Great travel tour to Tamil Nadu with The Other Home, and have a look of this beautiful city in our Slide Share.

1. PREPARED BY : THE OTHER HOME
www. theotherhome.com

2. TAMIL NADU – A VIEW ON INDIAN MAP
GENERAL INFORMATION
Area (sq. km) 130,058
State Capital Chennai
Population 61.5 million people per
sq. km.
Language Tamil
Climate Humid subtropical
climate
Best time to visit January-March
And
July-September

3. HISTORY
•Tamil Nadu has a glorious history and great civilization that flourished in the region
during the Sangam Age with developments in the fields like art, literature and occultism.
•After India got her independence in 1947, Madras Presidency became Madras State,
comprising of present day Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh, northern Kerala, and the
southwest coast of Karnataka. The state was later divided on the basis of linguistic lines.
•The Bellary and South Kanara districts were given to Mysore state, and Kerala was formed
from the Malabar district, the former princely states of Travancore and Cochin. Finally, in
1968, when the Central Government imposed Hindi as the national language, the state of
Madras was renamed as Tamil Nadu.
• Tamil Nadu is well renowned for its temple towns and heritage sites, hill stations,
waterfalls, national parks, local cuisine and the fabulous wildlife and scenic beauty.The
state boasts the second largest tourism industry in India

4. CITIES FAMOUS
FOR
WATERFALLS BEACHES
HERITAGE SPIRTUALITY
MOUNTAINS
AND HILLS
Chola Temple(Thanjavur)
Monuments(Mahaballipuram District)
Nilgiri Mountain Railway(Nilgiri District)
Chidambaram(Chennai)
Srirangam (Triuchirapalli)
Kumbakonam(Thanjavur )
Kanchipuram(Chennai)
Ooty(Nilgiri )
Yercaud(Salem District)
Conoor(Nilgiri)
Kolli Hills(Namakkal)
Courtallam(Tirunulveli)
Catherine(Nilgiri District)
Hogennakal(Dharmapuri District)
Tirparappu(Kanyakumari District)
Marina (Chennai)
Elliot(Besant Nagar)
Mahaballipuram District
Kanyakumari District

5. PLACES
OF INTRESTS

6. UNESCO World Heritage Sites
THE CHOLA TEMPLES
(Is 336 km form chennai and take 6 hours by local bus)
The Great Living Chola Temples constructed by the
king Raja Raja Chola are sites of glorious heritage and
architectural achievements.The Cultural heritage site
includes the three great temples of 11th and 12th
century.
• The Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur.
• The Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram
• The Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram.
The temples testify to the brilliant achievements of
the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and
bronze casting.The site was inscribed under UNESCO
World Heritage List in 2004 as Cultural heritage.

7. Group of Monuments in
Mahabalipuram
(It is around 60 km south from the city of Chennai)
The Group of Monument atMahabalipuram declared
as a WHS in 198, in Tamil Nadu, about 58 km from
Chennai, were built by the Pallava kings in the 7th
and 8th centuries. The town is said to have gained
prominence under the rule of Mamalla. These
monuments have been carved out of rock along the
Coromandel coast.
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway
(Route passes through nilgiri mountain range)
Part of the Mountain Railways of India,
the Nilgiri Mountain Railway(NMR) was stated
to be an "outstanding examples of bold,
ingenious engineering solutions for the
problem of establishing an effective rail link
through a rugged, mountainous terrain."

8. TEMPLES AND TEMPLE TOWN OF
TAMILNADU
CHIDAMBARAM
(It is located 240 km south of chennai by rail)
Chidambaram is the seat of the cosmic dancer
Lord Nataraja .It is one of the Pancha
Bhutasthalas.The Chidambaram
Temple dedicated to Lord Natraja built in the 9th
century has an unusual hut-like sanctum with a
gold-plated roof and four towering gupras.
SRIRANGAM
(It is present in Triuchirapalli district)
Srirangam another example of classic temple
town, houses the Ranganathaswamy Temple a
major pilgrimage destination for the Vaishnava
community.It is the biggest functioning Hindu
temple in the world (156 Acres) and the temple
tower measuring 60 m (196 ft)is the tallest Hindu
temple tower in the world.

