Tamilnadu
is a wonderful tourist place. It has natural beauty i.e.blue beaches
and clear skies. People enjoy the peace amidst the lively and magnificent
temples. There are more than 30,000 temples in Tamil Nadu, which
has given the state the distinctive title of 'A Land of Temples'.
Built by various dynasties these temples bear a superficial resemblance
to each other in that they share the same physical features - the
gopuram or the imposing tower over the entrance and the spacious
halls and corridors.
Chennai Popularly regarded as "The Gateway
to the South", Chennai is the fourth largest city in India
and the capital of Tamil Nadu state. With a vast population of about
six million people, Chennai is a city that is growing, expanding
and changing vigorously.
Thanjavur
the Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur is an architectural wonder
and reflects the artistic skills of the erstwhile Chola rulers who
ruled peninsular India in the early medieval period. Built by the
Chola king Rajaraja I in the 11th century, it is one of the tallest
temples in the world. It was so designed that the Vimana never casts
a shadow at noon at any part of the year.
Kodaikanal located amidst the folds of the verdant
Pali hills is one of the most popular serene hill stations in India,
which mesmerises any visitor. With her wooded slopes, mighty rocks,
enhancing waterfalls and a beautiful lake, Kodaikanal is a charming
hill station. Kodai is situated at an altitude of about 2,133-m
high and covers an area of 21.45-sq-km. The hill town is renowned
for its educational institutions of international repute. The pride
of Kodaikanal is the 'Kurinji-flower', which blossoms once in 12
years. The hill-plantain fruits and plums are known for their freshness
and taste.
Madurai or the "city of nectar" is the
oldest and second largest city of Tamil Nadu. This city is located
on Vaigai River and was the capital of Pandyan rulers till the 14th
century. The Pandyan king, Kulasekhara had built a gorgeous temple
around which he created a lotus shaped city. Mythology says when
city was being named; Lord Shiva blessed the city and its people.
On the auspicious occasion some Divine nectar ("Madhu")
fell from the matted locks of Shiva and hence the city was named
"Madhurapuri". This sacred town of south attracts thousands
of pilgrims and visitors from India as well as abroad.
Mahabalipuram it contains nearly forty monuments
of different types including an "open air bas relief"
which is the largest in the world, for centuries it has been a centre
of pilgrimage, it figures in the early annals of the British search
for the picturesque in India in the 18th century, today it attracts
shoals of foreigners in search of relaxation and sea bathing, and
most strange of all, it has an atomic power plant for neighbour.
A small library has been written on it. Over its history and that
of its monuments a number of scholarly controversies rage. Mahabalipuram
was already a centre of pilgrimage when, in the 7th century Mamalla
made it a seaport and began to make temples fashioned of rock. It
was through Mahabalipuram that many Indian colonists, who included
sages and artists, migrated to Southeast Asia. Sri Lanka's national
chronicle, the "Mahavamsa" testifies to this fact.
Marina Beach is, Golden sand, good surf and a shimmering
clean blue sea, this in a nutshell,. This beach is counted among
one of the longest beaches in Asia. Its 12-km long stretch was made
beautiful by the wonderful facelift given by Governor Mountstuart
Elphinstone Grant Duff in the early 1880's, and is a major tourist
attraction today. Marina beach is located on the eastern side of
Chennai, adjoining the Bay of Bengal. Watching the sun set and rise
from the beach is an enthralling experience. Though bathing and
swimming can be dangerous, as the undercurrent is very strong, even
then people come for swimming here. In the evenings, the beach is
virtually a fair ground with various kinds of entertainment and
food stalls lining the beach. With its natural sandy beauty and
spacious promenade and beautiful gardens, the beach is a major attraction
for tourists visiting Chennai. It has acquired a South Indian aura
with vendors hawking wares ranging from shell and glass baubles
to kites and fruit juices. The Marina, however, is large enough
to accommodate all visitors as well as the hawkers and is often
the venue for important state functions.
Meenakshi Temple - of Madurai is an excellent example
of Dravidian architecture, with gopurams or multi pillared halls,
covered from top to bottom, in a profusion of multicoloured images
of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures. The temple can
be entered from any of the four sides. It occupies an area of around
six hectares. The museum or the Temple Art Gallery, is located within
the temple and has beautiful stone and brass images, examples of
South Indian scripts and friezes.
Kamakshi Amman Temple India has three main cities
where the Goddess Shakti is worshipped. Kanchipuram holds the most
important rank among the three. In the same order, the three places
are Kanchipuram, where the Goddess Kamakshi is worshipped, Madurai,
where the Goddess Meenakshi is worshipped, and Kashi, where the
deity is 'Visaalakshi'. The Kamakshi Amman temple is the hub of
all religious activities in Kanchipuram. The temple is also in closer
control of the Shankara Mutt, unlike the other temples, which are
governed either by the Department of Archeology, Government of India,
or the Hindu Temples Department of the Tamil Nadu Government. The
kings of the Chola Empire built the temple in 14th century AD.
Anamalai wildlife sanctuary is about 90-kms from
Coimbatore and is situated at an altitude of 1,400 meters in the
Western Ghats near Pollachi. The area of the sanctuary is 958-sq-kms.
An ecological paradise, this sanctuary encompasses a National Park.
It has just recently been renamed as Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary.
How To Get There??
Air : The Anna International Airport, 16 km south
of Chennai, has flights to/from Sri Lanka, Dubai, Germany, Jakarta,
Malaysia, England, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. Most major
Indian cities are also connected to Chennai by regular domestic
flights.
Rail :The railway station at Chennai has connecting
trains to/from all major cities in India.
Road :The entire state is connected through an
extensive network of metalled roads. Ferry services are also available
in Chennai. touristplacesinindia can arrange for all local transport
during your visit to any of the cities of Tamil Nadu.