Most important Tourist Places in Tamil Nadu

Parthasarthy temple: It is one of the oldest temples of this region with divine grace. The temple was built by the Pallavas in the 8th century BC and was remodeled in the 16th century, by the Vijaynagar kings. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna.
Kapaleeswarar Temple: This majestic temple of Chennai, is consecrated Lord Shiva. This temple is renowned for its architectural skills of the 13th century. Only Hindus allowed entering into the main plSanthome Cathedral: This cathedral was built during the 14th -15th century. It is another outstanding venue for worth visiting. The Birla Planetarium, Elliot Beach, Valluvar Kottam, National Art and Government Museum, Anna Zoological Park, Kalakshetra and the Theosophical Society is some of the important spots for the tourists. Mahabalipuram,an ancient Pallavas port city is only 61km away from the main town of Chennai is a worth place for the tourists to visit.The Marina beach: This beach is the second longest beach in Asia and covers an area of 14.5km. The beach appears very bright on weekend evenings. It has been is used as the state secretariat recently.
St. George Fort is another major sight of Chennai. It was built by The British East India Company it in the year 1653. The forte has a museum which has a fine collection of British and French antiques and other memories. St.Mary's Church, the first British church of Chennai is within the compound of the fort.
Cove long beach: is another place worth visiting in order to know the past of the state that still remains undecayed. The surrounding scenes such as the fort, church, mosque and the seashore are reallyace of worship in the temple. beautiful.
Crocodile bank: It is Located 44 km away from the main city of Chennai. There are rare species of Indian and African alligators and crocodiles here. A wonderful ecological and zoological balance in nature can be experienced here. Guindy National Park and Snake Park: These two parks are located close to each other near the Guindy station. Different verities of snakes are exhibited here.
Besides these, Muttukkadu, Thirukkalukundram, Vedanthangal bird sanctuary, etc., are other interesting destinations to visit.
Hill Stations of Tamil Nadu

Ooty is famous for the most popular hill stations of South India, Ooty or Udhagamandalam be said to be the Hill Capital of Tamil Nadu. Howevern the two smaller yet quieter hill resorts Coonoor and Kotagiri near by are more preferable to some as people love to witness the tribal life of the Badagas and the Todas in the tiny village of Ketti on the way to Coonoor. Kodaikanal enchants its visitors with the verdant Pali hills while Yercaud is known as the 'Ooty of the Poor'. However, the aromatic coffee plantations and orange groves, the serene quiet surroundings at a much cheaper rate make it a better option than the more reputed hill resorts such as Ooty and Kodaikanal. Ketti is famous for having the highest railway station in the country at an altitude of 7,000 ft above the sea level in the lap of the Nilgiri Mountains of South India. The world-famous tea farms of Ooty make it the most desirable picnic spot.

Thamil Nadu Tourism

Tamil Nadu History
It is believed that human beings began to inhabit in Tamil Nadu as early as 300,000 years ago. The first settlers of Tamil Nadu were from the Indus valley .They moved to south when the Aryans began to occupy that area about 1500 BC. However the recorded history of Tamil Nadu starts only from 4th BC. The social, economic and cultural life of the people is referred in the Sangam literature. The Tamils had trade relations with Rome, Greece and Egypt. Before the Christian era, the Cheras, Cholas and Pandias ruled Tamil Nadu. This was the golden period of Tamil literature, art and culture. These three dynasties interchanged the rule many times over the centuries. Other dynasties like Pallavas and Chalukyas also came into power. The steady patronage of arts by these dynasties served the expansion of Dravidian culture. It is believed that the early Dravidians were part of the Indus Valley Civilization. With the advent of the Aryans, the Dravidians were pushed back into the south and they settled there around 1500 BC. Excavations have revealed that the features of the people of the Indus Valley Civilization and that of the Tamil region resembled same. Tamil Nadu is famous for its rich tradition of literature, music and dance which are continuing to flourish even today. It is one of the most industrialized states in India. Tamil is the official language of Tamil Nadu (as well as one of the official languages of India). Tamil Nadu was emerged from the old Madras State in the 1950s, when India re-drew some state lines according to language. State politics have a lot to do with the life of the people. Your tour to this blessed land will be all the more enjoyable when you visit all these beautiful tourist and pilgrim centers of attraction. Read on further to know more about the cultural, historical and natural beauty of these centers.

