TAMILNADU

Rameshwaram is located on a beautiful island in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is separated by a small Pamban channel from Sri Lanka. According to Hindu mythology, this is the place where Lord Rama created a bridge across the sea to Sri Lanka. Rameshwaram has the first sea bridge connecting the town of Mandapam with Pamban Island, and Rameswaram. Abdandoned town of Dhanushkodi is also located on Pamban Island which was a bustling town until it got destroyed in 1964 by cyclone. Renowned for its magnificent prakaras with massive sculptured pillars on either side, The Ramanathaswamy Temple houses the longest corridor in the world. Agniteertham is famous for its sacred waters and Pilgrims perform poojas in honour of their ancestors at this seashore. The five-faced Hanuman Temple holds the floating stone which was used to build the bridge between India and Sri Lanka

Nestled amidst Nilgiri hills, Ooty, also known as Udagamandalam, is a hill station in Tamil Nadu which serves as a top-rated tourist destination. Once regarded as the summer headquarters of the East India Company, the Queen of the hills is a picturesque getaway. Dotted with tea gardens, serene waterfalls, winding country lanes, and charming colonial architecture, Ooty is the perfect respite everyone. Popular among couples and honeymooners, Ooty allures its visitors with the panoramic views of the Nilgiri mountains. The Nilgiri mountain railway is the steepest track in all of Asia. Remember the hit song 'Chaiyya Chaiyya' where Shahrukh Khan and Malaika Arora matching steps on top of a train? Remember the breathtaking locales as the train chugged its way across lush greenery? Yes, that was the Nilgiri Mountain Railways, and the Nilgiri Mountains all along.

Formerly known as Madras, Chennai is the capital city of the state of Tamil Nadu, in the southern part of India. Located on the Coromandel coast of Bay of Bengal, Chennai is as dynamic as it is immersed in tradition. This 'capital of the south', is one among the four metropolitan siblings of India, having a rich cultural history which it perfectly balances with its metropolis lifestyle. Amid its chaos of traffic and sweltering humid climate, Chennai is worth visiting for its temples steeped in south-Indian culture, British-era museums and monuments, culinary delights and Marina Beach (Second largest urban beach in the world). Chennai's skyline is famous for its towering skyscrapers, but the heart of Chennai has an old-world charm to it that refuses to be overshadowed.

Bordered by the three seas - Arabian, Indian and the Bay of Bengal, Kanyakumari is the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula. A small coastal town in the state of Tamil Nadu, Kanyakumari was earlier known as Cape Comorin. Kanyakumari offers the marvellous confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian ocean meeting together at a point. But, this is not a miracle, the miracle lies in the beauty that the water of three seas does not mix, you can clearly distinguish between the turquoise blue, deep blue and sea green waters of the three seas. To enjoy the best view of sunset and sunrise, you can visit the Triveni Sangam point and the famous View tower. The town has a mountainous terrain with elevated patches of hills, coconut trees and lined with paddy fields. Kanyakumari is also the only place in India where you can observe the sunrise and sunset at the same beach. The town is not only popular for its unique phenomenon but also its temples and the Vivekananda Rock Memorial among other iconic monuments. Waterfalls in Kanyakumari that you should not miss out on include the Thirparappu falls, the Courtallam Falls, and the Olakaruvi falls. Kanyakumari has authentic South Indian cuisine, with seafood and coconuts being an integral part of almost all dishes.

Madurai, the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of India. Ruled by Pandya kings for the longest time in its history, it is called as the 'Lotus City' as it was planned and built in the shape of a lotus. Madurai is known for Meenakshi Amman Temple, dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi with a sanctum for her consort, Sundareshwarar. There are many other ancient temples in Madurai, including Thiruparankundram. It is one of the important old temples dedicated to Lord Muruga(Karthikeya) and is located on a hillock approximately 8 km from the city. Having trade ties with ancient Rome, the place holds a great cultural heritage. With bustling bazaars and fantastic street food, Madurai has heritage walks conducted throughout the day. Madurai is instrumental in promoting Tamil language and preserving the culture.

