STATE: Tamil Nadu

Capital: Chennai

Major Airports: Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai

Ooty:

How to get there: from Chennai to Ooty it’s a 5 hrs Journey

List of sightseeing places with brief explanations: Places to see in Ooty: The Stone House or the Kal Bangla, Government Botanical Gardens, Rose Garden, Ooty Lake. Kandal

Cross Shrine about 3 Kms from the Ooty Railway station is a Roman Catholic Shrine, referred to as the "Calvary of Tamil Nadu". Established in 1933, the shrine is an important pilgrimage center for the Nilgiri Catholics.

St Stephen’s Church: Built in the 1820s on the site of an old Toda Temple, the St. Stephen’s Church is a small Gothic style church whose structure was constructed from the wood that was procured from Tipu Sultan's palace at Srirangapatnam. One of Ooty’s first colonial structures, the most significant feature of the St. Stephen’s Church is its gallery which is worth a visit and its Clock tower which shows the marching forth of time and shows men the right time. There is a graveyard near to the church which contains the grave of John Sullivan and other pioneers of the town.

Ootacamund or Ooty is situated in Nilgiri Mountains near Tri Junction of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Oty is the only hill station in india which attracts visitors during all seasons. It has built up fame as the `all-seasons -hill resort' and the `queen of hill stations'. It is one of the most popular hill resorts in southern India at an elevation of 7216 ft. above sea-level, her moods change with every season, but each of her moods is hospitable to the visitor. Nestling among the hills at a point where the Eastern Ghats meets the Western Ghats, the district headquarter town of Udhagamandalam sprawls along a beautiful plateau. The Eastern Ghats are mighty and attractive while the Western ghats have wooded loveliness. Nature unfolds itself in and around Ooty in a myriad of profiles, each one with a distinctive grandeur and individuality

This natural charm, several attractions compel the tourist to stay on for extended periods with comfort. The first British came to Ooty in 1812. He was followed by a few hundred European missionaries, educationist and civil servants. Finally, the hill stations attracted many Europeans so much so that it became the summer capital of the then vast Madras presidency, or the present Tamil Nadu State, which consisted of 75% of what we call South India today. Soon, Indian princes or Maharajas (who were the ruler of various areas and territories throughout India and industrialists built their palaces and mansions

The first inhabitants of this land were a tribe called Todas who had been living here long before the British came in the early nineteenth century. But the credit for modernising Udhagamandalam and making it accessible goes to the British who constructed the first railway line in the area and made it the summer capital of the Madras Presidency. Todas antedated all explorers to the Nilgiris by a great margin of time. Mr. John Sullivan discovered Ooty in 1820. He built a permanent house at Nilgiri Hill and this was the beginning. Soon several other British officers built their summer houses. Horses, pony bullock cart and tonga were transportation modes at that time.

Ooty's main industry is oil extraction particularly from the eucalyptus trees introduced during the 19th century, and also from lemon grass, geranium, clove and camphor

Even today the atmosphere of the Raj lingers in places like the Club where snooker was invented by a subaltern named Neville Chamberlain. The Nilgiri Library with its rare and valuable collection of books on Udhagamandalam and St. Stephen's Church which was Udhagamandalam's first church are reminiscent of the Raj. The cemetery near the church has the oldest British tombstones and includes graves of John Sullivan's wife and daughter, among other prominent personalities

Kanya Kumari:

How to get there: From Chennai to Kanyakumari it’s a 5 – 6 Hrs Journey

List of sightseeing places with brief explanations: Kanyakumari Lake places. Pechiparai Reservoir is one of the seeing. Kanyakumari is an important pilgrimage center, attracting several thousand pilgrims to its Sightseeing at Kanyakumari. Vivekananda Rock Memorial. The Kumari Amman Temple is mostly visited by tourists. The Kanyakumari beach has an overwhelming sight with the sand which has played with the colours of the sky. The Kanyakumari beach is a beautiful sight with multi-coloured sand.

Rameshwaram:

How to get there: from Hyderabad to Chennai and Chennai to Rameshwaram from train

List of sightseeing places with brief explanations: Ramanathswamy Temple, Rameshwaram a pilgrimage to Rameshwaram is one of the important injunctions of the Hindus. Rameshwaram is a sea swept sacred island of great tourist potential..Enjoy a full day sightseeing at Rameshwaram. The temple here is highly famous among Hindu pilgrims. Visit sight seeing places which include Museum, Marina beach.

