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Tamil Nadu
is bounded by Karnataka and Andhra
Pradesh in the north and Kerala in the west. The eastern
and western tips of the Tamilnadu are defined by the Point
Calimere and Mudumalai wildlife sanctuaries while the northern
extreme is Pulicat lake and the southernmost tip is Kanyakumari,
the land's end. Tamil Nadu is principally washed by the
Cauvery, originating in Coorg in neighbouring Karnataka
. Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu is known for its beautiful
beach resorts.
When India attained independence in
1947, the Madras province, comprising Tamil Nadu and parts
of Kerala in the west and Andhra Pradesh in the north continued
as the State of Madras. But the demand for a separate Telugu
speaking state compelled the Government of India to bifurcate
the state into two, into the Telugu-speaking Andhra Pradesh
and Tamil-speaking Tamil Nadu. The old capital Madras city
was retained by the new Madras state.
Tamilnadu, the land of the Tamils is
the heart of Dravidian culture with a distinctive style
of their own. It is situated in the south - east of the
Indian peninsula and is bounded by the States of Andhra
Pradesh and Karnataka in the North, Kerala & Karnataka
in the West, the Bay of Bengal is in the East. At the southern
tip is Kanyakumari, where the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea
& Indian Ocean meet.
Thousands of temples with lofty
towers dot the skyline of the southernmost state of Tamilnadu
in India. These temples are torchbearers of the glorious
heritage of the Tamil speaking region, and are repositories
of the magnificent art forms that evolved over several centuries.
Several of these temples have been glorified by the ancient
Tamil hymns of the 1st millennium CE.
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Important Tourist Cities
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Chennai |
Chennai
formerly known as Madras is the capital city of Tamil Nadu
state and is the fourth largest metro city in India. The city
grew up around the English settlement of Fort Saint George
and gradually absorbed the surrounding towns and villages.
However, despite the strong British influence, Chennai has
retained its traditional Tamil Hindu culture and effectively
blended it with the foreign influence. The city is widely
spread in about 180 Sq. Kms. It is a major trade center, being
well linked by road, rail and air to important cities besides
being a sea port. Compared to the other major metros of India,
it is far less congested and polluted.
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Coimbatore |
Coimbatore, popularly
known as Manchester of South India, is situated in the western
part of the state of Tamil Nadu. Covering an extent of 105.6
sq.km., Coimbatore City is the district head quarter. Coimbatore
is well known for its textile industries and has excellent
potential for industrial growth. Because of its proximity
to the hills of the Western Ghats, Coimbatore enjoys an excellent
climate throughout the year
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Kodaikkanal |
This
sanctuary was established in 1967 and covers an area of 17
sq kms. Dolphins are occasionally sighted in the lagoon apart
from which there are shore birds and waders, flocks of flamingoes,
black – buck, chital, wild pig and bonnet macaques.
The best time to visit this sanctuary is between November
to January.
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Kanyakumari |
Kanyakumari, the
southernmost tip of India, presents a confluence of the three
great seas of Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.
The regular coastline protrudes out into the sea at Cape Comorin.
The district headquarters of the region, Kanyakumari is also
a prominent pilgrim centre. Much famous for its beaches and
picturesque sunrises and sunsets, it is a wonder to witness
the sun rising and setting in the seas here especially on
full moon days. This is the only place in India, where the
sunset and moonrise can be viewed simultaneously on a full
moon day. The paddy fields, coconut groves, mineral sands
and blue waters give it beautiful surroundings. Named after
the Goddess Kannyakumari Amman, the presiding deity of the
area, it is said that Goddess Parvati in one of her incarnations
as Devi Kanya did penance on one of the rocks here to get
Lord Shiva as her husband.
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Kanchipuram |
The
city of thousand temples. Kanchipuram is popular for its renowned
crafted world famous silk sarees, a traditional home industry.
Kanchipuram is also known for its culture and civilisation.
Kanchipuram is easily accessible from the state capital Chennai.
It is a place to visit for everyone.
