Tamil Nadu is the land of the Tamils and it has a history that dates back to several thousand years. It is a land where traditions and culture blend and continue to live in harmony. The state abounds in monuments and temples that are ancient and each has its own story of religious, artistic and cultural accomplishment and specialty waiting to be heard.
This is an enchanting and ancient Dravidian land, in the extreme south of peninsular India.The history of Tamizhagam goes back about 5000 years and more. It is the birthplace of Dravidian culture in India. The Chera, Chola and Pandya ruled the Dravidian country from which modern Tamil Nadu formed. In the 4th Century A.D. the Pallavas of Kanchipuram, became the rulers. They dominated the land for 400 years. The rise of Muslim power in India had its impact on Tamil Nadu. The establishment of the East India Company at Madras in 1639 was a crucial chapter in the history of Madras.
When India attained independence in 1947, the Madras province, comprising Tamil Nadu and parts of Kerala in the west and Andhra Pradesh in the north continued as the State of Madras. But the demand for a separate Telugu speaking state compelled the Government of India to bifurcate the state into two, into the Telugu-speaking Andhra Pradesh and Tamil-speaking Tamil Nadu. The old capital Madras city was retained by the new Madras state.
Under the states reorganization Act 1956, Madras lost the Malabar district and the Kasaragod taluk to the newly formed Kerala State. At the same time, Madras gained four taluks of Trivandrum district and one taluk of Kollam district. In 1969, January, Madras State changed its name to Tamil Nadu. The capital city was renamed as Chennai in 1996.
Famous for its fascinating cultural heritage, wonderful temples and colonial structures, enchanting beaches and hill stations, and the last but not least for its amazing wildlife, Tamil Nadu is the land of varied beauty and a wonderful tourist’s destination to be in. Thousands of tourists from all around the world visit Tamil Nadu every year and are rewarded with a fascinating holiday experience.
Tamil Nadu, the cradle of south Indian temple architecture, is a living museum of styles that originated in the seventh century and matured in the huge temple complexes studded with towering gateways-Gopuram-that soar on the skyline of almost every town in the state.There are hundreds of enchanting tourist attractions that will please you and hold you spellbound in Tamil Nadu. The fascinating temples of Tamil Nadu are major tourist attractions of Tamil Nadu, representing the finest examples of the Dravidian architecture. The temples of Tamil Nadu are famous for their towering Gopuram, representing a unique architectural style, a kind of its own in the world. The temple towns of Madurai, Trichy, Kanchipuram, Tanjore, Palani, Tiruvallur and Mahabalipuram are amongst the most traveled tourist destinations in the state. The 16th century Meenakshi Temple of Madurai with its 1,000 pillar Mandapam, and Brahadeeswara Temple of Tanjore (an UNESCOs World Heritage Site) never fail to enchant its visitors with their architectural charm. The festivals, cuisine and arts and crafts of Tamil Nadu are other major cultural attractions waiting to be discovered on your Tamil Nadu Tour.
Tamil Nadu is not all about temples, but the state has much more to offer to its visitors. The state has some of the finest beaches of India, including the Marina Beach- the second longest beach in the world, Elliots Beach, the Covelong Beach and Kanyakumari Beach, all of them offering perfect ambience and facilities for a range of leisure and recreational activities, including sunbathing, paragliding, surfing, swimming, parasailing etc. The hill stations in Tamil Nadu are equally charming as are its beaches. Kodaikanal, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Yelagiri, Yercuad, and Udagamandalam boast some of the stunning landscapes in India. Kanyakumari, the southern most tip of India, is famous for its enchanting sunrise, has some of the picture perfect natural sceneries. If you are a wildlife enthusiast, then Tamil Nadu has a lot to offer you. It has some of the finest wildlife sanctuaries of India like Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary and many more. The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is world-famous for its elephant populations, which can be seen moving in large herds, sometimes numbering into hundreds. Tigers, the king of jungles, can also be spotted in the parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Tamil Nadu. The state also has a number of important eco-tourism destinations of India, including the famous Pitchavaram Mangrove Forests in Chidambaram.
Now, that we are here in Pondycherry, just 3 days back i had this idea to start posts about Tamil Nadu, the place we've fallen in love with. I still remember my visit to this state in 1999 with my parents and a close family friend of ours. That was a time we really enjoyed. We started right away from Kerala and entered in this enchanting state and that too in a Mahindra Commander. We children sat at the back as the vehicle was a 10 seater. We literally enjoyed the places right from the time we entered TN. The locales, its small villages, the people and its wild colours in everything your eyes fall upon. Kodaikanal, Madurai and Velankanni (the holy shrine of Mother Mary for Christians all over the world in Nagapattinam district). Not only the three places but the entire route was enthralling. I happened to hear some songs from the movie Taj Mahal (Tamil) which was a major release that year. The music by the maestro A.R.Rehman was soothing and perfectly apt with the land we were travelling into. Little was then imagined that this man would today be known as the Mozart of Madras. Now i understand why his music is so magical at times. Co'z he comes from the magical land of Tamil Nadu. That's the beauty of Tamil Nadu. Magnificent and absolutely Fascinating.When i heard the same track from this movie 3 days back i was really inspired to quote and post about the mesmerism and fascination of ours for this magical land.
There are still a lot of places from Tamil Nadu to be shown. I'll be posting more articles on Tamil Nadu as the story does not end here. Lot of fascinating images of nature and scenic locations in Tamil Nadu. The people, culture, colours and life in Tamil Nadu, various places, traditions, customs and lifestyle. More postings to come in the coming days. Hope you like it. Please do not forget to leave a comment on each of these articles and make up your mind to come to the "Land of the Dravidians - Enchanting Tamil Nadu".
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