Tamilnadu Tourism

6th century Chinese traveler Huan Tsu Ang described Kanchipuram as a major centre of learning. The Cholas were also great administrators and builders. Metal casting and bronze figures evolved into perfection during their times as evident in the beautiful sculpture of the Cosmic Dancer at Chidambaram. One can witness the metal artistry today at Thanjavur or Tanjore. Meenakshi Temple at Madurai has become the religious icon of the state and is said to be the place where Goddess Meenakshi, was born to the Pandya King Malayatwasan and his Queen Kachanamala. There are more than 30,000 temples in Tamil Nadu built by various dynasties. Most of them share the 'gopuram' or the imposing tower over the entrance, the 'vimanam', which is the tower over the sanctum and the spacious halls and corridors. With a number of flourishing industries, Tamil Nadu occupies third place in the Industrial map of India.

Spotlights:
Tamil Nadu has rich and varied forests and 5 national parks and 17 wildlife sanctuaries in total. These include the famous wildlife sanctuaries such as Anamalai or Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalakadu Wildlife Sanctuary, Mundanthurai Tiger Sanctuary, Kunthakulam Bird Sanctuary, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and the Viralimalai Sanctuary. However, the most preferred of all are the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, the Snake Park and the Crocodile Bank at Chennai. There are some famous Pallava Temples to see such as the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram, the Kailashanatha Temple at Kanchipuram, the Vaikuntha Perumal Temple at Kanchipuram and the Talagiriswara Temple at Kanchipuram.

Prominent Chola temples include the Brihadishwara temple at Thanjavur, Brihadishwara temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram and Kampaharesvara temple at Thirubuvanam. The Ranganatha temple at Srirangam is remarkable too. Mahabalipuram's famous bas-relief known as Arjuna's Penance, Thirumalai Nayak Mahal at Madurai, Padmanabhampuram Palace with a maze of 108 rooms artistically and opulently decorated and the Rock Fort temple at Tiruchirappalli are also worth not missing.