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Madurai |
The
lotus-shaped city built around Meenakshi Temple, Madurai is
the oldest and second largest city of Tamil Nadu. Once the
capital of Pandyan rulers till 14th century, it was named
'Madhurapuri', as it is said, that Lord Shiva showered divine
nectar or 'Madhu' on the city from his matted locks as his
blessings on the day, the city was to be named. The name later
deformed to Madurai, which soon became an important Hindu
pilgrimage centre. Its highlight is the Dravidian-style Sri
Meenakshi Sundareswara temple with fabulous carvings, huge
Gopurams and a thousand-pillared 'Mandapam'. There are musical
pillars here too that are carved out of a single granite rock
and send out a musical note when tapped. Tamilian culture
and religion has found a safe haven in the temple and it promotes
and sponsors Tamilian literature, art, dance and music.
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| Mahabalipuram |
Mahabalipuram
also has known as Mamallapuram. Mahabalipuram is a town in
Kancheepuram District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It
has an average elevation of 12 metres (39 feet).Mahabalipuram
was a 7th Centure port city of the South Indian dynasty of
the Pallavas around 60 kms south from the city of Chennai
in Tamil Nadu. It is believed to have been named after the
Pallava king Mamalla. It has various historic monuments built
largely between the 7th and the 9th Century.
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| Rameshwaram |
Rameshwaram
is one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimage centres in India,
second only to Varanasi itself. However, a pilgrimage to Varanasi
too is not considered complete without a trip to the temple
of Sri Ramanatha in the island of Rameshwaram, where Lord
Rama worshipped Lord Shiva on his way back from his triumphant
expedition to Lanka. The temple is said to enshrine one of
the 12 Jyotirlingas of India. Pilgrims flock over to the place
to fulfill one of the most ancient injunctions of Hindus and
which has long been a tradition of South Indian people, especially
Tamilians. Shaped like a conch, this colossal temple was originally
built by Lord Rama himself. A magnificent railway bridge connects
the island to the mainland. One can see Sethu here, the bridge
said to be built by Sri Rama and his army to cross over to
Lanka and the Sethupathis of Ramanathapuram (ancient name
of Rameshwarm) were called the 'guardians of the Sethu'.
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| Tanjore
(Thanjavur) |
A
centre of classical arts and music, of exquisite handicrafts
and bronze statues, Thanjavur or Tanjore derives its name
from Tanjan-an asura, a demon who was killed by Sri Anandavalli
Amman and an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Sri Neelamegapperumal.
However, his last wish of naming the city after him was granted.
Situated on the shores of River Kaveri, Thanjavur is also
known as the 'granary of Tamil Nadu' and the cultural capital
of the region. There are 74 temples here, though the Brihadeeshwara
temple is the most famous one, capped by an 80-ton monolithic
cupola made of a single granite block. It was taken to the
top by being pulled on a 6 km long inclined ramp just like
the pyramids of Egypt.
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| Trichy
(Tiruchirappali) |
Trichy
or Tiruchi was one of the main centers of the 18th century
wars of Carnatic between the British and the French for supremacy
in India. Situated on the banks of the River Kaveri, Tiruchirappalli
is well known for its educational institutions, industries
and temples and is a popular tourist destination. A thriving
commercial centre in Tamil Nadu, it has a long history dating
back to times of Cholas in the 10th century. Formerly Pallavas
and the Pandyas had ruled it and when the Chola Empire finally
declined, Tiruchi passed on to the hands of the Vijayanagar
kings of Hampi. In 1565, Tippu Sultan won the kingdom and
defeated the then rulers of the state and it remained a part
of their empire under British took over. Today it is famous
for its artificial diamonds, cigars and cheroots all over
India.
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| Tiruneveli |
Situated
on the banks of the river Tambraparani, the small town of
Thirunelveli was once the capital of the Pandyas, and it has
a history that goes back 2000 years. The main attraction of
modern-day Thirunelveli, however, is the twin temples of Kanthimathi-Nellaiappar
dedicated to Parvati and Shiva respectively. Among the interesting
sights in the temples are the golden lily tank, the thousand-pillared
hall, which has some exquisite sculptures, and the musical
pillars that produce different musical notes when you strike
them.
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