Often
referred as the ‘Land of Temples’, Tamil Nadu is a land known for
its natural beauty and lively and magnificent temples. Chennai, the capital
of Tamil Nadu is the Gateway to South India. Tamil Nadu is one of the top
three Indian states, which receive highest foreign investment in the sectors
like automobiles, information technology, power, telecommunication, and
others. On the social front, Tamil Nadu India has a high per capita income,
there is easy availability of social resources to people, and it produces
quite a large number of trained manpower to increase the productivity.
Where the Land of Temples Located ?
The capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai has the Bay of Bengal bordering its
east, Andhra Pradesh on its northwest, Kanchipuram on its south and the
states of Kerala and Karnataka on its western side.
Modes of Transportation :
» By Air - The Anna International Airport, 16 km
south of Chennai, has flights to/from Sri Lanka, Dubai, Germany, Jakarta,
Malaysia, England, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. Most major Indian
cities are also connected to Chennai by regular domestic flights
» By Rail - The railway station at Chennai has
connecting trains to/from all major cities in India.
» By Road - The entire state is connected through an
extensive network of roads. Ferry services are also available in Chennai.
Attractions :
» Beaches - The beaches of Tamil Nadu have a charm
of their own. The Marina Beach, the second longest beach in the world, is a
must visit beach. Once the place of relaxation and sun bathing, Elliot's
Beach is now a favourite shooting location for Tamil movies in Chennai. Some
other interesting beaches are Cove long Beach, Kanyakumari Beach,
Rameshwaram Beach, Mahabalipuram Beach and more.
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Temples - There are more than 30,000 temples in Tamil Nadu built by
various dynasties. However, these temples bear a superficial resemblance to
each other in that they share the same physical features - the gopuram or
the imposing tower over the entrance and the spacious halls and corridors,
yet they are distinct in their architectural style. Some of the must visit
temples are Shiva Temples revered by the hymns of Manikkavacakr,
Tiruvannamalai, Meenakshi Sudareswarara Temple Chidambaram and other
temples.
» Wild Life - The topography of Tamil Nadu is
diverse. Of the 1,30,058 sq-kms land area, 17.6% is covered with rich
forests. Dry lands are bestowed with dry-deciduous forests, thorn forests,
scrubs and mangroves. The Western Ghats and a few cooler regions have moist
deciduous, wet evergreen forests and grasslands. There are 5 national parks
and 17 wildlife sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu. The famous wildlife sanctuaries
are the Anamalai (Indira Gandhi) Wildlife Sanctuary, Calimere Wildlife
Sanctuary, Kalakadu Wildlife Sanctuary, Mundanthurai Tiger Sanctuary,
Kunthakulam Bird Sanctuary, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park,
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and The Viralimalai Sanctuary. The Gulf of
Mannar Marine National Park and the Guindy National Park are the most
visited national parks in the state. Anna Zoological Park in Chennai is one
of the latest and modern zoos of India. The Snake Park and the Crocodile
Bank also located in Chennai are known for their collection of reptiles.
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Food - The traditional dishes of Tamil Nadu are almost exclusively
vegetarian. Excellent Brahman food is available in restaurants, both local
and star. A wide option of delicious hot 'thali' meals with boiled rice,
lentil curries and curd are available here. Steamed 'idlis' and a variety of
crisp and fried dosas with sambar, are the exclusive food items of Tamil
Nadu. Chilly powder and turmeric are integral ingredients of Tamil food.
Non-vegetarian hotels are also called 'military restaurants'. Dosas and
badas are delicious yet exclusive food of the state. A mix of cooked
potatoes, mutter, beans, onions with salt, chilly and masala stuffed inside
crispy and fried dosas are called 'masala dosas'. It is served with Uzhunnu
vadas and sambar and is a very appetizing item. Tamilian’s favourite
fish curries are 'meen ashege' and Rah curry (prawn curry). Among the
sweets; Laddu, Jangiri (Jileby) and Halvahs are native to Tamil Nadu.
Tirunelveli Halva is famous for its sweetness. Served in traditional style
either in banana leaves or in stainless steel plates, Tamilian food is eaten
sitting cross-legged on the floor.
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