Top 5 Places To Visit In Tamil Nadu
1. Chennai
Formerly known by the name Madras, Chennai is the Capital City of Tamil Nadu. The city has been surrounded by the South Indian Kingdoms since ages, thus it has always been the forefront of all cultural, economical, social, commercial and industrial development in the south of India. Chennai is the short form of the actual name Chennapatnam. It’s often nicknamed as the Detroit of India, due to Chennai housing the majority of India’s Automobile industries. Not only industries, the city is famous for its distinctive culture and heritage as well and you might need to take around 2-3 days to properly explore this city alone.
The city houses more than 20 heritage structures including railway stations, Museums, Book Shops, Cinema halls and many more. Chennai is also famous for its clean sandy beaches, parks, temples and cultural centers. There are various shopping attractions here and most sorts for Modern Day Activities one can name. With a big list of tourist attractions, Chennai is aptly the 3rd most visited City by tourists after Delhi and Mumbai.
2. MahabalipuramAlso known as Mamallapuram, the city of Mahabalipuram is famous for its ancient and cultural heritage. The city of Mahabalipuram was a prominent sea port dating back to 7th century AD and was ruled by the Pallava Dynasty. The place is famous for its monuments and is classified among the UNESCO world heritage sites. Almost all of the monuments are carved out of Granite and display the brilliance of Dravidian style architecture.
The town is otherwise a small one and the best way to get around it either by foot or bike rental. The attractions in the whole town can be covered in a day or two. The city is bustling with tourists most times of the year except monsoons. The amazing location of this place adds to the charm of the monuments and the intricate carvings. The temples here are a marvel to behold and with the aid of a knowledgeable tour guide one can totally get lost in the ancient stories behind each of the monuments.
3. KanyakumariThe southernmost tip of mainland India, Kanyakumari was formerly known by the name Cape Comorin. The ancient town of Kanyakumari was an important site during the Reign of the Chola, Chera and Pandya dynasty. The town is famous for its beautiful beaches, temples, monuments and cultural centers. The town is also famous for its distinctive culture and hospitable people.
The place due to its unique location witnesses a marvel like only a few places in the world has seen i.e. the sunrise and the sunset can be viewed at the same beach. The town lays at the confluence of three bodies of water namely the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal and is thus considered an important pilgrimage site in the south of India. The temples here are built in Dravidian style of architecture. The various south Indian delicacies served here are great and light on the stomach and include some of the south Indian classics like Sambhar, Idli and Dosa etc. a trip to this town is sure to refresh your senses.
4. MaduraiThe 3rd largest city in Tamil Nadu, Madurai is also one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. The place has been mentioned by many such as Kautilya and Megasthenes. The city has been ruled by both the Pandya and the Chola dynasties. The city houses a number of important and magnificent temples that it is built around. Geographically the city of Madurai lies on the fertile plains near the river Vaigai which divides the city in two parts. The land is thus mainly used for agriculture and the major supplier for paddy crops such as rice in India.
The majority of tourists who come to Madurai come to visit the various temples that enshrine this ancient city. The Meenakshi Ammam Temple is of prime importance here as it has been mentioned in almost all the ancient texts and is considered as the prime pilgrim spot for the Tamil people. The Temple complex consists of 27 different temples and the highest tower with the height of 51.9 meters high crowns the place. Many different monuments and temples are also a must visit along with the various festivals celebrated here. The town of Madurai is a spiritual experience in itself.
5. Kodaikanal
Photo by Akhilesh Ravishankar, CC BY-ND 2.0The town is also referred to as the ‘Princess of the Hill stations’ with its name meaning ‘the Gift of the Forest’. It is a small hill station with an average elevation of 2,331 meters above sea level. The place is surrounded by thick forests and is located at the top of the Palani Hills. The establishment of the hill station dates back to 1845 which was founded as a refuge from the heat and the diseases of the tropical plains. The town is a major tourist attraction and tourism industry is the source of the majority of the town’s economy.
Kodaikanal is famous for its scenic beauty and has a number of natural attractions that is the reason for its high tourist population. The lakes, parks and different waterfalls along with the rich abundance of flora and fauna, the town, is indeed the gift of the forests. The place is a home to many natural marvels and phenomena such as the blooming of the rare Kurinji Flower which only blooms once in 12 years and is said to cover the entire valley in blue. With its various flora and natural and manmade attractions to enjoy, Kodaikanal will make you want to stay.
1. Chennai
Formerly known by the name Madras, Chennai is the Capital City of Tamil Nadu. The city has been surrounded by the South Indian Kingdoms since ages, thus it has always been the forefront of all cultural, economical, social, commercial and industrial development in the south of India. Chennai is the short form of the actual name Chennapatnam. It’s often nicknamed as the Detroit of India, due to Chennai housing the majority of India’s Automobile industries. Not only industries, the city is famous for its distinctive culture and heritage as well and you might need to take around 2-3 days to properly explore this city alone.
