Tamil Nadu is one of the four southern states of India. For over 2500 years, this region has been home to the most ancient race in India, the ‘Tamils’. Hence the name translated means ‘the land of the Tamils’. It is bound by the Eastern Ghats in the north, the Indian Ocean in the south, the Bay of Bengal in the east and the Nilgiri and Anamalai hills in the west.
Tamil Nadu covers an area of over 50,000 sq mts, and enjoys one of the longest coast lines in the country. The eleventh largest state in India, the bordering states are Kerala to the west, Karnataka to the northwest and Andhra Pradesh to the north. The western, southern and north western parts are hilly and rich in vegetation. Tamil Nadu is the only state in India which has both the Western and Eastern Ghats. These ranges meet at the Nilgiris.
The state depends heavily on its monsoon rains to recharge its water resources. June to September brings in the south west monsoons. The north east monsoons are experienced from October to December. January to May is normally a dry season.
The history of Tamil Nadu dates back to early pre-historic times, with the initial rule of the four Tamil Kingdoms – Chera, Chola, Pandva and Pallavas. This land has seen many invasions and races, and is a melting pot of rich culture and tradition. Tamil Nadu is one of the foremost states in the areas of music, art and literature. The capital city of Tamil Nadu, Chennai (previously known as Madras) draws throngs of people every year from all over the country for its dance and music festivals. Bharatanatayam is a classical dance originating from Tamil Nadu. The most ancient form of music – Carnatic, is extremely popular.
Tamil Nadu is a land of varied beauty. It boasts some of the grandest Hindu temples of Dravidian architecture. The temples are famous for their intricate carvings and architecture and their towering ‘gopurams’. The Brihadishwara Temple in Thanjavur, the Airavateswara temple in Darasuram and the Shore Temple, along with the collection of other monuments in Mahabalipuram have been declared as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Rajagopuram of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam — the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world — is the tallest temple gopuram in the world. Madurai is home to one of the grandest Hindu temples in the World — Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple. Rameshwaram, Kanchipuram and Palani are important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. The largest Shiva Temple in Tamil Nadu is Nellaiappar Temple situated in the heart of Tirunelveli city. Other popular temples in Tamil Nadu include those in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Chidambaram, Thiruvannaamalai,Tiruchengode, Aragalur, Tiruttani, Swamithoppe, Tiruchendur and Tiruvallur.
Tamil Nadu is also home to many beautiful hill stations. Popular among them are Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Kodaikanal, Yercaud, Coonoor, Topslip, Valparai, Kolli Hills and Yelagiri. The Nilgiri hills, Palani hills, Shevaroy hills and Cardamom hills are all abodes of thick forests and wildlife. Mukurthi National Park & Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve are the two tiger reserves in the state. Tamil Nadu has many National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Elephant and Bird Sanctuaries, Reserved Forests, Zoos and Crocodile farms. Prominent among them are Mudumalai National Park, The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and Arignar Anna Zoological Park. The mangrove forests in Pichavaram are also eco-tourism spots of importance.
Kanyakumari, the southern most tip of peninsular India, is famous for its distinct and beautiful sunrise, Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar’s statue built off the coastline. Marina Beach in Chennai is one of the longest beaches in the world. The stretch of beaches from Chennai to Mahabalipuram are home to many resorts, theme parks and eateries. The Waterfalls in the state include Courtallam, Hogenakal, Papanasam and Manimuthar. The Chettinad region of the state is renowned for its Palatial houses and cuisine.
The staple food in this state is rice and rice based preparations. Traditionally, Tamil dishes are served on a banana leaf. Most dishes use a variety of spices and are on the spicier side. Filter coffee is famous and has a unique flavour. The Chettinad region is known for its spicy non vegetarian cuisine. The district of Tirunelveli is known for its wheat halwa, a sweet dish.
Festivals and celebrations largely revolve around harvest and rains. These festivities are held at different times of the year by the locals of the various parts of Tamil Nadu. The month of January rings in the popular four day harvest festival, ‘Pongal’.
Tamil Nadu is a leading contributor in the IT and BPO sectors. Tamil Nadu is the third largest software exporter in India. One of the largest IT complexes, Tidel Park, is situated in Chennai.
With so much to offer, Tamil Nadu undoubtedly enjoys an excellent infrastructure. All parts of Tamil Nadu are well connected by road and rail. Most of the cities in this state are also accessible by air.
The state of Tamil Nadu is nature’s patch work, from the excitement and bustle of its cities, the green stretches of fields on its plains to the cool scenic heights of its hill stations