Vanakkam / Greetings!
Chennai formerly known as Madras is the capital city of the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is flanked by Pondicherry, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Many hill ranges like Eastern Ghats in the north, the Nilgiri, the Anamalai Hills, and Palakkad on the west form the green belt for the state. The coast of Bay of Bengal is lined to the east and the Indian Ocean to the south. Kanyakumari, the town is at the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula and is located in Tamil Nadu where Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean meet.
Tamil Nadu is the eleventh largest state in India by area. It is one of the state with highest rate of literacy. The language spoken is Tamil, and it is the first language declared as a classical language in India. The language is 2500 years old and inscriptions and literature stands testimony to that. Tamil Nadu is also known as the land of temples as many grand and oldest temples in Dravidian Architecture are all over the state. Many Hill stations, beach scene and UNESCO World Heritage Sites attract visitors from all over the world.
Tamil Nadu has been ruled by Chera, Chola, Pandya, Pallavas, Pandya, Delhi Sultanate, Nizam, Vijayanagar and British.
Kancheevaram Silk Sarees and Tanjore paintings are top on visitors shopping list. The authentic Chettinad cuisine is fiery and delicious.
Forests and Hills house a wide range of Fauna and Flora, which are endemic to this region. The state animal is Nilgiri Tahr, state bird is Emerald Dove, state flower is Glory Lily and state tree is Palmyra tree.
Places of Interest in Tamil Nadu –
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Waterfalls
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| Kalahatti Falls | Law’s Falls | Vanatheertham |
| Courtallam | Hogenakal Falls | Silver Cascade |
| Pykara | Catherine Falls | Kodai Falls |
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Hills and Hill Stations
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| Ooty | Masinagudi | Yercaud |
| Yelagiri | Coonoor | Kodaikanal |
| Lady Canning’s Seat, Coonoor | Arunachala Hills | Lamb’s Rock, Coonoor |
| Nilgiri hills | Kotagiri | Velaparai |
| Dolphin’s Nose view point, Coonoor | Doddabetta, Ooty | Dum Dum Rock View |
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Bird and Wild Life Sanctuaries
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| Madumalai | Mukurthi National Park | Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve |
| Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve | Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park | Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary |
| Crocodile Park | Wenlock Downs – 9th Mile, 5th Mile | Pulicat Lake |
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Temples and other religious places
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| Annamalaiyar Temple,Thiruvannamalai | Brihadishwara Temple in Thanjavur | Airavateswara temple in Darasuram |
| Mahabalipuram | Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam | Nellaiappar Temple in Tirunelveli |
| Madurai Meenaxi Temple | Rameswaram | Kanchipuram |
| Palani | Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Chidambaram |
| St. Stephen’s Church, Ooty | Swamithoppe | Tiruchendur |
| Tiruvallur | Golden Temple, Vellore | Swami Malai |
| Kanyakumari | Ramana Maharshi Ashram | Thirparappu |
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River, Lakes and Dams
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| Ooty Lake | Yercaud Lake | Reliah Dam |
| Muthathhi Lake | Kodaikanal Lake | Pykara Lake |
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Botanical Gardens, Zoo, and Museums
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| Bryant Park, Kodaikanal | Guindy Zoo | Shembaganur Museum of Natural History, Kodaikanal |
| Botanical Gardens, Ooty | Botanical Gardens, Yercaud | Rose Garden, Ooty |
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Palaces, Forts, and Historical Places
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| Mahabalipuram | Stone House / Kal Bungalow, Ooty | Vellore Fort |
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Cities and Towns
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| Chennai | Madurai | Wellington |
| Rameswaram | Coimbatore | Selam |
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Beaches
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| Marina Beach | Mahabalipuram Beach | Dhanushkodi |
| Velankani Beach | Kanyakumari Beach | Rameshwara Beach |