The city houses more than 20 heritage structures including railway stations, Museums, Book Shops, Cinema halls and many more. Chennai is also famous for its clean sandy beaches, parks, temples and cultural centers. There are various shopping attractions here and most sorts for Modern Day Activities one can name. With a big list of tourist attractions, Chennai is aptly the 3rd most visited City by tourists after Delhi and Mumbai.
- Marina Beach
- Semmozhi Poonga
- The Huddleston Gardens Of Theosophical Society
- Arignar Anna Zoological Park
- Pulicat Lake
- Kapaleeswarar Temple
- Breezy Beach
- National Art Gallery
- Connemara Public Library
- Little Mount Shrine
2. MahabalipuramAlso known as Mamallapuram, the city of Mahabalipuram is famous for its ancient and cultural heritage. The city of Mahabalipuram was a prominent sea port dating back to 7th century AD and was ruled by the Pallava Dynasty. The place is famous for its monuments and is classified among the UNESCO world heritage sites. Almost all of the monuments are carved out of Granite and display the brilliance of Dravidian style architecture.
The town is otherwise a small one and the best way to get around it either by foot or bike rental. The attractions in the whole town can be covered in a day or two. The city is bustling with tourists most times of the year except monsoons. The amazing location of this place adds to the charm of the monuments and the intricate carvings. The temples here are a marvel to behold and with the aid of a knowledgeable tour guide one can totally get lost in the ancient stories behind each of the monuments.
- Arjuna’s Penance
- Thirukadalmallai
- Cave Temples
- Shore Temple
- Pancha Rathas
3. KanyakumariThe southernmost tip of mainland India, Kanyakumari was formerly known by the name Cape Comorin. The ancient town of Kanyakumari was an important site during the Reign of the Chola, Chera and Pandya dynasty. The town is famous for its beautiful beaches, temples, monuments and cultural centers. The town is also famous for its distinctive culture and hospitable people.
The place due to its unique location witnesses a marvel like only a few places in the world has seen i.e. the sunrise and the sunset can be viewed at the same beach. The town lays at the confluence of three bodies of water namely the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal and is thus considered an important pilgrimage site in the south of India. The temples here are built in Dravidian style of architecture. The various south Indian delicacies served here are great and light on the stomach and include some of the south Indian classics like Sambhar, Idli and Dosa etc. a trip to this town is sure to refresh your senses.
- Kanyakumari Temple
- Vivekananda Rock Memorial
- Suchindrum
- Padmanabhapuram Palace
- Thiruvalluvar Statue
4. MaduraiThe 3rd largest city in Tamil Nadu, Madurai is also one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. The place has been mentioned by many such as Kautilya and Megasthenes. The city has been ruled by both the Pandya and the Chola dynasties. The city houses a number of important and magnificent temples that it is built around. Geographically the city of Madurai lies on the fertile plains near the river Vaigai which divides the city in two parts. The land is thus mainly used for agriculture and the major supplier for paddy crops such as rice in India.
The majority of tourists who come to Madurai come to visit the various temples that enshrine this ancient city. The Meenakshi Ammam Temple is of prime importance here as it has been mentioned in almost all the ancient texts and is considered as the prime pilgrim spot for the Tamil people. The Temple complex consists of 27 different temples and the highest tower with the height of 51.9 meters high crowns the place. Many different monuments and temples are also a must visit along with the various festivals celebrated here. The town of Madurai is a spiritual experience in itself.
- Sree Meenakshi Amman Temple
- Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple
- Gandhi Museum
- Samanar Hills
- Koodal Azhagar Temple
- Pazhamudhir Solai
- Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal
5. Kodaikanal
Photo by Akhilesh Ravishankar, CC BY-ND 2.0The town is also referred to as the ‘Princess of the Hill stations’ with its name meaning ‘the Gift of the Forest’. It is a small hill station with an average elevation of 2,331 meters above sea level. The place is surrounded by thick forests and is located at the top of the Palani Hills. The establishment of the hill station dates back to 1845 which was founded as a refuge from the heat and the diseases of the tropical plains. The town is a major tourist attraction and tourism industry is the source of the majority of the town’s economy.
Kodaikanal is famous for its scenic beauty and has a number of natural attractions that is the reason for its high tourist population. The lakes, parks and different waterfalls along with the rich abundance of flora and fauna, the town, is indeed the gift of the forests. The place is a home to many natural marvels and phenomena such as the blooming of the rare Kurinji Flower which only blooms once in 12 years and is said to cover the entire valley in blue. With its various flora and natural and manmade attractions to enjoy, Kodaikanal will make you want to stay.
- Berijam Lake
- Coakers Walk
- Kodai Lake
- Kurinjiandavar Temple
- Dolphin’s Nose
- Bryant Park
- Kodaikanal Solar Observatory
- Green Valley View