The state contains a wide array of religious sites that draw pilgrims along with diverse wildlife, delicious cuisine, historical attractions, vast plantations, mesmerising hill stations and tons of festivities.
A trip to the state is considered by many as incomplete without paying a visit to Chennai. Those interested in visiting the city can book flights to Chennai and experience its incredible vibe. It is a great metropolitan city that is rich in colonial heritage and is also the state capital.
The most famous attractions of the city include Ashtalakshmi Temple, Fort St. George, Marina Beach, etc. The city of Chennai also acts as the headquarters of the TamilNadu Tourism Development Corporation as well.
One of its greatest treasures is the hill station of Ooty which has also been nicknamed as the “Queen of the Nilgiris”. The hill station is known for the Botanical Gardens, Ooty Lake and its numerous trekking trails and more.
Kodaikanal is another one of the state’s mesmerising hill stations known for attractions such as the Kukkal Caves, Thalaiyar Falls, Kodaikanal Lake, etc. The perfect place for religious tourists in the state is Mahabalipuram. It houses the Shore Temple, FIve Rathas that are a set of rock temples, Krishna Cave Temple and Ganesh Ratha Temple.
Coimbatore is also a famous city and considered a must-see place in Tamil Nadu. Its huge Adiyogi Shiva statue, Velliangiri Hill Temple, Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park and Vydehi Falls. There’s tons of local handicrafts that tourists may choose from like Mysore Pak, brass and bronze work, beautiful silk sarees, Tanjore paintings, etc. It is a popular part of the Tamil Nadu tourism experience.
The state is also known for India’s southernmost tip which is Kanyakumari which contains multiple attractions like the Chitharal Jain monuments, Vattakottai Fort, Kanyakumari Beach, Thirparappu Falls, etc.
Tamil Nadu is also popular among tourists for its local cuisines that include scrumptious items such as rasam, dosa, uttapam, paruppu payasam and Pongal. These can easily be found at various restaurants in the state as they are quite commonly consumed by locals and tourists here.
Visitors can enjoy attending some of the state’s most popular festivals such as Mahamaham, Thaipusam, Pongal provide a great opportunity to experience local customs and chow down on some delicious food. Tamil Nadu has great accessibility and can be travelled to from almost anywhere.
Climate
The climate of the state is essentially tropical and experiences fairly warm temperatures throughout the year except during monsoons. The state capital Cheenai lies on the thermal equator and does not have much variation in temperatures with the rest of the state.The climate of Tamil Nadu over the year can be classified into three distinct seasons.
Summer spans from March to June and temperatures are at a high reaching up to 45°C. It is incredibly hot and humid throughout this period. The monsoon season starts from July and lasts till the month of October. The weather generally is pleasant during this phase without much rainfall. Winter season begins in November and extends all the way to March.
Best Time To Travel
Going by what the experts say November to March which coincides with the return to the winter season. The temperatures remain stable, being not too warm or cool. The day time is also great for sightseeing. Those from Delhi that want to tour the state can book a Delhi to Chennai flight and come visit.
If unable to visit during winter the monsoon months that range from July to October can be deemed as a good phase for a Tamil Nadu tourism trip. Despite being called a monsoon season the state doesn’t experience much rainfall and the weather remains pleasant.
The monsoon period is also the best time to visit hill stations as a bit of rain can water the plants and trees which can help enhance their beauty and the overall natural aesthetic appeal of the region.
Getting There
By Air
The Chennai International Airport is equipped with world-class facilities and is one of the nation’s busiest airports. It involved several flights from all across the country and from the rest of the world as well.
Once tourists arrive in Chennai they can easily take a train, hire a taxi or catch a bus and visit any other part of the state. Travelling by flight is a great kickstart to a Tamil Nadu tourism journey.
By Train
The state is well inter-connected by means of a substantial network of Southern Railways. The Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station which is commonly referred to as Chennai Central is the main railway station of Chennai.
The station is also situated close to major attractions such as Marina Beach, Kapaleeswarar Temple, Egmore and Elliot’s Beach. There are also multiple clean and affordable hotels near the station.
The Tamil Nadu State Road Transport Corporation’s (TNSRTC) bus stand can also be found near the train station. It’s quite a fast and effective method that can be used by Tamil Nadu tourism aspirants.
By Road
The state of Tamil Nadu has a well maintained road network which offers great inter-connectivity among most of its cities. This makes the state a great place for road trips by cars. If interested in commuting like the locals, visitors can tour the state by means of buses. There are a series of buses offered by two major operators who together have most of the state covered.
