A trip to Tamil Nadu will transport you to a very different India. Tamil culture dates back to the 5th century BC, which is reflected in a wide variety of artistic and cultural manifestations.
Tamils are very proud of their cultural heritage, and it shows from the very beginning. Tamil is the only classical language of India, apart from Sanskrit, and Tamils like to show visitors this rich history, personality and distinct culture.
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Basic facts about Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (தமிழ்நாடு)is the southeastern state of India. A trip to Tamil Nadu is usually combined with Kerala touring the southern tip of India.
- Population. 70 million. Tamil Nadu is the most populated state in the south of India. 85% of the Tamils are Hindus, although there are minorities of Christians (6 %) and Muslims (6 %).
- Capital. Chennai is the capital of the state and one of the great megacities of India. It has a population of more than 11 million, including its metropolitan area.
- Languages. Tamil is one of the languages recognized by the Indian Constitution and the only one next to Sanskrit that is considered a classical language. In Tamil Nadu, it is the common language of communication and education. English is also widely spoken, albeit with a strong accent. Hindi, on the other hand, is widely rejected as a language of northern imposition on South India.
What visa do I need to travel to Tamil Nadu?
You can travel to Tamil Nadu with a passport valid for 6 months and a tourist visa for India. No special permits are required to tour the state. However, please note that tribal areas have restricted access. You can check the visa requirements for India here.
How to get to Tamil Nadu
The entry point to the state is the city of Chennai. Chennai International Airport (MAA) has international connections to several capitals such as Paris, London and Frankfurt with Air India and some European airlines. You can also connect in the Middle East with Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad.
There are two other airports that have domestic and international connections and that can help you to organize your route through Tamil Nadu.
- Madurai (IXM) is convenient for you to get to know the spiritual capital of Tamil Nadu, the Chettinadu region and the southern tip of India.
- Coimbatore(CJB) provides you with access to the Western Ghats, the tea plantations of Ooty and the Mudumalai nature park.
Book a flight, bus or train ticket
Tamil Nadu by train
Being in the extreme south of the country, many lines terminate in major Tamil cities such as Chennai, Madurai or Kanyakumari. There are some train lines that cross India from north to south and terminate in Chennai and even Kanyakumari (Himsagar Express – 3 days).
To access the state, there are also fast intercity trains from Bangalore (6 hours) and Hyderbad (12 hours) to Chennai. Trains from the state of Kerala are not as convenient because they take a long time to go around the mountainous area of the Western Ghats.
Tamil Nadu by road
By road you can enter from various cities and tourist destinations to start your journey through Tamil Nadu:
- From Trivandrum. Kanyakumari is accessed from the south along the coast of Kerala. You can stop at several points of interest such as the Padmanabhapuram Palace in Thuckalay. The journey to Madurai can be done in one go, in about 7-8 hours.
- From Cochin and Ernakulam. You can enter the state by crossing the Western Ghats stopping at Periyar or Munnar. The ascent to the mountain range is about 5-6 hours and then the descent to Madurai takes another 3-4 hours. You usually spend a night or two getting to know this area of tea plantations and spice gardens.
- From Bangalore. The drive to Chennai of 350 kilometers can be done in about 6 hours. On the way, you can stop in Vellore or Kanchipuram. There is also a slightly longer route that passes through Tiruvanamalai, a very interesting sacred city where the ashram of Ramana Maharishi is located.
- From Mysore. You enter Tamil Nadu through the natural parks of Bandipur and Mudumalai towards the plantations of Ooty and Kodaikanal. From Mysore to the border it is 2-3 hours and then about 2-3 hours more to Ootacamund.
Getting around Tamil Nadu
The state is considerable, so you can even consider taking internal flights between the main airports, especially if you want to go from the coast to the mountainous areas.
The Tamil Nadu government buses connect the whole state, but you should keep in mind that they make countless stops, so they are quite slow. To give you an idea, from Chennai to Kanyakumari it takes 18 hours.
What to visit in Tamil Nadu: must-see sights
Tamil Nadu is a fairly large state. It is best known for having the finest examples of Dravidian architecture and has several Unesco World Heritage Sites. However, in Tamil Nadu you can also enjoy the mountains and some nature reserves with large mammals.
