Tamil Nadu

Places to Visit in Tamil Nadu.

Coimbatore

Also known as Kovai, Coimbatore is a prime industrial city in the state of Tamil Nadu. Ranked as the third-largest city in Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore is known as the Manchester of the South. The city is situated on the Noyil River. The city was once ruled by the mighty Vijayanagara, Rashtrakutas Hoysalas, Chalukyas and Pandyas. Coimbatore has lots of industries and is popular for the production of different kinds of engineering goods and motor-pump sets. It is also a very well-known place for the manufacturing of textiles. Some top tourist attractions in and near Coimbatore are Kovai Kondattam, the Perur Siva Temple, Vellingiri Hill, Siruvani falls and dam, Anubhavi Subramaniar temple, and Isha Yoga Ashram to name a few. There is proof of some pre-historic trade in the area. Coimbatore’s street food scene is very lively. The city is blessed with a pleasing climate. The thriving agriculture industry is due to its rich black soil.

Ooty

Ooty is also called as Udagamandalam. The Queen of Nilgiris as its rightly stated is a beautiful hill station in the serene laps of nature. Ooty is a very preferred hill station for the ones seeking relaxation in a scenic and calm environment. The distance between Ooty and Coimbatore is roughly 220 km and takes around 4-5 hours by road. Ooty lies comfortably among the Nilgiri Hills. It has a height of 2,240 meters over sea-level. Ooty always experiences a pleasant climate. This simplistic city embraces one and all and helps you mingle in their culture. The undisturbed and cool locales of Ooty are peppered with pristine lakes, cascading waterfalls, green Tea gardens and of course the Nilgiri Hills. This is the ideal place for you to unplug and connect with nature. The famous song ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ featuring Malaika Arora and Sharukh Khan was shot at Nilgiri Mountain Railways with the charming hills at the backdrop.

Connoor

This beautiful hill spot is the second biggest hill spots in the Nilgiri Hills. The sweeping views of the verdant Nilgiri Hills, luxuriant greens and outstanding sceneries will soothe your senses. Connoor is famous for its Nilgiri Teas. It stands at a height of 6000 feet over sea-level and is at a distance of hardly 18—19 km from Ooty. Lose yourself in the eternal beauty of Connoor which has beautiful birds and wildflowers, waterfalls, ravines and valleys. Connoor serves as an ideal base for trekking. Lamb’s Rock is a famous trekking trail. It is 9km from Connoor.  Lamb’s Rock along with Sim’s Park, Law’s falls, Dolphins Nose and St. Catherine Falls are some of the prime attractions of Connoor. Two very known festivals of Connoor are Tea and Tourism festival and Vegetable and Fruit festival. The Tea Festival is attended by experts from all over the world. The Tea and Tourism festival takes place in the month of January.

Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal is a lovely place to visit. May it be your honeymoon or an outing with friends, Kodaikanal will not disappoint anyone. It is also the appropriate place to have a trip with your family or to spend some alone time. Kodaikanal is one of the few hill stations in Tamil Nadu. Misty mountains will take your breath away. The pleasant climate will help you calm your nerves. The pristine lakes and the vast green valleys are a treat to one’s eyes. Kodaikanal sits blissfully amid the undulating Palani hills at a height of 7200 feet over sea-level. Why shouldn’t Kodaikanal be picturesque; in fact, its literal meaning is ‘gift to the forests’. All the beauties of nature have come together to produce a very charming and ideal setting for a panoramic location. Take a break from your daily schedule and head to Kodaikanal- the Princess of Hill Stations. If you are an adventure sports lover, you can go trekking, hiking or biking. You can also take simple strolls along the lush forest trails.

Madurai

Madurai is a temple town in the state of Tamil Nadu. Previously known as Madura, this major city is the cultural capital of the state. As a result, lots of culture-vultures are often seen here. This age-old city has an illustrious history. Based on the river banks of Vaigai, Madurai is a very popular tourist destination. The soul of Tamil Nadu is completely Tamil-rooted and also one of the most elderly cities of India. This was a city that even traded with the bygone Rome Empire. The city is frequently called the ‘Athens of the East’ due to its architectural marbles and prolific cultural ancestry. This energetic city is a big bowl of excitement. Many of the beautiful structures were built during the ancient times. A huge number of industries have come up and it is a very important transportation centre in South India. As stated by mythology, Madurai was once a forest which was called Kadambavanam.

Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram is a sacred place in the state of Tamil Nadu which is not to be missed. This place is a devotee of Lord Shiva. Situated at the tip of Indian Peninsula, Rameshwaram rests on Pamban Island which is again in the Gulf of Munnar. This sea-side town is nearest to neighbouring Sri-Lanka. Rameshwaram is famous for its marvellous walls with intricately carved pillars on both sides. There is a temple in Rameshwaram called the Ramanathaswamy Temple; it has the lengthiest corridor in the entire world. Jada Tirtham, Dhanushkodi Temple, Gandhamadhana Parvatham, Five Faced Hanuman Temple are some of the magnificent temples which should be visited in this temple town of Rameshwaram.

Kanyakumari is an alongshore town at the Southern Tip of India’s Tamil Nadu. Kanyakumari was previously called the Cape Comorin. The sea-shores surrounding Kanyakumari makes it look more vibrant. Kanyakumari is filled with mountains, paddy fields, rolling valleys, and coconut trees. This place is renowned for its spirituality, culture, and art. One very amazing fact about Kanyakumari is that you can view the sunrise and the sunset from the same beach. This place is always teeming with crowds all year through. One must-see place is the Vivekananda Rock. Situated in the middle of the Laccadive Sea, this is a magnificent place.

Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram is also called Mamallapuram. This historic place is very well known for its ancient structures such as the monuments and temples from the Pallava dynasty which dates back to 7th and 8th century. This coastal town is located on the Coast of Coromandel. The place has no less than 400 old monuments and temples. There are intricate carvings on the temples. Mahabalipuram also has rock-cut caves. This beach destination has a soothing and an attractive atmosphere for which many tourists flock to this place. The white sands and the casurina trees are some of the wonderful features of this scenic town. Arjuna’s penance or Descent of the Ganges is a rock construction which is sculpted from two boulders having the dimension of 9 meters in height and 27 meters in length. This fabulous structure is supposedly one of the biggest structures in the world. If you are in here, do not forget to try the Grilled Fish which is a very famous dish in Mahabalipuram.

Tirupati

Tirupati is a world-famous city known for its temple. Venkateswara Temple is a spectacular Vaishnavite temple placed in the hill town of Tirumala. Here Lord Sri Venkateswara is worshipped who is an incarnation of Vishnu. The Tirupati Balaji, as it’s also known is the richest temple in the world.

Hogenakkal

This is an absolute scenic waterfall on the Kaveri River in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is sometimes mentioned as the Niagara Falls of India. Hogenakkal is a prime tourist spot in Tamil Nadu and needless to say it is one of the most scenic waterfalls of the country. You will get carbonite rocks in the vicinity of the waterfall which is believed to be the oldest in the world. There are fourteen channels through which the water drops and the height varies from 15 feet to 65 feet. A boat ride is required to reach near the waterfalls. During the winter and rainy seasons, coracle riding is allowed here. Carry some food with you as there are not many eateries around except for a couple selling snacks.