Where is Tamil Nadu?
Tamil Nadu is located on the southern tip of India, sharing its boundary
with the states of Pondicherry,
Kerala,
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
What is the state famous for?
The state of Tamil Nadu is mostly famous for its innumerable temples built
in the Dravidian style of architecture. Most famous of all the temples is
the Brahadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur.
What are the main spoken languages?
Tamil and English are the main spoken languages of the state.
Which are the important cities?
Major
cities of Tamil Nadu are
Chennai,
Tiruchirapally, Coimbatore,
Madurai,
Tanjavur and Udhagamandalam.
» Chennai
Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, is the largest city of the state.
Marina Beach, the longest in the country, is the key attraction of the city.
Other attractive features of the city is Fort St. George along with other
fine churches. The city is also home to the Tamil Film Industry.
» Tiruchirapally
The city of Tiruchirapally or Trichy stands on the banks of river Cauvery.
The city is known for its rich historical and cultural legacy. Rock Fort is
an important landmark of the city. It is home to many historical churches,
monuments, churches and mosques.
» Coimbatore
Also referred to as Kovai, Coimbatore is the third largest city in Tamil
Nadu. The city is the industrial hub of the state. Attractions of the city
include Voc Park and Zoo, Agriculture University, Perur Temple, Marudhamalai
Temple, Forest College etc.
» Madurai
Madurai happens to be the second largest temple of the state. It has
acquired worldwide fame for its celebrated Meenakshi Temple. The temple
magnetises devotees, worshippers and students of Dravidian culture and
history from all around.
» Tanjavur
Tanjavur
was the capital of the erstwhile Cholas. The city is situated in the delta
formed by river Cauvery. Popular attractions of the place are Brihadeeswara
Temple, Raja Museum, Art Gallery and Saraswati Mahal Library.
Where are the main airports located?
Madras International Airport is located at Tirisulam. It has two terminals-
Kamraj Terminal (Domestic) and Anna Terminal (International). Salem Airport
(Domestic) at Salem, Thiruchirapally Airport (International) at
Thiruchirapally, Coimbatore Airport (Domestic) at Coimbatore, Tuticorin
Airport (Domestic) at Tuticorin and Madurai Airport (Domestic) at Madurai
are the other main airports of the state.
What does the climate say?
Tamil Nadu experiences a tropical climate. Summers are hot with temperature
reaching up to a maximum of 43 degrees centigrade. During the winters
temperature drops down to a minimum of 18 degrees centigrade. October to
December is the time of the monsoons. Best time to pay a visit to the state
is between November and February. The average annual rainfall of the state
ranges between 635 and 1,905 mm. The best period to visit is from October to
March.
Which are the chief pilgrimage destinations?
The city of Rameshwaram is a major pilgrimage centre for the Hindus. It is
the very island where Lord Rama's temple is located. It is believed that in
order to attain Moksha, Rameshwaram is a must-visit site. The presiding
deity of the place is the Linga of Sri Ranganatha. Owing to its religious
significance, Rameshwaram is termed as the ' Benaras of the South'. Madurai
is yet another popular pilgrimage centre of the state. It is home to the
much celebrated Meenakshi Temple.
Which
are the popular hill stations?
Ooty or Udhagamandalam is aptly called the 'Queen of Southern Hill
Stations'. British Collector John Sullivan stumbled upon the site and
decided to turn it into a summer resort for the people of South India.
Nestled in the Nilgiri Hills, Ooty invites tourists, visitors, honeymooners
and holiday makers from every corner of the world. Attraction of the place
are the Botanical Garden, Ooty Lake, Lamb's Rock, Kodanadu and Dodabeta
peak. Kodaikanal is another most-frequented hill resort of the country. With
its wooded slopes, gigantic rocks and mesmerising waterfalls, it proves to
be an idyllic hill station for the visitors. Here, there is a lot to explore
and enjoy including Lake view, Pillar Rock, Bergium Lake, Brynt Park,
Coaker's Walk, Silver Cascade, Bear Shola Falls etc.
Which are the famous wildlife sanctuaries?
Forests cover 17.6% of the total land area of Tamil Nadu, spreading over
the plains and on the mountain slopes. Dry lands are gifted with dry
deciduous forests, scrubs and mangroves. The Western Ghats are endowed with
moist deciduous, wet evergreen forests and grasslands. The state takes great
pride in its 5 National Parks and 17 Wildlife Sanctuaries. Famous among them
are the Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalakadu
Wildlife Sanctuary and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. The Gulf of Mannar
Marine National Park, and the Guindy National Park are the most-frequented
national parks of the state.
What can be the best buys?
Exclusive traditional items like Kanchipuram silk, Pattamara mats,
handicrafts from Tirunellveli, bronze and brass castings, jewellery from
Kumbakonam, metal works from Tanjavur and stone sculptures from
Mahabalipuram are widely popular all around the country. Chennai is known
for its south Indian silk while Madurai is famous for its readymade
garments.
