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Tamil Nadu, is the most prominent state of India.
The capital, Madras is a cosmopolitan city and the capital of the state.
Tamil Nadu 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.
Temples in Tamil Nadu were
the fulcrum of society and even today art forms that have their origin in
religious worship continue to colour daily life. Notable among these are
splendid bronzes of deities, painting on glass and Bharatnatyam. Kanchipuram,
also called Kanjeevaram, is famous throughout the country as the center
where lustrous silk sarees are woven. Likewise Thanjavur is an important
center for bronze figure casting. Mahabalipuram has a vast wealth of
sculptures. In contrast to the temple heritage Pondicherry is known for long
a French colony. Yet another facet of this surprisingly diverse state is two
hill stations Ootacamund and Kodaikanal. Both are little patches of England,
being much loved by the expatriate population of the Raj. Both places
provide delightful relaxation during an extended tour of the south, having a
wide range of hotel accommodation. The cuisine of Tamil Nadu, more or less
totally vegetarian, has become enormously popular all over the country.
Tamil Nadu ( "Land of the Tamils") is a state at the
southern tip of India. The bordering states/territories are Pondicherry,
Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The island nation of Sri Lanka, which
has a significant Tamil minority, lies off the southeast coast.
Tamil Nadu is the second most industrialized state in India. Unlike most
other parts of the country, Tamil Nadu gets its rainfall largely from the
"North-East monsoon" in the months of October-December. There is a long
standing dispute with Karnataka over the matter of water from the Kaveri
River. The river flows south from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu, and both regions
draw on water from the river, prompting concerns over whether the upper
riparian Karnataka has released its fair share of river water to the lower
riparian Tamil Nadu.
Chennai, which was known until 1996 as Madras, is the fourth largest city of
India and the state capital. Also known as the auto capital of India,
Chennai is the home of Marina Beach, the second longest beach in the world.
Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Salem and Tirunelveli are other large
cities of Tamil Nadu.
A view of temple tank and gopuram at Uthirakosamangai temple in
Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu, south India.Tamil Nadu is a land of
varied beauty. It is mostly famous for its numerous Hindu temples based on
the Dravidian architecture. The temples are of a distinct style which is
famous for its towering Gopuram. Popular temple towns include Madurai,
Trichy, Tanjore, Kanchipuram, Palani, Swamithoppe, Tiruvallur and
Mahabalipuram. The most famous temple is the Brahadeeswara temple in
Thanjavur that is about 1000 years old and is on the UNESCO's World Heritage
Site list. Tamil Nadu also has the Navagraha temples that are a popular
pilgrim circuit. Kanyakumari, the southern most tip of peninsular India, is
famous for its distinct and beautiful sunrise, Vivekanda Rock Memorial on
the mid-sea, Thiruvalluvar statue and has some very green hilly landscape
and picture-postcard perfect sceneries around the district and Nagercoil.
Hill stations like Kodaikanal and Nilgiris boast some of the stunning
landscapes in India. The Nilgiris also has one of the two mountain Railways
in India and is being evaluated for the UNESCO's World Heritage Site list.
The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary located in Gudalur near the border of
Karnataka known for its elephants, tigers and deer and the Pitchavaram
Mangrove forests located in Chidambaram are two of the many eco-tourism
spots of importance.
Major Travel Destinations
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Chennai
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Coimbatore
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Coonoor
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Kanyakumari
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Kodaikanal
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Madurai
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Mahabalipuram
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Ooty
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Pondicherry
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Thanjavur
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