Tamil Nadu – Gate Way Of South India
Tamil Nadu lies on the South-west tip of India. It is the center of the Dravidian culture. Cultural icons are found everywhere in the form of astonishing temples and enormous entrance gateways. There are also a lot of impressive stone carving here. The area depends largely on fishing. Tamil Nadu has a long coastline and there are numerous fishing villages scattered along with it.
The state is also is a bastion of Hinduism, whose past endures into the present. Temples with towering spires called gopurams are a common feature of this state, seldom seen anywhere else in the country. It has a rich cultural life centered on its temple towns — Chidambaram, Kanchipuram, Thanjavur, and Madurai.
Fast Facts :
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Area: 130,058 Sq. Km
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Capital: Chennai (Madras)
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Languages: Tamil
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Religion: Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity
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Literacy rate: 88.49 %
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Best Time To Visit: October to March
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State Emblem: Emblem of Tamil Nadu
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State Song: Tamil Thai Valthu (Invocation to Tamil Mother)
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State Animal: Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius)
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State Bird: Emerald dove (Chalcophaps indica)
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State Butterfly: Tamil yeoman (Cirrochroa thais)
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State Tree: Palm tree (Borassus flabellifer)
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State Flower: Gloriosa lily (Gloriosa superba)
- Culture and tradition of Tamil Nadu
Tourist Attractions :
Chennai
Chennai is the 4th biggest city in India, but it does not have the same magnitude of problems as the rest of the big cities do. A sprawling city on the coasts of the Bay of Bengal, Madras was renamed Chennai a few years back. Before the British came and developed the place as a port town for trade purposes in the 17th century, it was a village of fisherfolk known as Chennai. Today it is a blend of British, South Indian, and cosmopolitan cultures. The beaches and the South Indian dishes are enjoyable attractions.
Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)
A major beach resort famous for its magnificent monuments hewn out of a rock. The sculptures in Mamallapuram emphasize blending mythology, epics, and day to day life of the people. (Rathas, Arjuna’s Penance, Krishna Mandapa, Shore Temple, Mahishasurmardini Cave, Varaha Mandapa and Mandapams)
Madurai
Madurai, originally known as Madhurapuri got its name from the falling of divine nectar from Lord Shiva’s rocks. This ancient city has been a center of learning and pilgrimage for centuries. It is most known for the Meenakshi Temple.
Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal, a charming hill station, stands amidst sylvan beauty on the southern crest of the upper Palani Hills near Madurai in Tamil Nadu. (Kodaikanal Lake, Coaker’s Walk, Fairy Falls, Kurinji Andavar Temple, Shenbaganur Museum, Pillar Rocks, Green Valley View.)
Chidambaram
An important pilgrim center and a holy place for Saivaites as the famous Nataraja Temple is located here. Dedicated to Lord Nataraja, this ancient temple of the Cholas is unique not only because it is devoted solely to the art of Bharatanatyam, but also it is one of the rare temples where Shiva is represented by an idol rather than the customary Lingam.
Chidambaram temple stands as an example of Dravidian architectural brilliance. Chidambaram is one of the fine Shaivite Mukti Sthalams, the others being Kalahasti, Kanchipuram, Tiruvannamalai, and Tiruvanaikaval. A person of any race or religion can visit the temple.
Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari lies at the southernmost tip of India at the confluence of the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal. This exotic location is famous for its temples and ‘sunrise and sunset’ points. The Kanyakumari Temple or the Kumari Amman Temple on the shore is dedicated to a manifestation of Paravati, Shiva’s consort, as a virgin. Parvati did penance to win the heart of Lord Shiva. The Vivekananda Rock Memorial, built-in 1970 in memory of Swami Vivekananda, stands on one of the rocks, called Sri Padaparai, where the footprints of the virgin goddesses are to be seen.
Rameswaram
Rameshwaram is an island situated in the gulf at the very tip of the Indian peninsula. An important pilgrim center for the Indians. Rameshwaram is the place where Lord Rama, built a bridge across the sea to rescue his consort Sita, from her abductor, Ravana. This is also the place where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to cleanse away the sin of killing Ravana.
Trichy (Tiruchirapalli)
Tiruchirapalli or Trichy, situated on the banks of river Kaveri, is famous for the Ranganatha temple at Srirangam.
Coonoor
It is the second-largest town of the three Nilgiri hill stations. This place is very pleasant to relax. It has an interesting market.
Coimbatore
It is a center of the rich agricultural area and is noted for its agricultural university. This university is now internationally known for its agricultural research. The seed breeding experiment center is open here. The cotton textile mills boomed here on the development of hydroelectricity from the Pykara Falls in 1930.
Getting There :
- By Air: Chennai is the main transport hub and is connected by air.
- By Rail: Chennai is the main transport hub and is connected by rail.
- By Road: Chennai is the main transport hub and is connected by road.
Suggested Read: Formation Dates of Indian States
