Tamilnadu Tour Packages

Location
Tamil Nadu is the southernmost state of India. It is bounded by Andhra Pradesh on the north, Karnataka and Kerala on the west, Indian Ocean on the south and Bay of Bengal on the east. The eastern and western borders of the state are covered by the eastern and western ghats which meet at Dharmapuri district. The western ghats break at two points, Palakkad and Shencottah, connecting Tamil Nadu to Kerala.


Climate of Tamilnadu
Tamil Nadu experiences a tropical climate. The summer season extends from April to June, with temperature rising up to a maximum of 40 degrees. November to February is the winter time. During this period, the temperature drops considerably and remains around 20 degrees. Tamil Nadu gets all its rainfall from the north-east monsoons during the months of October to December when almost all other parts of the country remain dry. The average rainfall is between 25 to 75 inches annually. The best season to visit Tamil Nadu is between the months of October and March when the weather remains pleasantly cool.

Accessibility
The Anna International Airport situated 16 km. south of Chennai has flights connecting to many countries including Sri Lanka, Dubai, Germany, Jakarta, Malaysia, England, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. Domestic flights operate to major cities of the country. Trains operate regularly linking different cities in the state and also major cities of the country. The main railway station of the state is situated at Chennai. Buses are available which connect Tamil Nadu to other major cities of the country. Buses and ferry boats are a main means of travelling around the state.


Culture
The people of Tamil Nadu lead a very relaxed life and are interested in music, dance and literature. Traditional dance forms like Bharatnatyam were developed here and have flourished here for centuries. The handicrafts of the state are famous the world over which include handloom silk, metal icons, leather work, brass, bronze, carved wood, and cane articles. Tamil is the official language of the state which is spoken by most of the people. The main religions of the state are Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Jainism. Despite being a modern economy, agriculture is the main occupation of the people of the state. Besides Tamil, other languages such as Telegu, Malayalam, Hindi and some other Indian languages are also spoken.
The Tamil food consists of many local delicacies such as Idli, Dosa, Vada, Pongal and Uppuma. Rice forms a part of every meal of the Tamil people which is served along with sambar, chutney and curd.

Tourist Attractions of Tamilnadu
Tamil Nadu has it all from huge temples showing amazing architecture, green hills and tea slopes at Kodaikanal, Ooty and Coonoor to the varied plant and animal life found in the wildlife parks of Vedanthangal and Mudumalai. The state of Tamil Nadu bristles with temples and ancient monuments which are a witness to the amazing and long history of the state. As you visit these monuments and the enchanting beaches spread along the 1000 km. long coastline of the state you will feel each of them telling a different story.

» Thanjavur
Known as the 'Rice Bowl of India', Thanjavur has a lot of temples which were built by the kings of the Chola dynasty. The Brihadishwara temple built by Raja Raja is a world heritage site and is worth a visit.

» Chennai
Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, is one of the most exotic destinations in India. It is laden with magnificent beaches, beautiful temples, historical monuments and eternal natural beauty. It is also one of the main destinations of Tamil Nadu for tourists travelling to other parts of the state.

» Madurai
Madurai known sometimes as the 'City of Nectar' is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. It is an exalting city huddled with pilgrims, local people and rickshaw pullers. The main attractions of the city are Meenakshi Temple, Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam, Thirumalai Nayak Mahal, Koodal Azhagar Temple and The Gandhi Museum.

Other important cities of Tamil Nadu are Rameshwaram, Chidambaram, Kanchipuram and Kanyakumari.

» Beaches in Tamilnadu
Watching the beautiful blue waters embracing the golden sands on the serene beaches is a feeling which can not be described in words. Tamil Nadu boasts of some of the most exquisite beaches in the world. Prominent amongst those are the Marina beach, Mahabalipuram beach, Kanyakumari beach, Rameswaram beach and the Elliot's beach.


Festivals in Tamilnadu
» Cape Festival, Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari is the only place in India where on a full moon day one can see sunset and moon rise at the same time. The Cape Festival celebrated for three days is marked by a series of cultural and other programmes.

» Car Festival at Kaliyaperumal Temple in Ariyalur
The Car festival is celebrated at the Kaliyaperumal temple in Ariyalur. The festival is celebrated over ten days in a grand way.

» Karthigai Deepam Festival
The Karthigai Deepam festival or the festival of lights is the oldest festival of South India and is celebrated during the Tamil month of Karthigai. It is believed that Lord Shiva created Lord Muruga with his divine light during this month.

» Kavadi Festival

Kavadi is a festival celebrated by the followers of lord Muruga. It involves inflicting pain upon oneself to achieve benefits which are much more than the little pain.


Temples
Thousands of temples which are an architectural marvel adorn the state of Tamil Nadu. Some of the temples date back to the pre-Christian era while others were built by rulers of the state during the twentieth century.
Some of the important temples of Tamil Nadu include :

» Chidambaram Temple
The Chidambaram temple situated at Chidambaram is one of the most important temples in Tamil Nadu. It is built to celebrate the dance duel between Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali in which Shiva emerged victorious.

» Kanchipuram Temples
The Kanchipuram temples situated at Chennai were built during the 6th and 7th century. These temples are host to many important festivals such as Brahmotsavam, Garuda Sevai, Float Festival, Kamakshi Ammam Festival and the Panguni Uthiram.

» Mahabalipuram Temples
The Mahabalipuram temple was built by the kings of the Pallava dynasty during 830-1100 AD. The temples have great importance for the people of the Hindu religion and are dedicated to lord Shiva.
Other important temples in the state are Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, Thanjavur Temples at Thanjavur, Jain Temple at Chennai and the Parthasarthy Temple.