Madurai:

How to get there: from Chennai 4-5 hrs journey

List of sightseeing places with brief explanations:

Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple: Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple is located at the heart of the city; the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple has long been the focus of both Indian and international tourist attraction as well as one of the most important places of Hindu pilgrimage. It is the hub of the religious and cultural life of the city. Kulasekara Pandya built this pre-Christian era temple. However, it was in ruins before Tirumalai Nayak who brought back the glory to this magnificent structure rebuilt it.

The Meenakshi temple is an excellent example of Dravidian architecture, with Gopurams (large gateways) and Mandapams (multi-pillared halls) covered from top to bottom in a profusion of multi-coloured images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures. Spread over six hectares, the temple has four entrances to it. The Rajagopuram on the eastern side is an unfinished structure that has a 174 sq. ft base, and had this tower been completed, it would surely have been the largest of its kind in the country. The eight smaller Gopurams are within the compounds of the twin temples.

In the Ashta Shakti Mandapam inside the Meenakshi temple, the sculpted pillars tell the story of the beautiful princess of Madurai and her marriage to Lord Shiva. It was believed that the princess was actually an incarnation of Parvati who came to earth to honour a promise. Shiva came to Madurai as Sundareswarar to marry Meenakshi and the two ruled over the kingdom for many years before they left for their heavenly abode from the spot where the temple now stands.

Thirumalai Nayak Mahal: Muslim armies on the rampage brought an end to the royal line of the Vijayanagar Empire paving way for the Nayaks, who assumed royal powers over their principalities, which included Madurai. The city and the dynasty flourished from the 16th to the 18th century. Thirumalai Nayak built this palace 1 km southeast of the temple. Built in the Indo-Saracenic style, all that remains of this magnificent mansion today are the principal entrance, the dancing hall and the main hall. The main attraction now is the light and sound show in the palace, which depicts events from Thirumalai Nayak's life and also snatches from the ancient Tamil epic Silappathikaram.

Mariamman Teppakulam,: Also built by Thirumalai Nayak in the 17th century, this huge tank in the eastern part of the city is said to have underground channels connecting it with the Vaigai River. There is a Mandapam with an idol of Vinayaka or the Elephant God, right in the middle of the tank, brilliantly illuminated during the Float Festival celebrated on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Thai, falling between 15th January and -15th February.

Tirupparankundram: This cave temple is cut out of solid rock. There are myths and legends surrounding the deity Murugan here. This is one of his six abodes, Murugan being the second son of Shiva. Situated 10 km south of the city, the place where the temple is built is supposed to have been the site of his marriage to Devayani

Gandhi Museum: This museum as the name suggests is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, fondly known as the Father of the Nation. It is housed in what used to be the palace of Rani Mangammal. Among the collection of Gandhi memorabilia exhibited here is the bloodstained dhoti that he was wearing on the fateful day of his assassination.

Palani Murugan Temple: The temple at Palani is one of the six abodes of Lord Subramanya or Murugan. Dedicated to Sri Dandayuthapani, the temple is built atop a 140m high hill and can be reached by either using steps or the electrically operated winch. During the festivals of Panguni Uthiram (March-April) and Adi Krithikai (July-August) Kavadi dancers dance and walk their way from far and near as they flock to the temple in hundreds, often in a state of trance. Situted at 119 km from Madurai.

Trichy:

How to get there: from Chennai to Trichy

List of sightseeing places with brief explanations: Trichi has a number of sites within the close proximity of the city that you can visit. Most of the sites here hold great historical importance. Rock Fort Temple, an enchanting temple unique in its own way makes a must visit site of Trichi. Moreover, the Tiruvanaikkaval temple which is famous for its Siva lingam and the seven gopurams are the other pilgrimage sites to visit in Trichi. The Place of Temple dedicated to Lord Muruga. It is 6 kilometer from Trichy City. Puliancholai, a fine picnic spot, it is located in the foot, Sri Rangnathaswamy Temple. Trichy is known for its imposing temples and majestic monuments. Travel including temple sightseeing tour,fort sightseeing tour and other tourist spots. Gunaseelam Vishnu Temple is one of the oldest and important vaishnav templesTHIRUVANAIKOVIL IS VERY NICE PLACE IN TRICHY.

