Tamil Nadu has all the ingredients to make a memorable vacation in India. With a glorious past, a vibrant culture and natural bounty in the form of blue seas, golden sands and clear skies. Much of Tamil Nadu's flavor comes from its past. At the heart of Dravidian culture and tradition, Tamil Nadu was ruled by four main Dravidian dynasties - Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas and Chalukyas. The remnants of these dynasties can be seen in the architectural masterpieces of that era. 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.
Chennai, the capital city, offers some beautiful beach resorts. The best place to start a temple tour is Mamallapuram, a seaside village that, apart from some exquisite Pallava rock-cut architecture, boasts of a long stretch of sun-kissed beach. The pilgrimage city of Kanchipuram with its 1000 temples is filled with reminders of an illustrious past under successive dynastic rulers. Further down the coast is one of India's rare French colonial possessions Pondicherry, where Auroville has found a new role in the 'New Age'.
The road south from Pondicherry puts one back on the temple trail, leading to the Chola kingdom and the extraordinary architecture of Chidambaram, Gangaikondacholapuram, Kumbhakonam and Darasuram. For the best Chola bronzes and a glimpse of the magnificent paintings that flourished under Maratha rajas in the eighteenth century, travelers should head for Thanjavur. The city boasts of almost a hundred temples and was the birthplace of the Bharatnatyam dance.
Tamil Nadu has its share of hill stations too. When the sun gets hot and the beaches are no relief, the hills become the most sought after destination to spend a cool vacation in Tamil Nadu. Ooty - The Queen of Hill Stations is situated at an altitude of 2,286 m. Ooty sprawls over a large area of winding roads and steep climbs. With its rolling lawns and salubrious climate, Ooty has become the most important hill station in South India.
Tamil Nadu's wildlife sanctuaries like Madumalai and Annamalai (Indira Gandhi wild life sanctuary) are situated in the hills of the Western Ghats and are the habitat of elephants, tigers, bisons and a variety of monkey and deer.
Eindian Vacations offers tour bookings, and vacation packages for Tamil Nadu, India. To book your tour, or for more information, please fill up the form below.
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