Tamil Nadu occupies a worldwide prestigious place for its natural beauty, unique culture, and rich religious heritage, thus ranking it among the top tourist places in India. Located along the Bay of Bengal in South India, it is an area with a number of interesting locations, including historic pilgrimage places, historical sites, plantations, and hill stations. Here are some amazing facts about Tamil Nadu.
1. Must Visit Spiritual Journey Destinations:
Tamil Nadu is famous for its old temples with impressive architecture drawing many Hindu pilgrims. The Brihadeeswarar Temple and Airavatesvara Temple, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, show off the greatness of the Chola dynasty. Tamil Nadu has 38,615 temples more than any other state in India. The Meenakshi Temple in Madurai is the most well-known honoring the goddess Meenakshi, a form of the Hindu goddess Parvati. The Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram and the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram are also worth mentioning. The Ramanathaswamy Temple has the longest colorful corridor in the world.
2. India’s Hidden Mangrove Paradise:
The Pichavaram Mangrove Forest in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu stands as the world’s second-biggest mangrove forest. It covers 1,100 hectares and is home to many different plants and animals. What’s more, it’s a hit with tourists, who can raft through the mangrove channels, take boat rides, or watch birds.
3. The Dance of Divine Grace:
Tamil Nadu is a state which is rich in heritage holds the name for the origin of the Bharatanatyam, a classical dance form. It is one of the most ancient and popular dance forms in India. It constitutes intricate hand movements, meticulous movements of the feet, and fluctuating facial expressions. Normally, Bharatanatyam is performed to Carnatic music, a form of traditional music emanating from southern India.
4. Longest Coastline:
With a coastline of 1,076 kilometers, Tamil Nadu is tagged as the second longest coastline in India. Marina Beach in Chennai is the longest natural urban beach located in India and one of the largest beaches in the world. It runs to a length of more than 13 kilometers toward the Bay of Bengal, acting as one of the most important landmarks in Chennai, where thousands of tourists visit daily. The state ranges from the calm and serene backwaters to the throbbing beaches of Chennai. Other famous beach destinations in Tamil Nadu are Kanyakumari, Mahabalipuram, Manapad, and Pondicherry.
5. Jallikattu:
Jallikattu festival, celebrated as a part of the Pongal celebrations in January every year in Tamil Nadu, has an existence spanning more than 2,000 years and attracts huge crowds among tourists as well as locals. It is an ancient sport and the symbol of bravery and an offering ritualistic to the rural culture. Jallikattu is a pride, goes deep into the cultural depths and represents the festive celebration of historical roots.
6. The Richness of a Classical Treasure:
Tamil is a classical language which has its origin in southern India more than 2,000 years ago. It has one of the most ancient forms of scripts, evolved from Brahmi. The earliest inscriptions in Tamil date back to the 3rd century BCE. The amount and variety of literary works that have come forth in Tamil are huge, starting from ancient epics to contemporary novels. Additionally, Tamil is an official language in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and enjoys the status of being the first language in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore.
7. The Majestic Jewel of the Western Ghats:
Nilgiri Malai, located in the Western Ghats, is considered an important and very rich biodiversity area of geological importance, comprising large amounts of the oldest rock formations in India. This area sees many tourists owing to its scenic beauty and the general view from a large number of trekking routes.
8. Sculptures of an Ancient Era:
The historical sculptures of Mahabalipuram are a series of monolithic carvings chiseled out of granite in the 7th and 8th centuries. They depict many stories from Hindu mythology. Of these, the Shore Temple stands to be the most famous, being known for being among the oldest surviving temples in India.
9. The Fabric Of Tradition:
Kancheepuram silk is the most popular woven silk from the town of Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu. The fine silk weavers belonged to the family of Markanda, a legendary weaver said to have woven garments for gods. The production process is very labor intensive and painstaking. It involves hand-weaving and hand-dyeing techniques. Its bright colors and intricate designs make it much sought after in the market.
10. Snooker born in Ooty:
Ooty, more popularly known as “The Queen of Hills,” is one of the prime tourist spots in Tamil Nadu. What many might not know is that the cue sport of Snooker was invented in Ooty way back in 1875. Today, it has gained huge popularity all over the world.
11. Spices and flavors:
The cuisine of Tamil Nadu has a glorious cultural heritage and embodies different flavors, spices, and dishes. Rice forms the staple diet and the place are famous for its idli, dosa, sambar, and many types of chutney. The specialty of the cuisine is the use of tamarind, coconut, and curry leaves. Mainly, Chettinad cuisine hails from the Chettinad region and has the reputation of being the most pungent and peppery Indian cuisine, due to its liberal use of various meats and seafood.
