Chennai that was formerly known as Madras is the capital city of Tamilnadu. Other places of tourist interest include Coimbatore, Tiruchirappali, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Kodaikanal, Ooty, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Rameswaram.
Tamilnadu had been the citadel of Dravidian culture since ancient times. The great ancient kings left a great impression on architecture, heritage and culture. There were many great temples built across Tamilnadu during their period. Many of these temples stand as wonderful examples of their architecture and rich heritage.
Temples
Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameshwaram, Varadararaja Temple in Kanjeepuram, Brahadeeshwarar Temple in Thanjavur and Kapaliswarar Temple in Mylapore, Chennai are some of the important temples of Tamilnadu. Rameshwaram is regarded as one of important Hindu pilgrimage center and has one of the biggest temples in the country.
There are many churches like St. Thomas mount and Santhome church located in Chennai. One of the apostles of Jesus St. Thomas was believed to build this church in the 16th century. Other famous places of worships in Tamilnadu include Velanganni Church at Nagapattinam and Nagore Durga Temple that draw large numbers of crowds from various religions.
Hill Stations
Ooty, Kodaikanal and Yercaud are notable hill stations located in Tamilnadu. Ooty is called as ‘Queen of Hills’ due to its pleasant climate throughout the year and its natural beauty. The lush tea gardens of Coonoor and Kothagiri make Ooty a wonderful natural resort.
The toy train that runs between Mettupalayam and Ooty is one of the oldest trains in the country and is designated as UNESCO heritage. Kodaikanal is another pleasant hill station and draws crowds around the year due it is natural beauty and chill climate. |