Chennai, the Eden of tourists.

Chennai is called the Gate way to the South. It was formerly known as Madras.Chennai’sboarders are the Bay of Bengal from the east, the state of Andhra Pradesh its northwest, districts of Tamil Nadu and Kanchipuram, on its south and the states of Kerala and Karnataka on its west. , Chennai normally has a very hot and humid climate as it is situated at the tropical zone.
Transportation: The air connection: Being an international airport Chennai has flight connections to all major parts of the world, internal airlines connect the city with all the major cities of India.
The rail lines: Regular train services connect Chennai with all major cities of the country directly.
The road connection: Chennai is connected by excellent roads to all parts of the state and neighboring states. All types of tourist vehicle are easily available on hire here.
Water link: There is a sea line to Andaman and Nicobar islands also. Enjoy the beauty of South!
Chennai is the most attractive and enchanting cities of the South with mystical natural beauty. The city is also one of the most beautiful spot in the subcontinent of India. As every tourist centre has a celebrated history of the past that harmonizes with the present, Chennai also has a great past history. Chennai celebrates a number of festivals. Most of the festivals are related to the position stars and planets as well as agricultural activities. Pongal is the most important festival of Chennai. It is celebrated in the month of January. Festivals of different religions are also celebrated in this cosmopolitan city. It is also one of the cultural centers of India. There is an ardent submerge of western and the eastern culture here. On one side you can see the entertainment scene of classical dance and on the other side there are theatres with different linguistic films or musical concerts. You can spend a thrilling evening by selecting any of these.
Districts of Tamil Nadu
Chennai, Dharmapuri, Kanchipuram, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, Pudukkottai, Sivaganga, Thoothukudi, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Coimbatore, indigul, Kanyakumari
Madurai, Nilgiris, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Tiruvannamalai. Viluppuram, Cuddalore, Erode, Karur, Nagapattinam, Perambalur, Salem, Theni, Tirunelveli, Tiruvarur and Virudhunagar

Kannur

A land that has a rich past and flourishes in legends and myths, Kannur located in Kerala is a small and a beautiful city. Far away from the bustling city life, nestled away in the northern most corner of Kerala, is this enchanting city of Kerala. If you want to experience the beauty of India in Kerala, traveling to Kannur would be the best option. The tourism in Kannur is fast catching up, as it is one of the most preferred destinations in Kerala. Check out our related sections that tell you more about the attractions of Kannur.

Theyyam or Theyattam is an ancient and still popular ritual dance of Malabar viz North Kerala. It’s a unique combination of dance, music and also reflects the main features of a tribal culture. The Theyyam performance has an aura of divine splendour as its accompanied by rituals & other devotional hymns. Its indeed an unprecedented experience to watch this dance symbolising the ultimate power. Theyyam is generally performed in front of the village shrines. Performance of a particular deity according to its significance and hierarchy in the shrine continues for 12 to 24 hours in the intervals. There are a large number of temples in Kannur where Theyyam is performed.

The Theyyam perfromance can be observed from Oct to March at various Kavu (small temples) spread over the district. Watching theyyam in the midnights invoke the inner feelings of our mind.

Kannur is full of beautiful tourist attractions that can be visited as a part of Kannur sight seeing tours. This lovely coastal town should not be missed and the famous tourist attractions are worth the visit. Your tour to Kannur will be all the more enjoyable when you go and visit all these beautiful tourist attractions. Read on further about these places to visit.

St. Angelo's Fort - Angelo's Fort was built in 1505 by Sir Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India and is on the Arabian sea about 3 km from Kannur town. Historian Nandakumar Koroth in his work 'Forts in North Malabar' reveals the mighty construction of the fort. The fort changed hands several times. In 1663 the Dutch captured it and sold it to the Arakkal Royal Family. The British conquered it in 1790 and transformed it into one of their major military stations on the Malabar Coast. It is fairly well preserved as a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. A painting of this fort and the fishing ferry behind it can be seen in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Moppila Bay
This bay is a famous fishing harbor that is situated near St. Angelo's fort. The place has the latest fishing harbor, equipped with latest fishing technology. It has been built under the Indo-Norwegian treaty and is a joint collaboration between the two countries.

