Location : South India
Major Attractions : Chennai, Ooty, Madurai, Kanyakumari
Best time to Visit : November to February


About Tamil Nadu
The land of Tamils, Tamil Nadu is one of the most exotic states in India. A prominent Hindu religious destination, the state has attracted thousands of devotees and tourists since times immemorial. The impact of several ruling dynasties, which controlled the state over the past few centuries, can be clearly seen in the form of its diverse culture and a plethora of historic monuments. The entire state of Tamil Nadu is replete with ancient temples and mammoth forts which display the finest forms of Dravidian architecture.

Located in the extreme north of the Indian subcontinent, Tamil Nadu is bordered by the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh towards north, Kerala in the west and Port Calimere in the east. The southern most point of the state is marked by the religious city of Kanyakumari. Tamil Nadu is spread over an area of 1,30,058 sq. km. A long coastline stretching to over 900 km, has blessed the state with some of the most enchanting beaches where the tourists can enjoy a variety of beach activities and water sports.
Tourist Attractions in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is home to some of the most captivating tourist attractions that attract plenty of tourists each year. Known the world over for its varied culture, ancient temples, mammoth monuments, serene beaches and diverse flora and fauna, Tamil Nadu is a perfect place for relishing a complete vacationing experience. Hundreds of tourist attractions await to mesmerise you on your trip to Tamil Nadu. Some of the most popular tourist destinations in Tamil Nadu include Chennai, Ooty, Coimbatore, Thanjavur, Rameshwaram, Madurai, Kodaikanal, Kanyakumari and Trichy.

Temples in Tamil Nadu
Literally every tiny hamlet, village and town of the state has a temple in Tamil Nadu. Each of these temples display the most intricate style of architecture, typical of a dynasty that ruled over the state during its period of construction. In total, there are over 30,000 temples that dominate the skyline of Tamil Nadu, each with its own presiding deity. Amongst the most popular temples in Tamil Nadu are the Meenakshi temple, Chidambaram temple, Rameshwaram temple, Parthasarthy temple, Kanchipuram temple, Mahabalipuram temple and Varadaraja temple.

Forts & Monuments in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu houses a number of ancient forts and monuments built over several years by various ruling dynasties. These forts and monuments besides being major tourist attractions, also provide important insights into the history and culture of the state. Some of the popular forts and monuments in Tamil Nadu are St. George's Fort, Vellore Fort, Padmanabhapuram Palace, Rock Fort temple, Kamaraja Memorial House, Velluvar Kottam, Aranthangi Fort and Sivaganga Palace.

Beaches in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu has a long coastline, which stretches to over 900 kms. Situated along this huge coastline are some of the most picturesque beaches which are a favourite haunt for peace seekers. The northern part of the Tamil Nadu coast is known as the Coromandel coast while the southern part is called Pearl fisheries. The coromandel coast houses amongst other, one of the largest beaches in the world, the Marina Beach. Some of the other must visit beaches in Tamil Nadu are the Mahabalipuram beach, Kanyakumari beach, Rameshwaram beach and Covelong beach.

Climate in Tamil Nadu
The climate of Tamil Nadu is hot and humid with little difference in temperatures during the summer and winter seasons. Summer season generally lasts between April to June when the temperature may soar to a high of 45 degrees. It is a time ideal for a visit to the hill stations of Tamil Nadu. The state receives rainfall from the north-east monsoons between September and November while the mild winter season lasts from mid-December to February. The best time to visit the state is from November to February.

Getting There
By Air : Chennai is an international airport which connects the state with cities in India including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkatta as also with some of the international cities such as Sri Lanka, Germany, Britain, Dubai and Singapore. Apart from Chennai, the state also has a few domestic airports located at Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli and Madurai.

By Rail : Chennai is a major railway station of Tamil Nadu which receives several hundred trains each day, connecting the state with cities like New Delhi, Kolkatta, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Mumbai and Bangalore. Railway stations are also located at Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Salem and Coimbatore.

By Road : State transport buses connect various cities in and around the state through regular buses. A number of state and national highways criss cross the entire state.