9. KUMBAKONAM
(Kumbakonam, 40 km from Thanjavur district)
It has about 188 temples within its municipal
limits.Apart from these a thousand more are
estimated to be nearby.The Adi Kumbeswarar
Temple is the biggest Saivite temples in the region
and has a huge complex covering an area of 30,181 sq
ft having three gopurams in the Northern,Eastern
and Western entrances of the temple
KANCHIPURAM
(Kanchipuram 72 km from Chennai)
One of the most visited destinations in the
state, Kanchipuram was the capital of the
ancient Pallava Kingdom and is considered one
of the seven holiest cities to the Hindus of
India.Over 100s of ancient temples are located
in this town, though most of them are in ruins,
there are a few prominent ones which attract a
large no. of devotees every year.

10. MADURAI
(Chennai to Madurai is 464 km. Time by road is 6 hrs,
50 mins)
• Madurai being one of the world's oldest inhabited cities is
the home to several temples built by the Pandyan and Nayak
kings with the most famous being the Meenakshi Amman
Temple which dates back to 2000 years.The city and the life of
its inhabitants revolve around the temple which is one of the
largest Hindu temples by size and denclosure.
• The Mariamman Theppakulam built in 1636 is a huge tank at
the eastern end of the city and is almost equal in area to that
of the Meenakshi Amman
•Madurai is also famous for its two mosques one being
the Kazimar Big Mosque believed to be constructed by a
descendant of Prophet Muhammed and claimed to be the
oldest Islam monument in South India.The other is
the Goripalayam Mosque which is believed to house the tombs
of two of the Delhi Sultans.

11. HILL STATIONS
UDAGAMANDALAM(OOTY)
(Chennai to Ooty is 542 km. Time by road is 8 hrs, 20 mins.)
Popularly known as Ooty situated in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is the most popular Hill
station in South India. It provides a scenic view of Nilgiri Hills. Its historic sites and natural
beauty attract tourists from all over the country.
The list of attractions include :
 Government Rose Garden .
 Ooty Lake
 St. Stephen's Church
 Ooty Golf Course
 Tribal Museum
 Doddabetta Peak
 Wenlock Downs
 Emerald and Avalanche Lakes

12. YERCAUD
(Chennai to Yercaud is 341 km.Time by road is
5 hrs, 10 mins.)
The Yercaud hills situated at an altitude of 1515 m
in the Salem District in the Eastern Ghats.
The Yercaud hills are Known for its rich flora and
scenic views of the other hills nearby.
It is slightly less-expensive fare as compared to
Udagamangalam or Kodaikanal.
Yeracud is also a great base for trekking
COONOOR
(Chennai to Coonoor is 523 km.Time by road
is 8 hrs.)
Part of the Nilgiri Mountain Range, Coonoor is
the second largest hill station in the mountain
range and is an ideal base for trekking
expeditions leading into the Nilgiri.
The Dolhin's Nose Viewpoint and the Lamb's
Rock offer stunning views of the mountainside

13. KOLLI HILLS
(Road Distance or driving distance
from Chennai to Kolli Hills is 451 kms will take
around 6 hours by local bus)
 Kolli Hills is a small mountain range located in
central Tamil Nadu.
 The mountains are relatively untouched by
commercial tourism and still retain their
natural beauty.
 The government holds a tourism festival in
August.
 Kolli Hills has been the top choice for nature
lovers, hiking enthusiasts, trekking clubs and
meditation practitioners among hill stations in
TamilNadu.

14. WATERFALLS
COURTALLAM FALLS
(621 km from chennai take 9 hour by road)
Courtallam, the 'Spa of the south', is situated
at an elevation of about 167m on the Western
Ghats in Tirunelveli District.It is an excellent
health resort and is visited by young and old
alike, because of the herbal medicinal
properties the water is believed to contain
CATHERINE FALLS
(521 km from chennai take 8 hour by road)
Catherine Falls is a double-cascaded waterfall
located in Kotagiri, and It is also a major
tourist spot in Kotagiri.
The upper fall drops to the floor, and is the
second highest in the Nilgiri mountains.

