I am a school student and have a project to complete about the places to visit in Tamil Nadu. This is a very lazy way, but I thought it is the best way to find out information. Like mentioned I would like to know about the places to visit in Tamil Nadu. I know the district is very big, so I don't need to know about the minor places, but the major places of interest in Tamil Nadu. The rest well it is up to be to go into detail about the places mentioned, I may be pushing my luck, but some information about the places listed would be a bonus for me
Hi, @Simisimi! Welcome to the forum! Tamil Nadu is well-known for its ancient temples with quite beautiful architectures and long histories. On the other hand, the state also doesn't disappoint when it comes to other natural attractions like its waterfalls, forests and beaches. Everywhere you look, you'd also understand the rich culture and art of the state. Of course, the local cuisine in Tamil Nadu is quite tasty as well, from their idlis, dosas, kothu parottas and biryanis. Thus, Tamil Nadu is one of the best states to explore in the country because of its varied regions to explore. Here are the best places to visit in Tamil Nadu: 1. Chennai - The capital of the state, Chennai, boasts of its rich culture and heritage. With its numerous auditoriums, it's not rare to watch a cultural show or folk show everyday. With a mixture of Hindu temples and even churches, the religious travellers would have a blast visiting these attractions. One of the most famous temples here is the Kapaleeshwarar Temple, visited by thousands of devotees everyday. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati and she is worshipped here as Karpagambal. The imposing tower of the temple with its very intricate sculptures is one of the best landmarks in the city. Yet another attraction here is the San Thome Church, housing a relic of Saint Thomas, one of the apostles of Jesus. It is one of the only three such churches in the world. Of course, the beaches of Marina and Besant Nagar are quite famous as well, not only to the tourists but also to the locals. Lastly, the delicious cuisine of the city is worth trying out and they can be quite easy on the pocket as well especially if you try out the street food stalls. Being a progressive city but still maintaining its rich history, Chennai would leave any traveller wanting more. Must visit places - Kapaleeshwarar Temple, San Thome Church, Marina Beach, Besant Nagar Beach, Fort Saint George, Vivekananda House and many more. Related threads - Top Ten Places to Visit in Chennai & Chennai Travel Guide 2. Ooty - The Queen of the Hill Stations cannot be left out from this list, that is Ooty. Reaching the hill station through the Nilgiri Toy Train is quite an experience, as it passes through tunnels and bridges, each scenery quite as breathtaking as the former. Once you reach Ooty, the pleasant climate would greet you and you'd realise just why the British chose this as their summer capital. With its numerous lakes like Pykara Lake, Avalanche Lake, Upper Bhavani Lake, Ooty Lake and Emerald Lake, boating is a must do activity here. A stroll around the Botanical Gardens and the Rose Garden can also rejuvenate you. There are also many view points that you can visit to enjoy the mountain and foggy sceneries. There are also a few temples and churches here that you can explore. While you're there, you also cannot miss the tea plantations around the hill station. So for those who want to be away from the busy city life, a trip to Ooty might just be what they need. Must visit places - Nilgiri Toy Train, Pykara Lake, Avalanche Lake, Upper Bhavani Lake, Ooty Lake, Emerald Lake, Botanical Gardens and many more. Related thread - Ooty Travel Guide 3. Kodaikanal - Yet another hill station in the state is Kodaikanal, but it's less explored as compared to Ooty. That is probably the beauty of the hill station as you can enjoy its serenity and tranquility. If you're that someone who hates crowds and wants to go to a place that's quite offbeat, then Kodaikanal is a good choice for you. It has three lakes worth visiting: Kodaikanal Lake, Berijam Lake and Mannavanur Lake. These lakes are great for having a picnic or even boating. There are also many waterfalls in the hill station like the Silver Cascade Waterfalls and the Vattakanal Waterfalls. They are best visited during or just after the monsoon season though. Strolling around the different parks of the hill station is recommended like the Bryant Park and Coaker's Walk. And just like other hill stations, there are also some view points here like the Silent Valley View Point and the Upper Lake View Point. Kodaikanal is one of the most underrated destinations in the state but it has more to offer than what most people think of. It's definitely worth a visit especially if you're tired of the commercial destinations you have been to. Must visit places - Kodaikanal Lake, Berijam Lake, Mannavanur Lake, Silver Cascade Waterfalls, Vattakanal Waterfalls, Bryant Park, Coaker's Walk, Silent Valley View Point, Upper Lake View Point and many more. Related threads - Kodaikanal Attractions & Kodaikanal Travel Guide 4. Madurai - The main feature of Madurai is it's as if the city was built around its prime attraction, the Meenakshi Amman Temple. It's quite convenient but at the same time interesting, that at every nook and corner of the city, you can find your way to the temple. It is dedicated to the Goddess Parvati and she is known locally as Meenakshi, the three-breasted deity. But aside from the temple, Madurai has a long history, even being one of the oldest inhabited cities in the country. That alone tells you that the city has a rich heritage to explore. A visit to one of the oldest malls in the country, Pudumandapam, is recommended where you can find all sorts of handicrafts and even books. Then there's the Tirumalai Nayak Palace, built