Often termed as 'Manchester of South India', Coimbatore, the second-largest city in Tamil Nadu, photographically situated on the banks of River Noyyal. Coimbatore, also known as Kovai, is a welcoming area with the backdrop of hustle-bustle and charm of activity and industry. From ancient temples to classy new buildings, from breathtaking mountains to jaw-dropping waterfalls, from mouth-watering cuisine to pleasant weather all year round, Coimbatore has everything you could possibly need to make for a perfect holiday experience. Coimbatore is home to a massive 112 feet tall statue of Lord Shiva, known as the Adiyogi Shiva Statue. Featured in the Guinness Book of World Records, this architectural masterpiece is a very popular tourist spot in Coimbatore and stands as a symbol of self-transformation and inner peace. Camping and trekking are very popular things to do in Coimbatore, so if you’re looking for a thrill, don’t forget to check out the most exciting trekking trails that the city has to offer, such as the Dhoni Hills, the Vellari Mala, the Perumal Peak, and the Thalaiyar Falls trek. The official name of Coimbatore has been changed to Koyampuththoor. It was done to change the name of the city closer its original name in Tamil.

Quaint and calm, Velankanni is a little hamlet tucked away in the state of Tamil Nadu, on the coast of Bay of Bengal. It is a famous Roman Catholic pilgrim centre and is visited by thousands of devotees for its shrine of ‘Our Lady of Good Health’ aka Mother Mary. Inspired by the Lourdes in France, Velankanni is also known as the “Lourdes of the East”. It has become one of the vital Marian sanctuaries of the world. Though it is very religiously charged, Velankanni is worth exploring for the rich culture it holds of the colonial rule. The Virgin Mother appeared to the people and solved the problems they had. Her visits were cut into three events; appearing in front of a shepherd boy, the curing of a lame buttermilk vendor and protecting Portuguese traders from drowning during a storm. This gave her the name 'Our Lady of Good Health'. The church of Our Lady of Good Health was built in Gothic architecture and was modified by Portuguese and then further expanded later on due to the influx of pilgrimages.

Trichy is a mid sized, fast emerging city in Tamil nadu. It is a refreshing change from cities that are either completely religious and some that are nothing but concrete jungles. Trichy is one of those places that you can explore in a weekend and will hold secrets even after several years. Equipped with its own airport and railway station, Trichy enthralls you with not only the number of temples and churches it offer, but also by the amazing uniqueness that each of these places bring with them. Trichy is one of those places that you can cover in a weekend and will still hold secrets even after several years.

Lying close to the important district of Mahabalipuram, is Vedanthangal, best known for its bird sanctuary. The compact water tank of 30 hectares that the sanctuary is built around is home to at least 30,000 birds every year during migratory season. The sanctuary attracts multitudes of birds, starting with herons, spoonbills, storks, ibises and egrets in the season. The Vedanthangal sanctuary is protected by the locals in the area for centuries now, ever since they realised that the bird droppings that fall into the tank are rich in nitrogen and make the water a natural fertilizer, saving the cost of industrial fertilizers. The sanctuary is worth a visit when one comes to visit Mahabalipuram for it lets you into the culture of the locals and is a beautiful sight to witness during peak migratory months. It is the oldest water bird sanctuary in the country.

Dotted by luscious patches of greenery and beautiful waterfalls, Theni is a little hamlet on the Western Ghats. The topography of Theni mainly consists of hills and ranges. It has plenty of rivers and dams and is an abode to 27 forests hence filled with unparalleled greenery. The aroma filled tea estates in Theni are a paradise. The Kolukkamalai Tea estate is often deemed to be the world's highest organic tea estate. The Suruli Falls and the Kumbakarai Falls are the crown jewels of Theni. There temples like Kamatchi Amman Temple, Vellappar Temple, and Balasubramanya Temple which are brimming with devotees from all around the country throughout the year. The vibrant local markets of Theni are shoppers' paradise. The local handloom products and agricultural products are the best buys at these markets.