Tanjavur:

How to get there: from Chennai to Tanjavur

List of sightseeing places with brief explanations: Thanjavur is basically a place ruled by the Cholas Tanjavur has 93 temples, Thanjavur Tourist Attractions. Gangakondacholapuram Temple, Thanjavur. Thanjavur Prime Attractions. The Shrine of Sri Subramanya. Thanjavur is an important center for bronze figure casting. The temples of Trichy and Rameshwaram have their own distinct styles and are certainly a delight

Kanchipuram:

How to get there: Nearest airport is Chennai International airport, which is 75 km away from Kanchipuram.

List of sightseeing places with brief explanations: Kanchipuram has reserved its place in the world's most famous tourist Devarajaswami Temple,Ekambaranath Temple,Kachapeshwarara Temple,Kailasanathar Temple,Kamakshi Amman Temple,Kanchi Kamakshi Temple, One of the most popular historical tourist place in Kanchipuram, Kanchi Kudil was born hospitality services with elaborate local sightseeing tour.

Chennai:

How to get there: Train or Flight Directly from Hyderabad

List of sightseeing places with brief explanations:

Fort St. George: One of the important landmarks of Chennai, Fort St George was named after St. George, the patron saint of England. The St. Mary’s Church, the oldest Anglican Church in India built in 1680 is located here as are the tombstones of some of prominent Britishers of the time. Houses rare exhibits of weapons, uniforms, coins, costumes, medals and other artifacts and memorabilia of the British period. The flag mast at Fort St. George is the tallest in India. The State Legislature and the Secretariat too are located inside this fort

Marina Beach: If you want to see the sun rise over the ocean, then it is to the Marina Beach you should head. This second longest beach in the world is one of the favorite haunt of both the locals and the tourists. The memorials of the former Chief Ministers of the state C.N.Annadurai and M.G.Ramachandran are located nearby as also some of the most beautiful buildings in Chennai such as the University of Madras, the Senate House, Chepauk Palace, Presidency College and the Ice House.

Kapaleeshwara Temple, Mylapore: This 8th century Pallava temple later renovated in the 16th century by Vijayanagar rulers is one of the finest examples of Dravidian architecture. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, has some beautiful sculptures including the bronze idols of 63 Saivaite Saints or the Nayanmars that adorns the outer courtyard. The temple wears a festive look during March-April when the annual Arubathumoovar festival dedicated to the 63 Nayanmars is held. Another notable feature of this temple is its 36 mt. goparum adorned with carvings, figurines and inscriptions.

Parthasarathy Temple: One of the Chennai’s oldest temples the main entrance of this 8th century temple is painted in red, blue and yellow with inscriptions from the Puranas sculpted on the sanctum sanctorum.

The Basilica of San Thome or the Santhome Cathedral: The final resting place of the apostle St. Thomas who was killed just outside the city in 78 AD, the Cathedral is an important pilgrimage centre for the Christians mainly for the Syrian Christians of Kerala. An old church, built by the Portuguese around 1514 is located here. An old stone cross which the apostle is said to have clutched in his hand while dying is the main attraction here. The blood-like stains on the cross have given it the name Bleeding Cross and the stains on it have to this day been found to be too deep to be removed. There is a museum in its premises with a 16th-century map of South Asia as well.

Ripon Building: This huge Indo-Saracenic building named after Lord Ripon is the seat of the Chennai Corporation, the oldest city Corporation in India.

Valluvar Kottam: A replica of the temple chariot in Thiruvarur, Valluvar Kottam is the memorial of the great Tamil saint philosopher Thiruvalluvar. A life-size statue of the saint has been installed in the 39 meters tall chariot while 133 chapters of his famous work Thirukkural have been depicted in bas-relief in the front hall and corridors of the chariot. The auditorium at Valluvarkottam said to be the largest in Asia can accommodate about 4000 people

Theosophical Society: The Theosophical Society was founded by Madame Blavatsky and Col. Olott in the USA, and later moved to Adyar in 1882 to facilitate and encourage the study of comparative religions, philosophy and science and rational thought. The society library is reportedly to be 100 years old and has an interesting collection of ancient and rare manuscripts on palm leaves and parchment. The Adyar Banyan tree is said to be over 400 years old and the Garden of Remembrance are the other attractions

National Art Gallery: Built in 1906, the gallery has an excellent collection of old paintings and sculptures including Tanjore paintings on glass, Rajput and Mughal miniature paintings, Deccan paintings from the 17th century and handicrafts, metal-ware, and ivory carvings from the 11th and 12th century.