around the 16th century, a testament of the royal era in the city. You can end your day with a cruise along the Vaigai River, the main river of the city. Madurai, a place rich in heritage, religion and culture, it's not just a place for the Hindus, it's a place for anyone who loves history. Must visit places - Meenakshi Amman Temple, Pudumandapam, Tirumalai Nayak Palace and Vaigai River. Related thread - Madurai Travel Guide 5. Mahabalipuram - A very mysterious city that is sure to pique the curiosity of the history lovers. From Krishna's Butter Ball, so huge in size yet was able to balance itself on a sloping hill and to the Seven Pagodas of Mahabalipuram, of which only one is visible while the remaining six left submerged in water, there are plenty of places to explore in the city that are going to fascinate you. The history of the city can be traced back to the 7th century AD but there are even artefacts excavated here dating at earlier times. Then, the Pancha Rathas, chariot sculptures dating back to the 7th century can also be visited. The Caves of Varaha and Trimurti have beautiful carvings giving you a glimpse of the rich history of the city. Unfortunately, many of these structures have started to deteriorate because of their proximity to the sea so it's best to visit them now before they completely disappear or become destroyed. Mahabalipuram is truly mysterious, especially when you think about how intricate these structures are yet they were made at more ancient times. Must visit places - Krishna's Butter Ball, Seven Pagodas' Shore Temple, Pancha Rathas, Varaha Cave, Trimurti Cave and many more. Related thread - Mahabalipuram Travel Guide 6. Kanchipuram - Once the capital of the mighty Chola dynasty, Kanchipuram is another must visit city in the state. It has numerous temples that you can visit, one of them being the Ekambareshvara Temple. With its towering shikhara, it's a sight to behold in the city. Its main features are its 1,000 pillared hall and over 1,000 shivalingas. Other temples worth visiting are the Kailasanatha Temple, Ulagalandar Temple and Perumal Temple. For the wildlife lovers, a visit to the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is a must. It is a fairly small sanctuary but don't let its size fool you as over 5,000 birds come to the sanctuary. During migration season, this number even increases to about 30,000. Also worth mentioning here is the Dutch Fort, also known as Sadras Fort, one of the few remaining Dutch structures in the country. Long before the British conquered the country, the Dutch has conquered the southern part of India. And the fort is an evidence of that, many of the structures in the fort have already fell in ruins though. Must visit places - Ekambareshvara Temple, Kailasanatha Temple, Ulagalandar Temple, Perumal Temple, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and Dutch Fort. Related thread - Kanchipuram Travel Guide 7. Kanyakumari - The best place for viewing the sunset and sunrise, the one and only Kanyakumari. To have a spectacular view of both sunrise and sunset, you need to go to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, which can only be reached by a boat ride. It's worth it though as the backdrop of the sun along with the calm water would take your breath away. Another attraction here is the Kanyakumari Beach, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet. Nearby the beach is the Kanyakumari Temple, dedicated to Goddess Parvati. Another must visit attraction here is the Padmanabhapuram Palace, a heritage home made of wood, intricately carved and quite beautiful in design. Kanyakumari has it all, from its historical sites, religious sites and even to its natural attractions. No wonder it's gaining popularity as a tourist destination in recent times. Must visit places - Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari Beach, Kanyakumari Temple and Padmanabhapuram Palace. Related threads - Kanyakumari Tourist Places & Kanyakumari Travel Guide 8. Mudumalai - The best place to visit in Tamil Nadu for the wildlife and nature lovers would be Mudumalai. The Mudumalai National Park is home to endangered animal species like Bengal tigers, Indian elephants and Indian leopards. Guests can opt for a jeep safari or even an elephant safari in the park. Apart from the aforementioned animals, you can also spot other wildlife like sambars, wild dogs, jungle cats, striped hyenas and wild boars. Birds are also abundant in the park with species of Indian cuckoos, white-bellied woodpeckers and grey peacocks. Inside the national park, there are also other attractions like the Moyar River, Chief Minister's Watchtower and Ombetta Lake. Thus, visiting Mudumalai National Park can easily take two or three days just to explore its rich flora and fauna. Must visit place - Mudumalai National Park. Related thread - Mudumalai 9. Coonoor - This is another hill station in the state. It has less to offer in terms of attractions but for spending some solitude and quiet time, it's a good choice. Sims Park is perhaps its main attraction, with its sprawling gardens and lush greenery. It's a must to spend some time here, just walking around and breathing the fresh air in the region. On the other hand, for adventure seekers, you can visit the Wellington Army Barracks, Dolphins Nose, Lady Canning's Seat and Laws Waterfalls. All can give you some form of trekking which can energise you. For the history lovers, Droog Fort, built around the 18th century, is worth a visit. Although the structure is already in ruins now, it can give you a glimpse of the once strong dynasty of Tipu Sultan. Of course, a visit to Coonoor won't be complete without tasting their Nilgiri tea! Must visit places - Sims Park, Wellington Army Barracks, Dolphins Nose, Lady Canning's Seat, Law's Waterfalls and Droog Fort. Related thread - Coonoor There you go, I hope this helps you!