Payyambalam Beach - Is the beach of Kannur town. It has an unbroken coastline of a few kilometres. From the beach, one can see ships in transit along the Malabar coast, that is, beyond Calicut (Kozhikode) and moving towards Mangalore, Goa and Bombay (Mumbai). The well laid out garden and the massive landscaped sculpture of mother and child erected by noted sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman makes it extremely captivating.

Ezhimala - the capital of the ancient Mooshika kings, is considered to be an ancient historical site. It is a conspicuous, isolated cluster of hills, forming a promontory, 38 kms. north of Kannur. A flourishing sea port and centre of trade in ancient Kerala, it was one of the major battle fields of the Chola-Chera war of the 11th century.It is believed that Lord Budha had visited Ezhimala. An old mosque believed to contain the mortal remains of Shaikh Abdul Latif, a Muslim reformist, is also located here. The hill is noted for rare medicinal herbs.Bordered by sea on three sides, Ezhimala is set to occupy a prominent place in the naval history of the country, consequent to the proposal for commissioning the Naval Academy here.

Arakkal Palace:-The Arakkal Palace belonged to the only Muslim royal family of Kerala. The palace is of much historical significance and is a popular tourist attraction of Kannur.

Pythal Mala - the enchanting hill station, situated near the Kerala-Karnataka border, is rich in flora and fauna. It is a 6 kms trek to the top of the hills. This beautiful, calm hill station, 65Km from Kannur is at an altitude of 4500 ft. above sea level. Abundant in flora and fauna, this place is now being developed as a hill resort. One has to trek 6 kms to reach the top of the hills. There is a proposal to set up a zoo at the top of the hill. The enchanting hill station offers a challenging trek to those inclined to stretch their legs. Trekkers are rewarded by a profusion of exotic flora and fauna and an exhilirating view from the top.

Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple - The famous Muthappan (Siva) Temple (Parassinikadavu Madappura) is on the banks of the Valapatanam river. According to tradition, the main abode of Muthappan was Puralimala near Mattannur. The story goes that Muthappan appeared in the form of a child before one Padikutti Amma. The child had an insatiable appetite for liquor, fish and meat and became a nuisance to the family was therefore turned out from the house. Armed with a bow and arrow Muthappan wandered from place to place and eventually reached Puralimala. At Kunnathurpadi, on his way to Puralimala, he climbed on to the top of a palmyra tree near the house of one Chandan and drank toddy.

Beautiful City of Idukki

Idukki is the one of the most natural queen of Kerala. Idukki is the most gifted district of Kerala. With high ranges of altitude varying from 2500 feet above sea level, Idukki is the district where forest and wild life abound. About 1500 Sq.Km. of its area is reserved forest, much of which is home to a variety of flora and fauna. This forest area house wild life like, tigers, deer, Indian bisons and monkeys. Streams, valleys and hills combine to make Idukki an ideal year-round holiday destination.

Geographically known for its Mountainous Hills and Dense Forests. For the people of Kerala, Idukki is always associated with Power Generation. About 66% of the State's Power needs come from the Hydroelectric Power Projects in Idukki. Idukki accounts for 12.9 percent of the area of Kerala and only 3.7 percent of the population of Kerala. About 50% of its area is Reserved Forests.

The highland district of Kerala with its mountains, valleys, dams, forests, wildlife, rchids, streams, scenic points, trekking trails, sanctuaries, hill stations and lakes,
you could call Idukki - God's Own Hideaway.

Munnar:- also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, which towers over 2695 m. Rich tropical forests contain species like the Nilgiri Langur, Sambar, Gaur and Lion Tailed Macaques. Rajamalai, part of the Eravikulam National park has a very strong population of the mountainpous goat. Orchids are another attraction. The "Neelakurinji", the mystique blue flower that belongs to the family 'Acanthaceac' blooms once in 12 years dots the Munnar hillsides.

