Enchanting Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu has been ranked the “No 1 State in Domestic & International Tourist arrival in the country” consecutively for the past 5 years by the Government of India.
The Tamil language is the only UNESCO classical language that has been continuously spoken for thousands of years. To this day, both scholars and common man in the state speak, read and write this classical language.
Tamil Nadu is a proud home to 5 UNESCO World Heritage sites: Tanjore Temple, Darasuram Temple, Gangaikondacholapuram, Mamallapuram and Nilgiris Mountain Railway. The state also boasts of several other temples that date back to a few thousand years and still preserving their marvellous architectures in their original form.
The state of Tamil Nadu is also the land of Carnatic classical music and the Bharatanatyam classical dance. Students from all over the world come and stay in Kalakshetra and other schools to learn these music and dance forms. Every year, on the birthday of Saint Thyagaraja (a composer of Carnatic music), several thousand Carnatic musicians gather to sing the saint’s compositions in chorus. In Chidambaram, at the 5-day Natyanjali Dance festival, Bharatanatyam dancers from all over the world perform as a tribute to Lord Nataraja. To top it all, music and dance lovers and performers from all over the world gather at the month-long “Margazhi” festival in Chennai, a city that has earned its place on UNESCO’s “Creative Cities” list.
The cuisine of Tamil Nadu is world-renowned. The state’s Dosa and Filter Coffee have a special place among food and coffee lovers all over the world.
Tamil Nadu has 1100+ kms stretch of pristine beach line where one can enjoy water sports or just relax. In a rare occurrence in the world, 3 seas namely the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea, meet in one place in Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India.
Tamil Nadu is the perfect place for Wellness - Rejuvenation with the state’s native alternative medicine, called the Siddha medicine and founded by ancient Rishis and Siddhas (saints), still in practice and approved by the Government of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is also the perfect place for Yoga and Mediation. It continues to be the home to several ashrams, such as the Ramana Ashram of Thiruvannamalai and the Vethathiri Maharishi Ashram in Aliyar, where enlightened Masters lived and taught Self-Realisation to the whole world. Several other enlightened masters continue to live in Tamil Nadu and guide seekers from all over the world.
Air, road, rail and sea connectivity in Tamil Nadu is one of the best in the country. Tamil Nadu is the only Indian state to have 7 airports, including 4 International airports at Chennai, Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore. In terms of roads, the state’s national highways cover most towns in 4 lanes and 6 lanes. Even the interior and rural roads in Tamil Nadu are in superb condition, allowing an average driving speed of 60 kms an hour by car. The rail network is flawless from Chennai to Kanyakumari and in all directions. Tamil Nadu also has one of the major Sea Ports in Chennai which is largely used for cargo and cruise liners. The Tuticorin port is also popular among the cruise liners of the world.