Tamil Nadu: The Land of Temples

Tamil Nadu, with its distinctive ancient Dravidian culture, is a fascinating part of south India. The state draws both tourists and pilgrims alike to its towering, intricately built temples. Beaches and hill stations are popular destinations as well. Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, is known as the Gateway to south India. It's a sprawling and busy, yet conservative, city with deep traditions and culture that are yet to give way to the growing foreign influence there. The city's main attractions are its beach, temples, museums and galleries, Old Portuguese style churches, and amusement parks.

Around one hour south of Chennai, you'll find the best beach on the east coast -- Mahabalipuram (also known as Mamallapuram). The beach has a thriving backpacker scene, but is also popular with tourists who come to relax at the resorts there.

Tamil Nadu is known especially for its blue beaches and sunny skies. Some of south India's nicest beaches dot Chennai's long seafront. The Marina beach is a 12-km long stretch of fine sandy shore and is known as the Pride of Chennai, the Kovalam beach is quiet and far away from the distractions of the city and the Elliot's beach is the preferred destination for those with a clean atmosphere in mind.

A short 20-minute drive from Chennai City, VGP Golden Beach Resort offers a serene and relaxing atmosphere in today's stress-driven world. 58-km south of Chennai is the Mahabalipuram beach, famous for its unique 7th century Shore Temple. Elliot beach is located in Besant Nagar. 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. Elliot beach is located in Besant Nagar. Formerly a popular bathing beach, today, it is the favorite rendezvous of the younger generation. Good roads, pavements, illuminated sands, makes a visit to this beach a real pleasure.

Kanyakumari Beach at the southernmost tip of India, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, lies Kanyakumari, an important pilgrim center. Kanyakumari is famous for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets, especially on full moon days. The beach itself is a beautiful sight with multi-colored sand. There is a lighthouse from where one can get a panoramic view. The Government museum offers a good collection of sculptural art crafts of Tamil Nadu. The hill stations and areas for trekking in Tamil Nadu include Yercaud, Ooty, Anamalai Hills, Kodaikanal, Kolli Hills and Yellagiri.

More facts:

Capital: Chennai
Official languages: Tamil and English

Top attractions:

Chennai and Mamallapuram Beach:

Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, is known as the gateway to south India. It's extensive and full of activity, yet conservative, city with profound traditions and culture that are yet to give way to the growing foreign influence there. The city's main attractions are its beach, temples, museums and galleries, aged Portuguese style churches, and amusement parks.

A reasonably good beach, an excellent combination of cheap accommodation, fish restaurants, handicraft shops, and spectacular stone carvings dotted around the town and Tamil Nadu's most highly regarded dance festival, it's easy to see why travelers make a beeline to Mahabalipuram (also known as Mamallapuram). The beach has a thriving backpacker scene, but is also popular with tourists who come to relax at the resorts there.

Madurai:

Home to the most impressive temple of south India- the Meenakshi temple, Madurai spells culture and learning hub. If you would want to see only one temple in south India, it would be the Meenakshi temple. The temple with its intricate designs and superb architecture attracts not only pilgrims but tourists in equal numbers as well. Madurai's noteworthy temple in the heart of the old town is a riotously ornate example of Dravidian architecture with gopurams covered from top to bottom in an awe-inspiring profusion of multihued images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures. The temple seethes with activity from crack of dawn to twilight, its many shrines attracting pilgrims and tourists from all over the world.

Ooty:

Ooty is a soothing place to escape the summer heat. Ooty's most admired attractions consist of the 22 hectare Government Botanical Gardens (a flower show is held there every May as part of the Summer Festival), boating on Ooty Lake, and hiking the Dodabetta Peak for an excellent view of the Nilgiri hills.

Ooty has an undeniable charm and the nearby hills and forest are marvelous for trekking. Life here is tranquil and just a few kilometers out of town you are in the tranquility of the hills with splendid views. The journey up to Ooty on the miniature train is romantic and the scenery stunning - try to get a seat on the left-hand side where you get the best views across the mountains.

Kanyakumari:

Cape Comorin as it's also known as, approached through dreamlike scenery of wind farms; Kanyakumari is the 'Land's End' of the Indian subcontinent, where the Bay of Bengal meets the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea.

Kanyakumari has immense saintly significance for Hindus, and is devoted to the goddess Devi Kanya, an embodiment of Parvati. Pilgrims come here to visit the temple and bathe in the sacred waters. Although wildly overdeveloped, the town and fishing beaches still handle a certain relaxed charm and there's enough to keep you engaged for a day or so.

The distinguishing feature of this spiritual town is the Swami Vivekananda Memorial and towering statue of Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar, located on a rocky island off the shore. The Swami meditated there in 1892, before setting out on his spiritual crusade. Kanyakumari is also home to an outstanding Gandhi Memorial, with architecture resembling that of an Orissan temple. If you visit Kanyakumari on the full moon night in April, you'll be treated to the delightful view of the sun setting and moon rising in chorus over the ocean.