Description

Tamil Nadu also known as The Land of Tamils is one of the popular states of India. Capital and the major city of the state is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is situated in the southern side of the Indian Peninsula and is enclosed by the union terrain of Pondicherry and the South Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. It is enclosed by the Bay of Bengal in the east, by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait on the southeast, by the Indian Ocean on the south, by the Nilgiri, the Anamalai Hills, and Kerala on the west and by the Eastern Ghats on the north.

Tamil Nadu is dwelling to several natural resources. Also people of the state have developed classical literature, classical music and classical arts. Tamil Nadu is also dwelling to a lot of notable monuments and spiritual spots which comprises famous hill stations, eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, multi-religious pilgrimage spots and Hindu shrines of Tamil structural design.

Tamil Nadu was among the top seven developed states of India. Official Language of the state is Tamil. Tamil is the official language of the state. Tamil Nadu is the 6th most crowded state and the 11th major state of India in terms of area. Tamil Nadu was ranked sixth among states in India and is the 3rd major state economy of India. The state shares a marine boundary with the nation of Sri Lanka.

CULTURE OF TAMIL NADU
Tamil Nadu has a long custom of esteemed culture. Tamil Nadu is famous for its rich custom of music, dance, art and literature which continue to prosper at present. Tamil Nadu is famous for its classical dance Bharata Natyam and immense ancient Hindu shrines. Unique cultural characteristics like Tamil architecture, Tanjore painting and Bharatanatyam Dance Style were developed and continue to be practised in the state.

CLIMATE OF TAMIL NADU
Tamil Nadu is mainly dependent on monsoon rains, and thus is prone to famines when the monsoons stop working. The climate of Tamil Nadu varies from dry sub-humid to semi-arid.

Tamil Nadu has 2 different phases of Rainfall -

• North East Monsoon from October till December, with prevailing north east winds
• South West Monsoon from June till September, with strong southwest winds
The annual precipitation of Tamil Nadu is around 938 mm. The State is splited into 7 agro-climatic regions north west, north east, southern, west, high elevation mountainous, high precipitation, and Kaveri Delta.

CUISINE OF TAMIL NADU
Cuisine of Tamil Nadu is distinctive of south Indian cuisine in a way that rice and rice-derived dishes shape the main segment of a diet. Visitors sit on a coir carpet rolled out on the ground and a full course food was served on a banana leaf. Some of the famous breakfast items of the state are rice, cakes, Idli, Dosai, Black Gram, crepes, dosas, vada, a lentil doughnut etc. Items that are local to the state are Chakkarai Pongal, Santhakai/Sandhavai, Kuli Paniyaram and Athirasam. Salem is famous for its distinctive mangoes, Madurai is the place of origin of milk dessert Jigarthanda while Palani is popular for its Panchamirtham. Coffee and tea are the staple drinks. Popular dessert of Tamil Nadu is payasam, a rice pudding, made with thickened milk. Coffee is the main hot drink of the people in the state which is served in small glasses.

TOURISM OF TAMIL NADU
Tourism Industry of the state is very prevalent in India, with a yearly growth rate of about 15.9%. Tourism in Tamil Nadu is encouraged by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), a Government of Tamil Nadu undertaking. Tamil Nadu is dwelling to some of the magnificent Hindu shrines constructed in Dravidian structural design. Brihadishwara shrine in Thanjavur and Gangaikonda Cholapuram constructed by the Cholas, Shore Temple and Airavateswara shrine in Darasuram, together with the collection of other memorials in Mahabalipuram are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

HILL STATIONS IN TAMIL NADU
Popular hill stations of the state are Yercaud, Kotagiri, Coonoor, Kodaikanal and Ooty. Boating on the Lake, Golf Courses, Hunts, Races and English gardens are very popular in the state. Ooty is also famous as Queen of the Hill Stations. Ooty offers the tourist an eternal selection of walks and heights, and its picturesque splendor can also be enjoyed in its most amusing weather. Some of the popular hill stations of the state are - Yercaud, Coonoor, Yelagiri Hills, Kotagiri, Courtalam etc.

NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS OF TAMIL NADU
Tamil Nadu has a variety of fauna and flora with various types and habitats. Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve is situated in the south west of Tamil Nadu adjoining Kerala in the Western Ghats. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve situated in the Nilgiri Hills and Western Ghats includes division of adjacent states of Karnataka and Kerala. Tamil Nadu is dwelling to 5 declared National parks situated in Guindylocated, Gulf of Mannar, Mudumalai, Mukurithi and Anamalai in the centre of Chennai. The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve set up in the year 1986 is a marine ecosystem with seaweed and sea grass area, mangrove forests, salt marshes and coral reefs. Mukurthi National Park, Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve are the tiger reserves of Tamil Nadu. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve has the highest amount of elephant population in India. In addition to these bio reserves, there are many other wild life sanctuaries for birds, elephant and tiger.

WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES IN TAMIL NADU
There are about 22 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the state. These wildlife sanctuaries have a rich and varied diversity of wild animals, trees, birds and flowers. Some of the popular national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu are Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Kalakadu Wildlife Sanctuary, Kunthakulam Bird Sanctuary, Guindy National Park, Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Viralimalai Sanctuary and Mundanthurai Tiger Sanctuary.

SHOPPING IN TAMIL NADU
Tamil Nadu is mostly famous for its superior handlooms and handiworks. There are shops all over the state which deals in magnificently woven textiles and silk sarees. Silk Saris of Kanchipuram are famous all over India. There are various shops for silk saris and silk, rosewood and sandalwood statues in the state. Silk Saris and Metal Work can be directly bought from the craftsmen in thanjavur and Kanchipuram. Tamil Nadu is also popular for its superior gem and gold studded jewellery.Other prominent articles which can be shopped from Tamil Nadu are musical appliances, metals, granite, bells made of metal, temple lamps in copper and brass, idol carvings in wood, copper coats in silver and brass, leather and bamboo goods.

FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONS OF TAMIL NADU
Pongal, or Tamizhar Thirunaal (festival of Tamils) or Makara Sankranti, a 4 day harvest festival is one of the most popular carnival of the state. The 1st month in the Tamil calendar is Chittirai and the first day of this month in mid-April is famous as Tamil New Year. Aadi Perukku is observed on the 18th day of the Tamil month Aadi, which commemorates the mounting of the water level in the Kaveri River. Apart from the main carnivals, in towns and villages of the state, the natives celebrate carnivals for the local gods annually and the time differ from place to place. Mainly these carnivals are linked to the goddess Maariyamman, the mother goddess of rain.

Mahamagam a bathing fiesta at Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu is observed once in 12 years. People from all parts of India comes to take part and enjoy Mahamagam festival at Kumbakonam. This festival is also known as Kumbamela of South. Other prominent Hindu carnivals like Vinayaka Chathurthi, Saraswathi Poojai (Dasara), Krishna Jayanthi, Deepavali, and Ayudha Poojai are also observed in the state. Other main carnivals of the state are Christmas, Easter, Good Friday, Muharram, Eid ul-Fitr, Milad un Nabi and Bakrid.