARI(Located where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet,direct trains from chennai take around 14 hours)

It is famous for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets, especially on full moon days. The beach itself is a beautiful sight with multi-colored sand.

FAIRS AND FESTIVAL PONGAL:

In Tamil Nadu Makar Sankranti becomes Pongal. It is a celebration of the harvest, which is observed for three days in January. Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal and Mattu Pongal, are the three days of Pongal festivities on successive days.

KARTHIGAI:

In the month of Nov/Dec people decorate their homes with lights to celebrate the birth of Murugan, son of Lord Shiva. This festival is particularly celebrated in Thiruvannamalai, one of the pancha bootha kshetras and also an Agni (fire) Kheshtra. On Karthigai Deepam day, a huge vessel is filled with oil and gigantic wicks are lit on top of the hill etc.

Dance(Bharatanatyam)

Bharatanatyam was a dance technique evolved in the South of India in Tamil Nadu and practised in the Shiva temples. It is a highly specialised science with uses a traditional background and rigid codes and conventions. Bharatanatyam skillfully embodies the three primary aspects of dance. They are bhava or mood, raga or music and melody and tala or timing. The technique of Bharatanatyam consists of the hand, foot, face and body movements, which are performed to the accompaniment of 64 principles of coordination

PAINTING : Tanjore is famous for its paintings made on different objects. Artisansuse wood, glass, mica, ivory and walls to paint using attractive colours. Jewels, drapery and architectural elements like finely executed pillars, rich canopies, garlands of ropes and chandeliers are slightly raised by the use of special plaster, covered with pure gold leaf and embedded with semi-precious stones.

ART AND CRAFT

METAL-WARE: Tamil Nadu has a rich tradition of making metal objects which are used for both religious and secular purposes. A wide variety of objects include standing lamps, aarathi s. Shallow dishes in circular, hexagonal, octagonal and oval shapes are widely used in Tamil Nadu and are made out of bronze or sheet brass.

STONE CARVING:

Stone carving is a popular form of art continued to exist over centuries.The famous sculptors here belong to the Vishwakarma or Kammaalar community. A subsidiary form of carving is soapstone or maakal carving, found in the region between Pondicherry and Cuddalore and around Salem. These sculptors are sold at high prices in national and international markets.

POTTERY:Pottery is an important craft of Tamil Nadu. The state is famous for its manufacture of the famous Ayyannar horses. The horses are said to protect each village from evil. The large terracotta horses of Salem and Pudukottai are very much popular and are of great demand.

TEXTILE Tamilnadu is very famous for its textile work. Erode is the famous

textile market of tamilnadu. The city of Erode is also known as the Textile City or TexValley, which is the dedicated Mega shopping mall for textiles.Trading of textiles done for about more than ten crores every week. Many dedicated markets are there in Erode for Textiles,

like bed-spreads, carpets, dhoties, loom products and knit-wears.

A typical Tamil breakfast consists of Idli or dosa served with sambar and chutney. The dinner or lunch consists of rice with sambar or rasam served with various curries and pickles. The various types of Tamil recipes are described below.

•Dosai : crepes made from a fermented batter of rice and urad dal (gram), •Idli : steamed rice-cakes, prepared from a fermented batter of rice and urad dal (gram), and side-dishes are usually different kinds of chutney or sambhar.•Upma/Uppittu :prepared from wheat (rava), onion, green chillies, and certain spices.•Sambhar : a thick stew of lentils with vegetables and seasoned with exotic spices.•Rasam : lentil soup with pepper, coriander and cumin seeds.•South Indian Coffee : also known as Madras Filter Coffee is a sweet milky coffee popular in Tamil Nadu. It is quite similar to the Cappuccino and Latte varieties of coffee in the United States of America.

CUISINES

DO’S AND DONT’S DO’S

Be careful with your luggage, always keep it with you.

It is highly advisable to carry a waterproof laminated card mentioning your details – name, address, blood group or any medical information.

Keep your cash safely and avoid carrying too much cash.

If you find anything shady you can straight away report to the police

Carry maps of the places you have planned to visit

Hire licensed guides for sightseeing. Take off your shoes while entering any

holy place

DONT’S Don't trust strangers with cash Indian English has its own accent, so

don't be surprised at the ascent. Don't entertain beggars Women travelling alone should avoid

going out of her hotel at odd hours Always cross check your bill before

leaving the hotel Avoid driving after taking hard drink Avoid driving on Indian roads if you

are not trained in it. Avoid eating food from roadside as it

might cause stomach disorder Always avoid getting into strong

arguments

By Air :

The Anna International Airport in Chennai is located 16 kms away from the centre . Regular and weekly flights are available to/from Sri Lanka, Maldives, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Jakarta England and Germany. Major cities of the country are also connected by domestic flights.

By Rail :

Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu is well connected by network of rails. Chennai has two railway stations, one is Egmore station and the other is Chennai Central. Express and super fast trains are available to/from important parts of the country.

By Road :

The bus terminals in Chennai are on either side of Prakasham Road in George Town near the High Court building. There are regular buses available from Chennai to neighboring states. Ferry service is also available in Chennai.

REACHING TAMILNADU

The Kurumba Village Resort, undoubtedly, contains an ambience with plenty of poetic possibilities. In keeping with the life style of the ancient Kurumba folk, our cottages are airy and exotic with their Kurumba-tribal-styled thatched cottages, which are, pyramid shaped and bright interiors with pristine color and thatch-work roofs. Every room has its exclusive balcony with ornamental railings made of areca-nut wood. Read More…

Centrally located in Ooty town on a hill, Raceview was recently acquired by Stay Simple and has since undergone extensive renovations and changes in an effort to bring it on par with our standards. Read More…

The bustling city of Madurai is said to have been known as Kadambavanam or a forest, in the days of yore. Tucked away off the Madurai-Natham Road on the outskirts of Madurai is an ethnic resort which is also known by the same name, Kadambavanam.  Read More….

Hotel Accommodation in Tamil Nadu

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