The Government Museum: Established in the year 1857, the Government Museum showcases the country’s best collection of South Indian bronzes. The Amaravati Gallery contains rare 2nd century marble sculptures, depicting important events in the life of Gautama Buddha. Bronzes from the 10th and 13th centuries and handicrafts from the 11th and 12th centuries also are seen here. The museum also has geology and anthropology sections

Guindy National Park: Spread over 595 acres, Guindy National Park also known as the Deer Park is home to the rare Indian Antelope or the black buck, Spotted Deer, White Buck, Bonnet Monkey, Small Indian Civet Cat, Jackal, Jungle Cat, Common Mongoose and the Common Palm Civet Cat. Birds such as the King Fisher, Blue Jay, Golden Backed Woodpecker, Crow Pheasant, Yellow Wattled Lapwing, Redwattle Lapwing, Blue Faced Malkoha, Shrikes, Koels, Doves, Munias, Parakeets, Grey Partridge, Tailor birds, Robins, Drongos, Quails, Bird of Paradise Flycatcher and the Stone Curlew can also be seen here along with 30 trees species that include a centuries-old banyan trees. Adjacent to the Guindy National Park are the Children’s Park and the Snake Park

Other Interesting places to see in Chennai
In addition to the above, other tourist attractions in Chennai include the Birla Planetarium; the beautiful Church of our Lady of Expectations built by the Portuguese in 1523; the Memorials of Gandhi, Rajaji, Kamaraj & Bhaktavatsalam situated east of Raj Bhavan, the Governor’s Residence; the Vivekananda House & Museum or the Ice House where photographs depicting the historical happenings associated with his life and books about him and his own written works are on display and sold; The High Court-One of the largest judicial complexes in the world built in 1892. It has decorative domes and corridors reminiscent of Indo Saracenic architecture; The Island Ground- an island formed by the River Cooum & the venue for Trade and Tourist Fairs; the Elliot’s Beach with its Velankanni church & the Ashtalakshmi temple and the numerous temple of Vishnu, Murugan etc in and round Chennai namely the the Devi Karumariamman Temple at Thiruverkadu; Kamatchi Amman Temple at Mangadu; Marundheeswarar Temple, Thiruvanmiyur; Sri Jaganath Temple, Kanathur; , the Jain Temple in Vepery; the Murugan at Kundrathur, Thiruporur and Chrompet; The Vishnu Temples are at Thirumazhisai, Tiruninravur and Thiruneermalai, Masilamaneeswarar Temple at Thirumullaivayal, Nithya Kalayana Perumal Temple at Thiruvidanthai; and the Thiruvudaiamman Temple at Melur; The Anjaneya Temple, the Raghavendra Temple and Raja Rajeswari Temple at Nanganallur, the Sri Devi Vadivudai Amman Temple at Thiurvottiyur and Sri Sai Baba Temple at Vettuvankeni.

Mahabhalipuram:

How to get there: Mahabalipuram is a 03 hour drive from Chennai

List of sightseeing places with brief explanations:

Monuments:
Undoubtedly, one of the most famous tourist attractions in Mahabalipuram has to be the Shore Temple.As the name indicates, it is situated on the sea-shore and looks breathtaking in the moonlight. Unusual for a Hindu place of worship, it is dedicated to both Shiva and Vishnu. Though the design of the temple allows it to be transformed into a water shrine by letting in the sea through water channels, this has been blocked off from fear of erosion.

Out of the many pillared halls cut out from the rock face, the Ganesh Mandapa and the Varaha Mandapa are the most frequented. Even now revered as a place of worship, the Ganesh mandapa has been in use for more than fourteen centuries now. The Mahishasuramardini Mandapa (dedicated to the goddess Durga) and the Vishnu Sayana Mandapa (featuring the reclining figure of Vishnu under the protection of the seven-hooded Adishesha naag) are other monuments in Mahabalipuram belonging to the same style of architecture.

