Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital is Chennai, the largest city. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory ofPondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. It is bound by the Eastern Ghats in the north, theNilgiri, the Anamalai Hills, and Palakkad on the west, by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Gulf of Mannar, the Palk Strait in the south east, and by the Indian Ocean in the south.Tamil Nadu is the eleventh largest state in India by area and the seventh most populous state. It is the second largest state economy in India as of 2012, after overtaking Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh in the two years since 2010 when it was the fourth largest contributor to India’s GDP. The state ranked among the top 5 states in India in Human Development Index as of 2006. Tamil Nadu is also the most urbanised state in India. The state has the highest number (10.56%) of business enterprises and stands second in total employment (9.97%) in India, compared to the population share of about 6%. The region has been the home of the Tamil people since at least 500 BCE. Its official language Tamil has been in use in inscriptions and literature for over 2000 years. Tamil Nadu is home to many natural resources, Hindu temples of Dravidian architecture, hill stations, beach resorts, multi-religious pilgrimage sites and eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
History of Tamil Nadu
The Tamilians believe that they are descended from the dark-skinned Indus Valley Dravidians and perhaps pushed southwards to escape the invading Aryans.The hundreds of stone-carved grand temples that dot the landscape were built by the hugely powerful dynasties that ruled this area. The three most powerful families that vied for glory in the 1st to 13th centuries AD were the Cholas, the Pallavas and the Pandyas. After falling briefly to Muslim invaders from the north, the south was re-stabilized as the Vijayanagar Empire who set up a glorious capital city in Hampi, present day Karnataka. Their generals were equally enterprising however and broke away from the rulers to establish their own dynasty. The Nayaks of Madurai did so much for temple architecture and the preservation of ancient carvings and sculptures that to date some visitors can identify with Marco Polo’s exclamation that this was “the most splendid province in the world”. More recently, the Europeans arrived at these shores first to trade and then to rule. Relics of a colonial legacy abound in French Pondicherry, Madras’ Fort St. George, and St. Mary’s Church.
Economy of Tamil Nadu
Agriculture is the mainstay of Tamil Nadu’s economy. The state produces sugarcane, groundnut, oilseeds, tea, spices, potato, cotton and bananas. It’s one of India’s most industrialised states with a booming industry in leather and textiles, both which India exports. Other industries include sugar, petrochemicals, railway rolling stock, engineering equipment and high precision tools. The main industrial centre is the capital Chennai (formerly Madras), and the cities of Madurai (textiles) and Coimbatore. Chennai is an important port.
Things to do in Tamilnadu
Tamilnadu is a bustling state that offers many unusual wonders for holiday makers. The state features a fair list of things to do. From exceptional hill stations to historic cities there are plenty of options to explore in Tamilnadu. Enjoy visiting the old monuments in Mamallapuram or pay homage in the Brihadeswarar Temple in Thanjavur. While in Tamilnadu you can’t afford not to visit the capital city, Chennai. Tamil Nadu is Beautiful Place for holidays. This place attracts travellers of all ages and offers a plethora of places to visit that include museums, beaches, temples and zoological parks and much more. Visit places like Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari that are renowned for their beautiful temples. Enjoy the multicolored sand at the Kanyakumari beach or visit the beautiful hillstation of Ooty to admire its scenic beauty. Visit Madurai that is known for very important temples or simply relax in the beautiful hillstation of Kodaikanal the state of Tamilnadu features an array of interesting holiday destinations. Wondering what else to do in Tamilnadu? Shop for the popular handcrafted knick-knacks in rosewood, sandalwood, ivory, bronze and silver or buy some rich and heavy silks to take back home for family and friends. Don’t forget to gorge on the mouthwatering Chettinad chicken and idiyappam.
How To Get There
How to get there by Air
All the larger cities in Tamil Nadu have airports, though most cater only to domestic traffic. Chennai’s Meenambakkam gets international flights and there are flights to Tiruchirapalli from Colombo, Sri Lanka. The other cities with airports are Madurai and Coimbatore. Taxis, city-airport bus shuttles and auto rickshaws are available outside the main terminus.
How to get there by Rail
There is no dearth of options if you are travelling by rail. The major railheads are Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Coimbatore. There are trains to these cities from all over the country. In most cases it’s possible to catch a connection to the temple towns that figure less prominently on the countrywide network from these cities.It will not be an exaggeration to say that Tamil Nadu is a Awesome Place For Vacations.
Getting around
The roads within Tamil Nadu are generally better than in the rest of India- smoother and better maintained and with better conveniences. Public transport like buses, both State and privately operated, and rail services have a comprehensive network. Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore and Tiruchirapalli have airports. It is possible to hire a long distance cab or rent a car or a motorcycle at the cities from where you can explore the rest of this beautiful area at your pleasure and convenience.
