Chennai
Chennai, the capital of Tamilnadu
is also its principal harbour
and has one of the finest beaches in Asia. It was founded at Fort
St.George in 1640 A.D. by Francis Day of the East India Company.
Chennai, the cultural centre of South India and gateway to the state
of Tamilnadu, is a fascinating jumble dominated by glittering high-rise
emporia and corporate buildings.
Chennai offers excellent hotels and transport, a terrific range
of food and various shopping centres for silks, cottons and course,
magnificent old Hindus temples that offer more than just a fabulous
photo opportunity to the discerning! Cinema and politics are the
major beats on the streets.
Madurai
Madurai, the most famous of the temple towns of the south is
known for the Meenakshi Temple.It is located on Vaigai River, is
the capital city of the Pandyan rulers-Madurai. It is the city of
nectar and the oldest and second largest city of Tamilnadu. The
Pandyan king, Kulasekhara had built a gorgeous temple around which
he created a lotus shaped city.
The
life of Madurai revolves around the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar
temple the huge Gopurams of which tower the city. The temple is
magnificiently carved and is the main attraction of visitors.
The
temple has been a hub of Tamil culture and has been sponsoring
literature, art, music, and dance in the region for a long time.
The temple also has an art museum. Apart from the temple,
the city has shops, street markets and temples, hotels and
restaurants. Though
Madurai is considered as a pilgrimage point, it has also developed
as a business centre and is known for traditional handicrafts
made in bronze and brass.
Coimbatore
Coimbatore known as the "Manchester of South India" is a commercial
city of considerable importance, the chief commodity being
textiles. An
inland district of Tamilnadu on the eastern coast is the modern
industrial city of Coimbatore & it thrives on its textile, engineering
products and synthetic gems. It is famous for its elephant training
camp on Varaghliar and the Tirumurthi hill forests. Annamalai
Sanctuary, rich in wildlife and teak forests, tea and coffee plantation
is an added attraction.
Pondicherry
Pondicherry is a living monument of French Culture in India, a
french colony up to 1954. The Aurobindo Ashram and 'Auroville'
the international township are famous all over the world. The capital
of French India before independence, Pondicherry traces its origin
to Saint Agasthya, the revered sage of the south & excavations
near-by reveal that a Roman settlement existed here 2000 years
ago. It was the theatre of many a battle between the British.
Chidambaram
Between two rivers in
a 40 acre temple-complex, lies the temples of Chidambaram, one
of the oldest, and magnificent temples of the South. Shiva Natraja
or the Dancing Shiva stands in his cosmic dance pose in the golden
rooted sanctum sanctorum. Flanking the temple are 108 sculptured
illustrations of Bharat Natya Shashtra. In Akash Lingam hidden
by a veil, lies the real secret of Chidambaram.
Mamallapuram
It is 64 kms from Chennai,
connected by regular bus-services. A major beach resort also famous
for its magnificent monuments hewn out of rock. The city of Mahabalipuram
is famous for the seven pagodas. There is an interesting group
of ancient rock hewn temples on the seashore which are the examples
of Dravidian style of Architecture.
Kancheepuram
Kancheepuram, the capital of the Pallava and dynasty is one of
the serene sacred cities of India. It is situated 76 kms from
Chennai, 35 kms from Chingleput & 64 kms from Mahabalipuram via
Chingleput. It is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as
a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. Kancheepuram
is the seat of Adi Shankar's Kamakoti Matha. The first temple dedicated
to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century and has paintings
on the walls. Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi
and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. There are so many temples
here, that it is often referred to as the Kashi of the south.
Kancheepuram
is also famous for its silks.
Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari is the southernmost point of peninsular India.
It is the meeting point of three oceans - the Bay of Bengal, the
Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. It is a very important as a pilgrim
centre. It is famous for its beautiful views of sunrise, sunset
and moonrise over the waters.
Yercaud
Yercaud is quiet little hill station on the Shevaroy hills
of the Eastern ghats. It is the only one of its kind in northern
Tamilnadu. While the rest of this region is generally dry. Yercaud
presents a welcome contrast with its cool climate where temperature
never rises above 30 º C and dip below 13 º C . It is also a less
expensive place than either Udhagamandalam or Kodaikkanal.
Rameshwaram
Rameshwaram ia an sacred island town at extreme south-eastern
limit of the Indian Peninsula. It has one of India's most venerated
temples. The temple is renowed for its many pillared corridors,
about 1220 metres in length. It is a fine example of South Indian
architecture. The island of Rameshwaram spreads out over a 56 km
swell with gentle sand dunes, embellished with the delicacy of
casuarina trees and stark palms. This is a sacred place for Hindus.
This is where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to absolve himself of
the sin of killing Ravana. A dip into the sacred waters of the
Agnitheertham which was calmed by Rama is a must for Hindus.
Pudukottai
Pudukkottai town lies on the Chennai - Rameswaram Railway line.
It is 390 kms from Chennai. 53 kms from Tiruchirappalli and 57
kms. from Thanjavur. The rulers of Pudukkottai have built several
beautiful places and also constructed tanks canals and palaces.
Pudukkottai town is the headquarters of the district .It was once
a princely State, the area, which comprises the district, is of
absorbing interest to historians, anthropologists, archaeologists
and lovers of art. The numerous dolmens, stone circles and other
forms of megalithic burials in the district indicate the antiquity
of this region dating back to pre-historic and protohistorical
times. This tract is mentioned in the Sangam classics. The archaeological
and cultural remains at Kodumbalur, Narthamalai, Kudumianmalai,
Kunnandarkoil, Sittannavasal, Thirumayam and Avudaiyarkoil are
proof of its rich cultural heritage. The origin of Pudukkottai
as a Princely state in the 17th Century A.D. is only one colourful
aspect of the past of the region.