1. Mahaballipuram
The earliest remains of Dravidian architecture are in Mahabalipuram. The 7th century temples are a Unesco World Heritage Site, but you will also meet a fishing village and a very relaxed coastal area just two hours from Chennai.
2. Thanjavur
In the center of the state is Thanjavur, the capital of classical Tamil Nadu culture. The Shiva temple is also included in the World Heritage Site along with the 11th century Chola temples in the surrounding area.
In Thanjavur you can also see the palace of the kings of Tanjore with India’s finest museum of bronze sculptures. Thanjavur is a must-see destination on a trip to South India.
3. Pondicherry
Tamil Nadu played a leading role in the entry of Europeans into India. Chennai, the former Madras, was a British foundation. However, the most beautiful colonial city that you cannot miss is Pondicherry.
The capital of the French colony of India has an exceptional architecture and is a hushed city with a high quality of life. Among its attractions are the French government buildings, Christian temples and the Aurobindo ashram.
On the outskirts of Pondicherry, there is the utopian and spiritual community of Auroville founded by followers of Aurobindo and the Mother.
4. Madurai
The holiest city of Hinduism in Tamil Nadu is Madurai. The Meenakshi temple is the center of the city. Every day thousands of believers go to perform their rituals inside the compound. At night, it is especially interesting, when Shiva is carried in procession to sleep with the goddess Meenakshi in her sanctum sanctorum.
Other must-see places in Madurai are the Thirumalay Nayak Palace and the city’s banana market and street markets.
5. Periyar National Park
The natural parks of Tamil Nadu have very diverse wildlife, from herds of elephants to Bengal tigers. They are very lush parks, so sightings are difficult, except in the dry season.
The most famous nature reserve is Periyar where you can also visit tea plantations and spice gardens. The reserve is around a lake where you can do everything from boat trips to jungle treks.
6. Ooty
The Western Ghats separate Tamil Nadu from Kerala. A must-see is the Nilgiri Hills with destinations such as Ooty and Munnar.
Ooty is home to the great tea plantations of South India. It is also a spice-producing area, so you can visit the gardens where pepper and cardamom, among others, are grown.
Best time to travel to Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is a tropical state with an arid monsoon climate, compared to its Indian neighbors at the same latitude. The incidence of monsoon rains in Tamil Nadu is not predominantly the months of May to July as in Kerala, but rains heaviest during the retreat monsoon in October and November. The best time to plan a trip to Tamil Nadu and South India.
- November to March is considered the high season and is the ideal time to travel because temperatures are lower and there is no rain. January is the time of the Pongal festival, one of the most important festivals in southern India that celebrates the harvest.
- From April to September the heat is very intense, although there is not much rain. If you don’t mind the high temperatures, it is a good time to travel at low season prices. During the monsoon months, there may be overcast skies and some sporadic rain.
What to eat in Tamil Nadu
The cuisine of Tamil Nadu has much in common with that of Kerala and Karnataka. Unlike the neighboring states, Tamil Nadu is a more arid region in some areas. The most famous Tamil dishes are:
- Sambar and rasam. They are two typical soups of Tamil Nadu. Sambar is a vegetable and lentil broth in a tamarind broth with an intensely flavored roasted spice mixture. Rasam is spicier and more liquid.
- Dosa. This crepe is made with a fermented rice and lentil batter. It can be filled with various fillings and is served with coconut and tamarind chutneys and sambar. In fact, it is not a dish that originated in Tamil Nadu, although today it is one of its signature dishes eaten as breakfast.
- Mutton Kola Urundai are lamb dumplings typical of Chettinadu cuisine.
- Chettinadu chicken curry is an extraordinary recipe served with rice. This curry is prepared with yogurt, turmeric and a masala of poppy seeds, fennel, coriander and cumin. There are also vegetarian variants of the recipe.
- Indian filter coffee. South Indian coffee is served with milk in a metal cup and bowl. The function of the container is to be able to mix the sugar and to temper the coffee with milk to the ideal temperature of consumption.
- Payasam. There are several ways to prepare this typical South Indian sweet. Cooked with moong dal, ghee, yogurt and coconut milk, it is sweetened with panela and finished with nuts, mainly almonds and cashew nuts.
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