Put a visit to the famous Rathas on the top of your Things to Do in Mahabalipuram list. Total eight in number, five of them are dedicated to the Pandavas and one to Draupadi. Though they share similar features, the wide variety visible in their lay-out suggests that they are the results of some experimentation on the parts of eth architect. Also curious is the fact that, clearly, they are the replicas of structures formerly carved in wood. Such is the faithfulness of the stone copy that even the grain of the wood has been simulated faithfully in it

Arjuna’s Penence is a free-standing rock carving, independent of any temple or mandapa structure. Krishna’s Butterball is another free-standing rock structure, though of a natural nature. Popular in terms of sight-seeing in Mahabalipuram, it is a good resting place if you dare to sit beneath it.Though not as famous as the caves in Ajanta-Ellora or Elephanta, Mahabalipuram has its own set of Varaha Caves depicting the impressively carved figures of Vishnu, Durga, Trivikama.

Pondicherry:

How to get there: The nearest airport to Pondicherry is Chennai, 135 km away from the city.

List of sightseeing places with brief explanations: These are the major attractions in Pondicherry, places like The Matrimandir, Sri Aurobindo ashram.

On the eastern side of Indian peninsula, Pondicherry is a seaside resort. But at the same time it differs very much from a typical beach resort. Tourist attractions in Pondicherry lie in its ambience

Old French style buildings, churches and museums, tree-lined boulevards along the seashore would remind you of a bygone era. The Laidback Township, pristine beach and the palm trees swaying in breeze bring a slice of serenity. The only sound you can hear is the waves crashing against the rocks and the chirping of the birds.

But to cap it all, the Auroville Ashram is the biggest of all tourist attractions in Pondicherry. Just because of it, the destination of Pondicherry exudes a spiritual aura. For the weary soul, this is an ideal retreat. Any evening head for the Ashram meditate, soothe the battered psyche.

You can also choose to visit a few other monuments that are located in the city. The French War Memorial, the Aayi Mandapam, a 19th Century Lighthouse, Romain Rolland Library, the Museum are other tourist attractions in Pondicherry. The old Parisian churches would draw you attention due to their architectural beauty

Activity is not the highlight of a Pondicherry tour. Come here to roam about, feel the spirit and be charmed.

Chidambaram:

How to get there: Chidambaram is a 02 hour drive fro m Pondicherry

List of sightseeing places with brief explanations: Places to Visit in Chidambaram There are quite a good number of tourist attractions in Chidambaram. Amongst the must visits in Chidambaram is the Nataraja. Chidambaram is a major pilgrim town and is famous for its Shiva temple. A unique one of a kind temple, it is dedicated to Lord Nataraja and the classical dance of Bharatanatyam. Chidambaram is a major pilgrimage centre for Hindus. The town is developed around the main temple. Of the many festivals, the two largest are the 10-day car festivals, which are celebrated in April/May and December/January. In February, Chidambaram also hosts the annual Natyanjali dance festival. There are many more tourist places nearby that you can visit from here.

Coonoor:

How to get there: Coonoor is a 02 hour drive from Ooty.

List of sightseeing places with brief explanations: Coonoor is divided into Lower Coonoor and Upper Coonoor. In Upper Coonoor , you can visit SIM’S PARK which is a 12 hectare botanical garden housing hundreds of rose varieties and over 1000 other plant species such as ferns , pines , camellia and magnolia. It is open daily 8am-6.30pm and the entry fee is Rs. 5. There is an Annual Fruit Show at the Park in the last week of May

The PASTEUR INSTITUTE lies opposite Sim’s Park. It is famous for its research on rabies.

There are a few viewpoints to be visited. DOLPHIN’S NOSE {10km.} is commonly featured in Bollywood movies thanks to its spectacular views of St. Catherine’s fall and the Coonoor and Kotagiri streams. An early morning visit and a walk in the densely wooded area are the most enjoyable.

LAMB’S ROCK {5km.} is both a vantage spot and a picnic area which is reached via an old British path. It overlooks the ravines and plains up to Mettupalayam

If you want to visit a tea plantation, contact the United Planter’s Association of Southern India {UPASI} at Glenview. An Annual Tea and Tourism Festival is held in January

Trekking opportunities are available in plenty; hotel front offices will provide information and sometimes make arrangements.