India is the land of unmatched diversity, every state in India is different from one another. This diversion is not only found in the culture, tradition and language, but also in the landscape. Every state in India is blessed with diverse landscape, and one such state is Tamil Nadu, located in the south of India.
Tamil Nadu welcomes travelers with awe-inspiring landscape, lush greenery, architectural marvels, ancient culture, classical arts, and vibrant festivals.
Due to its Dravidian style architectural wonders; Tamil Nadu is referred to as the cradle of Dravidian civilization. It is one of the ancient civilizations in the world that stretches back to more than two millennia. Visiting this state will help you to enrich your experience and enlighten you with knowledge of ancient history, tradition, and spirituality.
Explore Tamil Nadu through a well-curated tour package planned by India Tours, allowing travelers to immerse in the timeless charm of the state in a more comfortable and seamless way.Explore Tamil Nadu through a well-curated tour package planned by India Tours, allowing travelers to immerse in the timeless charm of the state in a more comfortable and seamless way.
1. Temples That Touch the Sky: The Spiritual Soul of Tamil Nadu
Let South india tour packages help you enjoy a comfortable trip to South India’s Tamil Nadu. Start your trip by visiting the sacred temples of Tamil Nadu, which are some of the ancient temples in the world, with rock cut structure and brilliant architecture design. These ancient rock cut temples are living museums of art, sculpture, and spiritual legacy, and in some till date, morning and evening prayers are performed.
Meenakshi Temple, Madurai: This temple is the treasure of Dravidian architecture, with its towering gateway towers (locally known as gopurams), and colorful complex carvings of the structures, representing God and Goddesses, and Hindu mythological stories.
Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur: Built in the 11th-century under the supervision of Raja Raja Chola I during the glorious period of the Chola dynasty when the Chola architecture and engineering was at its peak. Due to its brilliant architecture and engineering work, the temple is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram: This temple is located on Rameswaram Island and the main deity is Lord Shiv, worshipped in the form of lingam. It is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites and many Hindus believe that visiting this temple and offering prayers would help to seek moksha (salvation). It is renowned globally for its majestic towers, intricate stone sculptures, and the long corridors.
Kanchipuram: It is one of the seven most sacred cities in Hinduism and houses more than thousand temples, hence known as the City of Thousand Temples.
India Tours ensures guided visits to these ancient temples, so that you will know about the history of the temples and its deep spiritual significance.
2. Classical Arts: Where Culture Comes Alive
Tamil Nadu is known for its classical art forms; in fact it is the birth place of many classical dance forms and music, which the people have preserved till date.
Folk Arts: Some of the folk arts of the state are Kummi, Karagattam (which is pot balancing dance), and Villupattu (which is a unique bow song).
Carnatic Music: Listen to Carnatic Music, which is the most ancient classical music of India at the cultural centers or at the time of Margazhi Music Festival in Chennai.
Bharatanatyam: Watch Bharatanatyam, which is the most ancient classical dance form of India at a cultural center or at the time of temple festivals
With South India tour packages planned by India Tours, you can include activities as per your choice; just let the tour operator know the type of experience you would prefer. You can attend a cultural evening or visit workshops to learn about the classical arts of Tamil Nadu and enjoy an enriching experience.
3. Historical Monuments: Echoes of a Glorious Past
Beyond the extraordinary temples, Tamil Nadu is dotted with historical monuments and ruins of ancient cities that were once ruled by the powerful rulers of the Cholas, Pandyas, Pallavas, and Nayaks.
Mahabalipuram: This coastal town is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it is the home to the extraordinary ancient rock-cut temples with Dravidian architectural style; some of the renowned ones are Shore Temple, Arjuna’s Penance, and the Five Rathas.
Thanjavur Maratha Palace: This palace was the former seat of the Nayaks and Marathas; here you can take a tour of the palace complex.
Gingee Fort: This fort was built as a military defense point across three small hill rocks.
Take heritage walks, and guided tours to have an enriching historical experience.
4. Natural Beauty: From Hills to Coastlines
What could be better than, keeping your last days of your Tamil Nadu tour to visit the breathtaking hill-stations of the state that offers a captivating and relaxing experience?
Ooty (Udhagamandalam): A charming hill station nestled in the Nilgiri Hills that houses colonial era structures, tea plantations, and the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway (introduced during the colonial era by the British).
Kodaikanal: This serene and offbeat hill-station is the treasure trove of dense pine forests, charming lakes, and misty hills.
Yercaud and Coonoor: Offbeat hill-stations of the state blessed with enchanting views, offering a tranquil escape.
Kanyakumari: Tamil Nadu offers the best coastal experience in Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, where the three seas of the world meet, i.e. Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Rameswaram: Visit this coastal island destination connected to the mainland of Tamil Nadu by the Pamban Bridge.
5. Festivals: Tamil Nadu in Celebration Mode
The festivals of Tamil Nadu are vibrant and deeply rooted in culture, here are some of the festivals that are celebrated with great devotion and jest and fervor.
- Pongal, harvesting festival celebrated in January
- Chithirai Festival, Madurai, it is the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. The celebration continues for a month accompanied with colorful parades and rituals.
- Thaipusam, celebrated especially at Palani Murugan Temple, accompanied with colorful processions and religious ceremonies
- Navaratri (worshipping of three main Goddesses Durga, Laxmi and Saraswati).
- Deepavali (festival of lights)
6. Tamil Cuisine: A Feast for the Senses
If you are visiting Tamil Nadu, it is incomplete without trying the diverse cuisine of the state like:
- Must try traditional Tamil meals to savor include rice, kootu (dal and vegetable curry), rasam, poriyal (vegetable stir fry), sambar, and appalam (crispy wafer).
- Common dish of South Indian states include Dosa, idli, and vada.
7. Handicrafts and Shopping: Take Home a Piece of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is a hub of traditional crafts, prepared using ancient techniques, which have been passed down from generation. Some of the traditional handcrafted of Tamil Nadu that you can take back home as souvenir include Tanjore Paintings, Kanchipuram Silk Sarees, Bronze Statues, Stone Carvings and Terracotta Products.
Tamil Nadu is a vast state, to travel from one place to another requires changing transportation, and for deep spiritual and cultural tour you need to book from an experienced travel agent like India Tours.
