Tamil Nadu

fig:wind turbines at muppandi

Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai(fairly Madras). Tamil Nadu lies in the southern most part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by Puducherry (Pondicherry), Kerala,Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It is bound by the Eastern Ghats in the north, the Nilgiri, the Anamalai Hills, and Palakkad on the west, Bay of Bengal in the east, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Strait in the south east and Indian Ocean in the south. fig:meenakshi amma temple
For over 2000 years, the region has been the home of the last surviving classical civilization of the world, the Tamil civilization.It is the homeland of Indian Tamils and their 2000 year old classical language Tamil. The Tamil culture is as old and comparable to those of other classical civilizations of the world like the Mesopotamian civilization.

fig:Brihedeswar temple tanjaur

Tamil Nadu is the eleventh largest state in India by area (about the size of Greece) and the seventh most populous state.It is the fifth largest contributor to India's GDPand the most urbanised state in India. The state has the highest number (10.56%) of business enterprises in India,compared to the population share of about 6%. It is one of the foremost states in the country in terms of overall development. It is home to many natural resources, grand Hindu temples of Dravidian architecture, hill stations, beach resorts, multi-religious pilgrimage sites and three UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

fig:shore temple mahabalipuram

Dravidian Culture and Architectural Splendor:

The state has a history that goes back thousands of years and is famous for its richness in its language Tamil, which is the first among all the Dravidian languages. This region has been ruled by kings of various dynasties and clans and all of them have left an indelible impression on the language, culture, religion, architecture and history of the state. The sheer numbers of architectural wonders in this state is bound to amaze the interested tourist.

fig:tirumalai naikar mahal madhurai

The capital city of Chennai is a very vibrant city with a lot of nightlife activities. This city is a modern city equipped with all the trappings of a modern life and is filled with seven star hotels, discos, clubs and bars. Other places of interest in the city include the Snake Park, Vandalur Zoo and the Birla Planetarium. Children find this city a fun place to visit as this city is home to a number of amusement parks like Kishkinda, MGM and VGP. Sea lovers will simply love the world famous Marina Beach, which is one of the largest natural beaches in the world. The city also reflects its cultural history through many of its temples; among them the Kapaleshwara Temple and the Ashtalaksmi temple are two very popular temples. The outskirts of Chennai, namely the ECR road is dotted with many pleasure resorts and hotels. Very close to Chennai at a distance of 40miles is the town of Mahabalipuram. This ancient ruin city is one of the heritage centers of UNESCO and has numerous temples with beautiful carvings made from during the Pallava Dynasty more than 2000 years back.

Tamil Nadu has been the center of the Dravidian culture and tradition. It has also been an immortal pioneer of peace and knowledge. Tamil Nadu tourism has lot in its stores for its visitors, majestic wildlife, alive in its densely populated jungles, rich culture, sculpted temples and golden beaches, that makeTamil Nadu one of the most sought after destinations. The people of Tamil have great respect for culture and interest in music, dance and literature. Classical dancing in the form of Bharatnatyam is still alive in the temples of the South East, and is followed with a lot of fervor and dedication in Tamil Nadu. Carnatic music is another art form which is deeply rooted in the culture of Tamil Nadu, producing artists of great repute.