- Capital
- Chennai
- Area
- About 130,058 sq km
- Official language
- Tamil
- Coastline
- About 1,076 km
- Best time
- October to March
- State animal
- Nilgiri tahr
- State bird
- Emerald dove
- State flower
- Gloriosa lily
- State tree
- Palmyra palm
Where to go
Temple circuits are the heart of travel here: Madurai, Rameswaram, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Chidambaram, Kanchipuram and Tiruvannamalai each deserve time. The shore temples and rock-cut monuments of Mamallapuram, the Great Living Chola Temples and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway are all on the UNESCO World Heritage list. For cooler air, head to Ooty, Kodaikanal or Yelagiri; for the sea, Kanyakumari and the Coromandel coast.
Culture and food
Bharatanatyam was born in Tamil Nadu, and Carnatic music is deeply rooted here, with Chennai's December music season drawing listeners from around the world. Kanchipuram silk, Tanjore paintings, bronze casting and temple jewellery are living crafts. Pongal, in mid-January, is the biggest festival of the year.
Days start with idli, dosa, pongal or uttapam, eaten with sambar and chutney and followed by strong filter coffee. A traditional meal on a banana leaf brings rice with sambar, rasam, poriyal and curd. Chettinad cooking is known for its pepper and spice, and sweets such as adhirasam and payasam turn up at every celebration.
Best time to visit
October to March is the most comfortable season, with daytime temperatures in the plains mostly in the 20s°C. April to June is very hot, often above 40°C, which is the time to head for the hills. The north-east monsoon brings most of the rain to the coast from October to December, so allow some slack in plans during those weeks.
Getting there and around
Chennai International Airport is the main gateway, with Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Salem also served by flights. Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Madurai, Coimbatore and Tiruchirappalli are the main railway hubs. State transport and private buses link almost every town, and a hired car with driver is the easiest way to cover temple circuits. We can plan and arrange this for you from Virudhachalam.
Also nearby
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