15. HOGENAKKAL FALLS
(Hogenakkal waterfalls located close to the border of
the adjacent state of Karnataka, is 336 km from
chennai)
It is a beautiful picnic spot with its waters supposed
to be having curative powers. Hogenakkal is set in
thick, green woods and is considered both a sacred
bathing place and a spa-like health resort.The area is
surrounded by hills and offers lovely panoramic view.
People can take bath in the Kaveri river, before and
beyond the falls.
TIRPARAPPU FALLS
(Tirparappu Waterfalls are located
in Kanyakumari district. )
The water falls from a height of nearly 50 feet (15
m) and the water flows for about seven months
in a year.On either side of the river, on the left
bank of the river in between the waterfalls and
the weir, there is a temple dedicated to Siva
enclosed by strong fortification.

16. BEACHES
MARINA BEACH
(3 km from chennai,many buses available)
Marina Beach the world's SECOND largest
and longest beache, it is located on the
eastern side of Chennai.Watching the sun set
and rise from the beach is an enthralling
experience.With its natural sandy beauty and
beautiful gardens.
ELLIOT BEACH
(This beach is located in Besant Nagar,60 km from
chennai)
Formerly a popular bathing beach, today, it is the
favourite rendezvous of the younger generation.
Good roads, pavements, illuminated sands, makes a
visit to this beach a real pleasure.

17. MAHABALLIPURAM BEACHES
(Mahaballipuram, 58 km south of Chennai.)
The place today abounds with stone carvings,
caves, rock-cut temples also attract tourists.
A crocodile farm, snake venom extracting centre,
schools of art and sculpture and a wide choice of
resorts along the beach draw holiday-seekers all
round the year.
KANYAKUMARI
(Located where the Arabian Sea, the Indian
Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet,direct trains
from chennai take around 14 hours)
It is famous for its spectacular sunrises and
sunsets, especially on full moon days. The beach
itself is a beautiful sight with multi-colored sand.

18. FAIRS AND FESTIVAL
PONGAL:
In Tamil Nadu Makar Sankranti becomes Pongal. It
is a celebration of the harvest, which is observed
for three days in January. Bhogi Pongal, Surya
Pongal and Mattu Pongal, are the three days of
Pongal festivities on successive days.
KARTHIGAI:
In the month of Nov/Dec people decorate their
homes with lights to celebrate the birth of
Murugan, son of Lord Shiva. This festival is
particularly celebrated in Thiruvannamalai, one
of the pancha bootha kshetras and also an Agni
(fire) Kheshtra. On Karthigai Deepam day, a
huge vessel is filled with oil and gigantic wicks
are lit on top of the hill etc.

19. Dance(Bharatanatyam)
Bharatanatyam was a dance technique evolved in
the South of India in Tamil Nadu and practised
in the Shiva temples. It is a highly specialised
science with uses a traditional background and
rigid codes and conventions. Bharatanatyam
skillfully embodies the three primary aspects of
dance. They are bhava or mood, raga or music
and melody and tala or timing. The technique of
Bharatanatyam consists of the hand, foot, face
and body movements, which are performed to
the accompaniment of 64 principles of
coordination

20. PAINTING :
Tanjore is famous for its paintings made on
different objects. Artisansuse wood, glass, mica,
ivory and walls to paint using attractive
colours. Jewels, drapery and architectural
elements like finely executed pillars,
rich canopies, garlands of ropes and
chandeliers are slightly raised by the use of
special plaster, covered with pure gold leaf and
embedded with semi-precious stones.
ART AND CRAFT
METAL-WARE:
Tamil Nadu has a rich tradition of making metal
objects which are used for both religious and
secular purposes. A wide variety of objects include
standing lamps, aarathi s. Shallow dishes in
circular, hexagonal, octagonal and oval shapes are
widely used in Tamil Nadu and are made out of
bronze or sheet brass.

