Whenever we imagine South India,
the cultural, heritage and artistic traditions of Tamil Nadu come into mind
generally. Synonymous to the grandeur and splendour of south, this state of
India is a treasure trove of culture and heritage. The heartland of Dravidian
beliefs, this state has been Hindu by soul. This is because of the dominion of
three prominent dynasties – the Cholas, the Pallavas and the Pandyas. They made
sure that their unique religious and political control remains pure from
foreign influences.
And they succeeded in their
attempt by protecting their kingdoms for around 1,000 years. During this
period, these dynasties built forts and even contributed luxuriously towards
the unique temple architecture. The temples of Tamil Nadu are the most visible
legacy of the Hindu kings. Based on the most intricate and grand gateways or
Gopurams, these temples are the most important part of Tamilian heritage. The
temple architecture here features the culmination of successive dynasties and
testifies the importance of religion in daily life. Also, the temples here are
bustling with devotion, rituals, worship, festivals and feasts. The legacy of
Gopurams still exists in Tamil Nadu, making it a part of rich traditional
heritage.
The famous temples here belong to
Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram, Trichy or Tiruchirapalli, Tanjore or Thanjavur,
Madurai and Rameshwaram. Some are simply etched in stone; others symbolize the
richness in artistic style and elegance. In fact out of them, two i.e.
Stone temples at Mahabalipuram and the Great Living Chola Temples are even
regarded as the world heritage sites. The shrine at Rameshwaram is also a part
of Char Dham Hindu Pilgrimage and a Shiva Jyotirlinga.
Chennai, the capital of Tamil
Nadu is famous for its wealth of the longest Marina beach, grand mansions, and
performing arts. Kanchipuram, besides being a famous pilgrim town is also
famous for its patented offering of sarees. Besides, the state also has many
other facets to look out for. These include a visit to the offbeat Puducherry,
the erstwhile French enclave filled with a cosmopolitan and refined culture.
Another unique attraction here
includes a visit to the famous hill stations like Coonoor, Kodaikanal, Ooty,
etc. A part of Nilgiri Mountains, these hill stations offer welcoming relief to
the tourists. Also, one of the hill stations, i.e. Ooty hosts the recognized
world heritage site of mountain railways of India, Nilgiri Mountain Railway
from Metupalayam to Ooty. Also known as Toy Train, this cherished rail
journey offers the travellers an exciting way to look at the heritage of steam
fed engines.
In terms of beaches, the state is
bestowed with a large number of beaches. Of all, one beach namely Kanyakumari
stands unique for its sacred geography. Located at the southern tip of the
Indian subcontinent, this beach is also the meeting point of the Bay of Bengal,
Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. Along with this, the destination also is visited
by heritage buffs for Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari Temple and Gandhi
Mandapam.
One can spend recurrent vacations to soak in the most
of the tourism potentials in Tamil Nadu. The prominent options to explore here
include Beaches
of Tamil Nadu Tour and South India
Temple Tour.