Places To Tour In The State
Rameshwaram
It is officially considered as a municipality of the state and is located on a beautiful island. It is separated from Sri Lanka by the Pamban channel. Hindu mythology states that Rameshwaram was the place where Lord Rama created a bridge across the sea to Sri Lanka.
It also has the first sea that links Mandapam to Pamban Island, and Rameswaram. Pamban Island also contains the abandoned town of Dhanushkodi which was once a bustling town until it was unfortunately destroyed by a cyclone in 1964.
Ramanathaswamy Temple is famous for its incredible prakaras which have huge sculpted pillars on either side of them and even houses the world’s longest corridor. Agniteertham is renowned for its sacred waters and pilgrims also offer poojas to honour their ancestors at the shore.
There is also the five faced Hanuman temple holding the floating stone that was used in building the bridge between Sri Lanka and India. It is a great place to visit for a religious Tamil Nadu tourism trip.
Yercaud
It is a hill station in the Eastern Ghats that is surrounded by abundant greenery and is nestled in the Shevaroy Hills. Many consider it as the ‘Ooty of the Poor’ and it even has history dating back to the time of the British.
It is situated at an altitude of 4,970 feet and is popular for its great weather and vast expanses of coffee plantations. The region’s main attraction point is the Yercaud Lake. The hill station is even known for being a great location for trekking.
There is also a summer festival that is held in May which is considered a worthwhile activity for tourists to experience. The festival has been dedicated to Lord Servarayan, the supreme God of the ranges and gives tourists a glimpse into the rich regional heritage.
Thiruvannamalai
The town holds great religious and historical significance and contains numerous ashrams and temples. It offers incredible architecture which also adds to its appeal among tourists.
The holy town is situated atop the Malai Hill and is most well known for the Arunachala temple as well as several other ashrams and temples which are dedicated to saints of olden times.
Some of the important spots for tourists that are appealing to followers also here are Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram, Sathanur Dam, Sri Ramana Ashram, etc. The days of Arunachaleswarat temple festival showcase a colourful side of the area. It can be a great part of the Tamil Nadu Tourism experience.
Hogenakkal
It is a well known waterfall which is situated in the Dharmapuri district where multiple streams of waterfalls are formed due to the Kaveri river splitting. It can be found at a distance of 180 km from Bangalore and has water throughout the year.
It’s ideal for a short one day trip or a weekend getaway with its coracle (basket boat) rides, freshwater fish, carbonite rocks, oil massages by locals, etc. Some have even given it the nickname of ‘Niagara Falls of India’. The place is even famous for its medicinal baths and is also referred to as Marikottayam. Hoge translates to smoke while Kal translates to rock.
Over recent years though the area has been littered with garbage and plastic and the fish market outside the waterfall may stink. Hogenakkal also tends to get crowded on the weekends which along with other factors is important to keep in mind before visiting. Regardless, it is still a great place to be included in any Tamil Nadu tourism package.
Coonoor
This is considered as one of the three beautiful hill stations of the Nilgiris. It is also considered as the second largest hill station in the Western Ghats. It is a mere 19 km from Ooty and can be found at an altitude of 1,930 metres.
It is widely considered as the ideal summer retreat with its slopes of tea plantations, dotted with several attractions and chilly weather which is prevalent throughout the year. It is a great location which provides a panoramic view of the Catherine Falls and the Nilgiri Hills.
It’s amazing scenery, Colonial culture, manicured hills and rich greenery. It even has some guest houses and heritage homes amidst the hills which make for an ideal holiday experience.
Final Thoughts
The Tamil Nadu tourism industry is quite well developed and contributes greatly to the revenues of the state government and also creates jobs for the many in the region as well.
The state has a lot to offer to all kinds of tourists. It has great hill stations which offer immense scenic beauty with some of them even having trekking options too. The state has great scope for religious tourism too with many important holy places.
It also has lots of historic buildings that showcase magnificent architecture of the olden eras which can at times leave visitors stunned. The state also has many beautiful places that make for great getaways for those from nearby parts of India.
The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation has also been a great move by the government and has massively aided in the enhancement of the tourism sector within the state. It also provides a lesson for other states in India that are struggling economically on the tourism front.
Owing the efforts of many behind the scenes the state has grown over the years into a popular tourist destination. It still has not lost its appeal and continues to grow and keep attracting more and more visitors.
Author Name: Ahsan Jilani
Profession: Travel Blogger,
Guest Post Note: This Article provided by Liana Alvarao (itsmelianaalvarao@gmail.com), https://www.lowestflightfares.com/