Mattipetty:- The Mattupetty lake and dam, just a short distance from the farm, is a very beautiful picnic spot.The sprawling Kundala tea plantations and the Kundala lake are other attractions in the vicinity. DTPC Idukki provides boating facilities on the Mattupetty Dam.Speed launch and motorboats are available on hire.

Observatory Hills:- This is a beautiful hill located at Nedumkandam. Those people who have interest in watching the stars and planets come here to spent their time at this hill. This hill gives them a non-polluted clear sky.

Thekkady:- It is India's largest Sanctuary covering over 750sq km of forests. Here the wild life includes Sambar, Bison, Spotted Deer, Tigers, Leopards and Elephants. A unique boating experience awaits you on an artificial lake spread across 25 kms. The possibilities include Elephant rides, trekking etc. Moreover it is also part of project Tiger and Project elephant. It is expected to be declared as a bird Sanctuary in the near future with 246 types of native birds and 40 varieties of migratory flock.

Arch Dam - This is the world's second and Asia's first arch dam, constructed across the Kuravan and Kurathi hills. 550 ft. High and 650 ft. Wide, the dam lies close to the Cheruthoni Barrage. To its West is the Kulamavu Dam. Idukki wildlife sanctuary is located close by.

Kuthumkal Waterfalls:- It is a beautiful waterfall found in this district. Always, water mist is found near the falls because of, water falling on the rocks.

Ernakulam (Cochin)

Ernakulam (Cochin),

Ernakulam, the commercial capital of Kerala, served by an international airport, fine communication facilities, excellent accommodation, modern amenities and a lot of attractive tourist places gives a breathtaking experience for its visitors and settlers. Ernakulam(Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala. With one of the finest natural barbours in the world, this was once a manor centre of commerce and trace with the british, arabs, chinese, portuguese, dutch etc.

Air - International Airport at Nedumbassery (20 kms from town). Rail - Ernakulam (Cochin) is a major railhead of the Southern Railway. Main Station : Ernakulam (Cochin) junction. Other station : Ernakulam (Cochin) town,Kochi Harbour Terminus. Road - An excellent road network links to all major towns and cities in india. Ferry - There are two ferry stations in Ernakulam (Cochin). The main boat jetty is one km from the junction railway station and the other is near the high court.

Fort Kochi - A stroll along the beach, particularly at sunset with the chinese fishing nets and sailing ships in the background, is a memorable experience. Many European style bungalows can be seen along the shoreline. The coastal stretch has loads of small stalls, which make on demand mouth-watering traditional cuisines using freshly caught fish.

Chinese Fishing Nets - These huge cantilevered fishing nets are the legacy of one of the first visitors to the malabar coast. Erected here between 1350 and 1450 ad by Traders from the court of kublai khan, these nets are st up on teak wood and bamboo poles. The best place to watch the nets being lowered into the sea and catch being brought in is the vasco da gama square, a narrow promenade that runs along the beach.

Veega Land:- Veega Land is South India's largest amusement park situated 14kms from Cochin. The park includes a range of attractions including mini castles, water theme park, ferris wheel, rides, slides, shows and fountains. Kids and adults alike can enjoy the fun and activities.

Museum of Kerala History, Kalamassery :- The museum has on display spectacular audio-visual exhibits depicting the history and culture of Kerala along with many life size statues of many famous personalities and several paintings depicting Kerala history.

Hill Palace, Tripunithura:- Built in the 19th century by the Raja of Kochi, this palace served as the seat of the Raja of the Kochi province. The palace has been converted into a museum displaying a fine collection of articles showing the wealth and splendour of the Rajas of Kochi, including the thone and the crown. The musuem also houses a large collection of archaeological findings. Hill Palace is located 16km east of Cochin in Tripunithura, a satellite town of Cochin.

St. Francis Church - Built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan Friars, this is India's oldest European Church. This was initially built of timber and later reconstructed in stone masonry. It was restored in 1779 by the protestant dutch, converted To an anglican church by the british in 1795 and is at present governed by the church of south india. Vasco da gama was buried here in 1524 before his Remains were moved to Lisbon, portugal.

Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace) - Built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi, the palace was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch. On display here are beauriful murals depicting scenes from the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, and some of the Puranic Hindu legends. The palace also houses dutch maps of old kochi, royal palanquins, coronation robes of former maharajas of kochi.

Kerala information

Kerala information

Kerala is a state on the southern shore of India. It is famous for its beaches and backwaters. Kerala is surrounded by Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Its beaches are of the Arabian Sea. It a popular tourist destination with many people from Indian and overseas. It is known as God Own’s country. Kerala is also popular for its fair and festivals, especially the annual Snakeboat Race in which many locals participate. Kerala has perfect climate and atmosphere all round the year to visit. There are many resorts and hotels that throng the state. It is a peaceful state with friendly people.

Important Cities

Alappuzha (Alleppey), Ernakulam (Cochin), Idukki, Kannur, Kasaragod, Kollam, Kottayam (Kumarakom), Kozhikode (Calicut), Malappuram, - Munnar, - Palakkad, - Thekkady (Periyar), Thiruvananthapuram, - Thrissur, - Wayanad and Varkala.

Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India. A town with picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons, it was described as the List of places known as Venice of the East by Lord Curzon. It is the administrative headquarters of Alap[uzha Dirstrict Alleppey has a wonderful past. Though the present town owes its existence to the sagacious Diwan Raja Kesavadas in the second half of 18th century, district of Alappuzha figures in classical Literature. Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala with the unending stretch of paddy fields, small streams and canals with lush green coconut palms , was well known even from the early periods of the Sangam age. History says Alappuzha had trade relations with ancient Greece and Rome in B.C and in the Middle Ages, as well as with other parts of India. Alappuzha has a light house, which is a major tourist attraction.

. Alappuzha district is proud of being the cradle of boat races. All the important boat races, namely the Nehru Trophy boat Race at Punnamada, the Payippad near Haripad, the Thiruvandoor, Neerettupuram, Karuvatta and Thaikkoottam boat races are held at different parts of the district during August-September . Thousands of people from all parts of the world come and witness these races.

Kuttanad is the most beautiful backwaters region of Kerala. It is here that most of the snake boat races are conducted and a majority of the rice boat & houseboat cruises are scheduled.

Ambalapuzha Sri Krishna Temple constructed in the typical Kerala architectural style, this temple is famous all over India, and is renowned for the Palpayasam, the daily offering of sweet milk porridge.

Champakulam St. Mary's Church is one of the oldest church in Kerala. It is said to be one of the seven churches established by St.Thomas. Tha annual feast is held on the 3rd Sunday of October. The feast of St. Joseph is celebrated on March 19th.

South Indian Tourism

South India is a linguistic-cultural region of India that covers the four Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry.

South India region includes the entire Indian peninsula which begins with the Deccan in the north and ends with Cape Comorin.At India's peninsular tip, there is the mesmerising South where the Muslim influence was evanescent. Hinduism in South was least altered by the external influence and it’s at its most exuberant. The Temple towns of South are quite unlike those of the North and superbly Vibrant.

The Southern Indian holiday you will cherish for the rest of your life. The tour comprises of breathtakingly beautiful destinations like Chennai, Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram. Out of the three diverse destinations of the Golden triangle of Southern India Chennai is one of the important trade centers of south India and is a good place to shop for a large variety of items. You may shop for traditional bell metal items, bronze icons, and stone sculpture, as well as other crafts of the southern region at the local shops. Even the jewelry made from uncut precious stones make excellent gift items.

Next the beautiful Kancheepuram hand woven silk sarees those are renowned for the temple borders and rich zari (gold thread) pallavas must be shopped for at Kanchipuram, the second holiday destination. Detailed traditional motifs and bright colors with contrasting borders make these sarees absolutely delightful.

The Capital of the south eastern state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai ( Madras) besides being one of the four major metropolitan cities in India is the starting point of the golden triangle tour of the Southern India.

Periyar,Wayanad,Kabini,BR Hills,kumarakom etc. are the major wildlife
destinations of South India.