The southern state of Tamil Nadu is the most 'Indian' part of India. The Aryans never brought their meat-eating influence to the extreme south, so this is the true home of Indian Vegetarianism. Hindu architecture here is at its most vigorous.
Tamil Nadu is the home of Dravidian art and culture, characterised best by the amazingly ornate templeswith their soaring towers known as gopurams. Tamil Nadu offers the traveller excellent value, particularly in accommodation. Hotel prices are generally lower than they are further north and standards are often higher.

CHIDAMBARAM Between two rivers in a 40 acre temple-complex, lies the temples of Chidambaram, one of the oldest, and magnificent temples of the South. Shiva Natraja or the Dancing Shiva stands in his cosmic dance pose in the golden rooted sanctum sanctorum. Flanking the temple are 108 sculptured illustrations of Bharat Natya Shashtra. In Akash Lingam hidden by a veil, lies the real secret of Chidambaram.
 
COIMBATORE An inland district of Tamilnadu on the eastern coast is the modern industrial city of Coimbatore & it thrives on its textile, engineering produce and synthetic gems. It is famous for its elephant training camp on Varaghliar and the Tirumurthi hill forests. Annamalai Sanctuary, rich in wildlife and teak forests, tea and coffee plantation is an added attraction.

KANCHIPURAM Kanchipuram (64 kms from Madras) is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. The first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century and has paintings on the walls. Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks.

KODAIKANAL 120 kms from Madurai, Kodaikanal is a charming hill station situated amidst the grandeur of the southern crest of the upper Palani hill -in the Western Ghats, at a height of 2135 mts. Its tranquil lake framed by wooded hills, mighty rocks and slopes & enchanting waterfalls mesmerize visitors. It is noted for hybrids & grafts, hill plantain fruits and plums and -Kurunji- flower which blossoms once in 12 years.

MADRAS Visit the museum to see the Art and Bronze Gallery. (Closed on Fridays and Public holidays). Drive through the Flower and Fruit market, High court, Fort museum, Marina Beach, Santhome Cathedral and snake park.

MADRAS - ART GALLERY Morning tour of the city and visit to the Madras Art gallery famous for its bronze. Here one also finds a few example of the Tanjore school of painting.

MADURAI Visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering gopurams (rising high above the surrounding country side). Later, visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - A gracious building in the Indo saracenic style, famous for the Stucco work on its domes & arches. Also visit the Alagar Hills and Tirupara Kundran Rock temple.

MAHABALIPURAM The city of Mahabalipuram is famous for the seven pagodas. Here on the seashore is an interesting group of ancient rock hewn temples which are the examples of Dravidian style of Architecture.

PONDICHERRY The capital of French India before independence, Pondicherry traces its origin to Saint Agasthya, the revered sage of the south & excavations near-by reveal that a Roman settlement existed here 2000 years ago. It was the theatre of many a battle between the British.

RAMESHWARAM The island of Rameshwaram spreads out over a 56 km swell with gentle sand dunes, embellished with the delicacy of casuarina trees and stark palms. This is a sacred place for Hindus since according to Ramayana, this is where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to absolve himself of the sin of killing Ravana. A dip into the sacred waters of the Agnitheertham which was calmed by Rama is a must for Hindus.

RANGANATHITOO BIRD SANCTUARY A vast stretch of land on the banks of river Cauvery on the Bangalore/Mysore highway, it consists of islets in the Cauvery river which are full of thousands of species of birds including herons, Open-billed stork, white ibis, little egret, cattle egret, darter, spoonbill cormorant, pond heron, river tern, etc & also crocodiles.

TANJORE The beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeeshwara is capped by a monolithic cupola made of a single granite block weighing 80 tons which was taken to the top with the help of a 6 km long ramp, an old technique used by the Egyptians for building pyramids. Its bronzes and handicrafts make Tanjore one of the highlights of a visit to South India.

TRICHY Trichy was the citadel of the Chola dynasty in the medieval period. In the 18th century it witnessed the Carnatic wars fought between the French and the English. Lord Robert Clive's house is still there to see and so is the Danish Church. The Rock-Fort is the landmark of Trichy. A climb of 434 steps leads to the ancient temple of Ganapati on top and a further climb to a Shiva temple.

VEDATHANGAL 80 kms away from Madras. The birds are mostly found during their breeding season, from November to January. One can see various kinds of water birds over here.
 
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