21. STONE CARVING:
Stone carving is a popular form of art continued to
exist over centuries.The famous sculptors here
belong to the Vishwakarma or Kammaalar
community. A subsidiary form of carving is
soapstone or maakal carving, found in the region
between Pondicherry and Cuddalore and around
Salem. These sculptors are sold at high prices in
national and international markets.
POTTERY:
Pottery is an important craft of Tamil Nadu. The
state is famous for its manufacture of the famous
Ayyannar horses. The horses are said to protect
each village from evil. The large terracotta horses
of Salem and Pudukottai are very much popular
and are of great demand.

22. TEXTILE
Tamilnadu is very famous for its textile work. Erode is the famous textile market
of tamilnadu. The city of Erode is also known as the Textile City or TexValley,
which is the dedicated Mega shopping mall for textiles.Trading of textiles done
for about more than ten crores every week. Many dedicated markets are there in
Erode for Textiles, like bed-spreads, carpets, dhoties, loom products and knit-
wears.

23. A typical Tamil breakfast consists of Idli or dosa served with sambar and chutney. The
dinner or lunch consists of rice with sambar or rasam served with various curries and
pickles.
The various types of Tamil recipes are described below.
•Dosai : crepes made from a fermented batter of rice and urad dal (gram),
•Idli : steamed rice-cakes, prepared from a fermented batter of rice and urad dal (gram),
and side-dishes are usually different kinds of chutney or sambhar.
•Upma/Uppittu :prepared from wheat (rava), onion, green chillies, and certain spices.
•Sambhar : a thick stew of lentils with vegetables and seasoned with exotic spices.
•Rasam : lentil soup with pepper, coriander and cumin seeds.
•South Indian Coffee : also known as Madras Filter Coffee is a sweet milky coffee popular
in Tamil Nadu. It is quite similar to the Cappuccino and Latte varieties of coffee in
the United States of America.
CUISINES

24. DO’S AND DONT’S
DO’S
 Be careful with your luggage, always keep it
with you.
 It is highly advisable to carry a waterproof
laminated card mentioning your details –
name, address, blood group or any medical
information.
 Keep your cash safely and avoid carrying too
much cash.
 If you find anything shady you can straight
away report to the police
 Carry maps of the places you have planned to
visit
 Hire licensed guides for sightseeing.
 Take off your shoes while entering any holy
place
DONT’S
 Don't trust strangers with cash
 Indian English has its own accent, so don't be
surprised at the ascent.
 Don't entertain beggars
 Women travelling alone should avoid going
out of her hotel at odd hours
 Always cross check your bill before leaving the
hotel
 Avoid driving after taking hard drink
 Avoid driving on Indian roads if you are not
trained in it.
 Avoid eating food from roadside as it might
cause stomach disorder
 Always avoid getting into strong arguments

25. By Air :
The Anna International Airport in Chennai is located 16 kms away from the centre . Regular and
weekly flights are available to/from Sri Lanka, Maldives, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Jakarta
England and Germany. Major cities of the country are also connected by domestic flights.
By Rail :
Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu is well connected by network of rails. Chennai has two railway
stations, one is Egmore station and the other is Chennai Central. Express and super fast trains are
available to/from important parts of the country.
By Road :
The bus terminals in Chennai are on either side of Prakasham Road in George Town near the High
Court building. There are regular buses available from Chennai to neighboring states. Ferry service is
also available in Chennai.
REACHING TAMILNADU

26. The Kurumba Village Resort, undoubtedly, contains an
ambience with plenty of poetic possibilities. In keeping
with the life style of the ancient Kurumba folk, our
cottages are airy and exotic with their Kurumba-tribal-
styled thatched cottages, which are, pyramid shaped
and bright interiors with pristine color and thatch-
work roofs. Every room has its exclusive balcony with
ornamental railings made of areca-nut wood. Read
More…
Centrally located in Ooty town on a hill, Raceview
was recently acquired by Stay Simple and has
since undergone extensive renovations and
changes in an effort to bring it on par with our
standards. Read More…
The bustling city of Madurai is said to have been
known as Kadambavanam or a forest, in the days
of yore. Tucked away off the Madurai-Natham
Road on the outskirts of Madurai is an ethnic
resort which is also known by the same name,
Kadambavanam. Read More….
Hotel Accommodation in Tamil Nadu

27. THANK YOU