It is famed for its Dravidian-style Hindu temples. In Madurai, Meenakshi Amman Temple has high ‘gopuram’ towers ornamented with colourful figures. On Pamban Island, Ramanathaswamy Temple is a pilgrimage site. The town of Kanyakumari, at India’s southernmost tip, is the site of ritual sunrises. Capital Chennai is known for beaches and landmarks including 1644 colonial Fort St. George. Here we present to you top 10 places to visit in Tamil Nadu.
1) Meenakshi temple
It is dedicated to Parvati, known as Meenakshi, and her consort, Shiva, here named Sundareswarar. The temple has a 1000 pillar hall, 14 towers with remarkable art, architecture and painting. At least 15,000 visitors visit these temples regularly which include both Indians and Foreigners.
2) Brihadeeswarar Temple
It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thanjavur. It is one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Tamil architecture during the Chola period. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples", with the other two being the Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavatesvara temple.
3) Vivekananda Rock Memorial
It is a popular tourist monument in Vavathurai and was built in 1970 in honour of Swami Vivekananda who is said to have attained enlightenment on the rock. The memorial consists of two main structures, the Vivekananda Mandapam and the Shripada Mandapam.
4) Nilgiri Mountain Railway
In July 2005, UNESCO added the Nilgiri Mountain Railway as an extension to the World Heritage Site of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the site then became known as "Mountain Railways of India". The 'Nilgiri Passenger' train covers a distance of 26 km, travels through 208 curves, 16 tunnels and across 250 bridges. The uphill journey takes around 290 minutes (4.8 hours), and the downhill journey takes 215 minutes (3.6 hours) It has the steepest track in Asia with a maximum gradient of 8.33%.
5) Marina Beach
The beach runs from near Fort St. George in the north to Foreshore Estate in the south, a distance of 6.5 km . Bathing and swimming at the Marina Beach are legally prohibited because of the dangers, as the undercurrent is very turbulent. It is one of the most crowded beaches in the country and attracts about 30,000 visitors a day during weekdays.
6) Udagamandalam (Ooty)
Popularly known as Ooty situated in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is the most popular Hill station in South India. It provides a scenic view of Nilgiri Hills. The town is connected to the rest of India by road and the popular Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and its historic sites and natural beauty attract tourists from all over the country.
7) Madras Crocodile Bank Trust
The centre is the biggest crocodile sanctuary in India. It was established with the aim of saving three Indian endangered species of crocodile—the marsh or mugger crocodile, the saltwater crocodile, and the gharial, which at the time of founding of the trust were all nearing extinction. As of 2011, the CrocBank had a total of 2,483 animals, including 14 species of crocodiles, 10 species of turtles, 3 species of snakes, and 1 species of lizard.
8) Descent of the Ganges (Mahabalipuram)
Measuring 96 by 43 feet (29 m × 13 m), it is a giant open-air rock relief carved on two monolithic rock boulders. The legend depicted in the bas-relief is the story of the descent of the sacred river Ganges to earth from the heavens led by Bhagiratha. The waters of the Ganges are believed to possess supernatural powers.
9) Kodaikanal
The hill station of Kodaikanal is fast gaining reputation for its unspoilt beauty and soothing climate. It is known by the nickname "Princess of Hill stations". The lakes, parks and different waterfalls along with the rich abundance of flora and fauna, this place is indeed a gift of the forest.
10) Mudumalai National Park
It shares its boundaries with the states of Karnataka and Kerala. The sanctuary is divided into five ranges – Masinagudi, Thepakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakota. The protected area is home to several endangered and vulnerable species including Indian elephant, Bengal tiger, gaur and Indian leopard. There are at least 266 species of birds in the sanctuary, including critically endangered Indian white-rumped vulture and long-billed vulture.
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