In the southernmost part of India, Tamil Nadu is
referred to as the Cradle of Dravidian Culture. The cultural icons are everywhere
- huge
temples with their towering gopurams (gateways), intricate rock carvings, evocative music
and, of course, the complex classical dance.
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Climate
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Temperature : 43ºC - 18ºC
Monsoon : October - December
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| Places to visit
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Chennai: The fourth largest city in India and the capital of
Tamil Nadu, Chennai has grown from the merging of a number of small villages. Billboards
are the most striking outward expressions of the city.
Fort St. George: Built around 1653 by the British East India
Company, it presently houses the Secretariat.
Marina & Aquarium: The stretch of beach known as the
Marina extends for 13 km.
Kapaleeshwarar Temple: This ancient Shiva temple, off
Kutchery Rd in Mylapore, is constructed in Dravidian style and
displays the architectural elements – gopurams, mandapams, and a tank – there
are found in the famous temple cities of TN.
Film studios: The film industry in Chennai now rivals
Bollywood in output. There are many big film studios.
Mamallapuram: Famous for its shore temple, was the second
capital and seaport at the Pallava Kings.
Kanchipuram: The temple town of Kachipuram is one of the
seven sacred cities of India. Kanchipuram silk is famous.
Kailasanatha Temple: Dedicated to Shiva,
Kailasanatha is the
oldest temple in Kanchi and for some, the most beautiful.
Vedantangal
Bird Sanctuary:
About 52 km from Mamallapuram, this is an important breeding ground for water birds.
Auroville: International Utopian
city
being built. Aurobindo Asharam associations.
Chidambaram: Chidambaram’s great temple complex of
Nataraja, the dancing Shiva, is another Dravidian architectural highlight.
Thanjavur: Overrun by green fertile plains, it is known as
the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is famous for its distinctive art
style, which is
usually a combination of raised and painted surfaces.
Madurai: Madurai is an animated city packed with pilgrims,
beggars, businesspeople, bullock carts and underemployed rickshaw drivers. Madurai’s
main attraction is the famous Sri Meenakshi Temple in the heart of the old town.
Rameswaram: Known as the Varanasi of the South, Rameswaram is
a major pilgrimage centre for both Shaivites and Vaishnavaites. It was here, it is said,
that
Rama offered thanks to Shiva.
Kanyakumari: Kanyakumari is the ‘Lands’ End’
of the Indian subcontinent. Here the Bay of Bengal meets the Indian Ocean and
the Arabian sea.
Chaithrapurnima is one of the best times to experience the sunset and moonrise over the
ocean simultaneously.
Kodaikanal: Better known as Kodai, it is on the southern crest of
the Palani Hills, about 120 km northwest of Madurai. It is surrounded by wooded slopes,
waterfalls and precipitous rocky outcrops.
Coimbatore: This large industrial city is often referred to
as either the Manchester or Detroit of the South because of its production of textiles and
engineering components.
Nilgiri
Hills: The Nilgiris, with 40% of India’s plant species, are home to ancient
shola evergreen moist and mixed deciduous
forests.
Ooty: Single-storey stone cottages, bijou-fenced
flower gardens, leafy winding lanes and tall eucalyptus
are the legacy of the British period.
Information Services
i) The Government of India Tourist Office, Anna Salai, Chennai
Ph: 044 852 4295
ii) Indian Tourism Development Corporation, Victoria Crescent, Chennai
Ph: 044 827 8884.
iii) The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), Annai Salai
Ph: 044 830 3390
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| Places To Stay
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Hotel Aadithya Vadaplani,
Chennai |
Ph: 044 488 0488 |
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Hotel Abu Palace, P.H. Rd., Chennai |
Ph: 044 6412222 |
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The Ambassador Pallava,
Montieth Rd. |
Ph: 044 8554476 |
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Breeze Hotel, Poonamallee, Chennai |
Ph: 044 6413301 |
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New Victoria Hotel, Egmore, Chennai |
Ph: 044 8253638 |
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The Residency, Coimbatore |
Ph: 0422 201234 |
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Nilgiri’s Nest, Coimbatore |
Ph: 0422 200554 |
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Savera Hotels Ltd., Dr. Radhakrishnan Rd.,
Chennai |
Ph: 044 8274700 |
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Hill Country, Kodaikanal |
Ph: 04542 40943 |
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The Carltou, Kodaikanal |
Ph: 04542 40056 |
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Hill Top Towers, Kodaikanal |
Ph: 04542 40413 |
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Taj Garden Retreat, Madurai |
Ph: 0452 601020 |
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Hill Country, Lovedale, Ooty |
Ph: 0423 45962 |
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Holiday Gem Park, Ooty |
Ph: 0423 42955 |
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The Monarch Safari Park, Nilgiris |
Ph: 0423 56343 |
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Hotel Nahar Nilgiris, Ooty |
Ph: 0423 42173 |
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| Getting there
and away |
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By Air
Indian Airlines and Jet Airways has domestic flights to and from
Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Calcutta, Coimbatore, Delhi, Goa,
Hyderabad, Kochi, Kozhikode, Madurai, Mangalore, Mumbai, Pune,
Thiruvananthapuram, Vishakhapattanam.
Indian Airlines: Ph: 044 855 3039
Jet Airways : Ph: 044 8555353
Flight Schedule Click
here
By Bus
Bus services are available to and from Chennai from all other important places
Major Services are to
Bangalore (Rs. 120) Chidambaram (Rs. 53)
Kanyakumari (Rs. 181) Kodaikanal (Rs. 110)
Madurai (Rs. 118) Mysore (Rs 150)
Ooty (Rs. 150), Pondicherry (Rs. 38)
Rameshwaram (Rs. 148) Thanjavur (Rs. 86)
Thiruvananthapuram (Rs. 200)
Vellore (Rs. 43), Tirupathi (Rs. 52)
By Train
Chennai is connected with almost every major centre in India. Major
train services are:
Bangalore Mail No. 6007
Bangalore–Chennai 356 km
Coromandel Express No. 2842
Calcutta–Chennai 1669 kms.
Tamilnadu Express No. 2621
Delhi-Chennai 2194 km
Alleppey Express No. 6041
Chennai–Alleppey 700 km
Mumbai Mail No. 6010
Chennai–Mumbai 1279 km
Trivandrum Mail No. 6319
Trivandrum–Chennai 921
Ganga Kaveri Express No. 6039
Varanasi–Chennai 2144 km |
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