A travel Guide to Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Tourism

Situated in the southern region of India, Tamil Nadu is a land of cultural and religious heritages. Tamil Nadu tourism is enchanting with the vast history and beauty it holds. The eleventh largest state of India has been shaped by the finest ruling dynasties for centuries. Lying alongside the Bay of Bengal, Tamil Nadu breathes life with its fertile coastline. Tamil Nadu tourists places include many famous temples, hill stations and beaches. The rock-cut architecture of historical sites and temples reflect stories of Tamil Nadu’s past. Tamil Nadu tourism will have you experience thrilling, adventurous, and beautiful experiences.

Tamil Nadu tourism attracts people from all over the world to explore what’s left of the forts and palaces, hill stations, and temples. Among many Tamil Nadu attractions, eight places are certified by UNESCO as world heritage sites. With the cultures, art, traditions, and the perfect blend of modern and ancient, Tamil Nadu tours offer you experiences that will make you want to come back for more.

Tamil Nadu is a beautiful state that you can visit with your family, friends or even alone. With so many Tamil Nadu attractions, there are a plethora of things for you to do. With easily available affordable hotels, you can have a lovely trip to this place. This Tamil Nadu travel guide is here to give you all the information you need for planning a tour of this city.

Places to visit in Tamil Nadu

1. Rameshwaram

One of the holiest places in India, Rameshwaram is situated on the beautiful Pamban Island. This unspoiled land in India has significant religious value. It’s believed to be the place where Lord Rama built the bridge to Sri Lanka. The famous Ramanathaswamy temple has the longest corridor in the whole world. Rameshwaram is a must stop in the famous Char Dham Yatras and other pilgrimages. Many temples here are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Out of all the Tamil Nadu tourist attractions, this is the best place to visit for spiritual people.

2. Ooty

Also known as Udagamandalam, Ooty is a famous hill station and counted among the best Tamil Nadu tourist places to visit. You can easily find hotels in Ooty to plan your stay. Blessed with serene tea gardens, colonial architecture, and country lanes; this place offers you a beautiful and peaceful experience. Ooty is situated in Nilgiri hills and the Nilgiri mountain railway has the steepest track in all of Asia. Ooty has an aura to allure you once you visit this place.

3. Kodaikanal

Situated in the Palani hills, Kodaikanal is the home to Kodaikanal Lake. This lake is one of the most visited places among Tamil Nadu tourist attractions. Standing at an altitude of 7200 feet above sea level, the literal meaning of this place is ‘the gift of the forests’. Kodaikanal is a place so beautiful that you’ll see your imagination coming true right before your eyes. The famous Kodai lake has many unique fauna and fishes. This lakeside town is perfect for your getaway.

4. Yercaud

Yercaud is another famous hill station township in Tamil Nadu. Among other Tamil Nadu tourist attractions, this destination is famous for being like a paradise with picturesque local areas, great weather, walkways, and blue hills. If you visit this place, you’ll find many waterfalls, lakes, gardens, and beautiful viewpoints. Yercaud is the main tourist attraction in this place. You can enjoy the amazing summer festival that takes place in May.

5. Mudumalai National Park

Located in the northwestern region of Nilgiri, this national park is a part of the famous Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. This destination is home to several endangered birds and animal species. This diverse national park connects the Western Ghats to the Eastern Ghats. This is a beautiful landscape with a blue sky and an amazing view of Nilgiri hills.

Things to do in Tamil Nadu

There are many things to do in Tamil Nadu. In this Tamil Nadu travel guide, we have picked out a few of the things that you’ll enjoy:

Trekking

Kodaikanal is a famous destination for hill trekking in Tamil Nadu. For all the adventure lovers visiting Tamil Nadu, this is a great activity to indulge in. There are three different trekking routes in Kodaikanal, out of which you can pick anyone based on the difficulty level you can manage. Another place famous for trekking in Tamil Nadu is Palani Hill Reserve Forest that offers you a trekking route full of unforgettable experiences.

Surfing

The beaches and coastal areas of Tamil Nadu cater to people interested in surfing. Kovalam is famous for its annual surf festival and is a spot on the global surfing map. You can easily rent a surfboard and enjoy it. Other than Kovalam, Mahabalipuram is another destination for surfing. There are surfing classes that visitors can join to learn about this activity. Indulging in this activity is a must if you love water sport.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway

The 1000mm gauge railway ascending the Nilgiri hills was built back in 1908 by the Britishers. It’s another world heritage declared by UNESCO. The toy train journey begins from Mettupalayam and travels through bridges, tunnels, and curves offering a spectacular view of the beautiful landscape of Ooty. This 46-kilometre-long toy train ride is a must thing to do in Tamil Nadu if you’re travelling with kids.

Mountaineering in the Western Ghats

Western Ghats region in Tamil Nadu is a UNESCO world heritage site and is famous for adventure activities like mountaineering. For rock climbing, the regions around Nilgiri and Coonoor are particularly very famous. You can go through recognised service providers to experience these adventurous activities. With beautiful scenic beauty all around you, you’ll feel the right kind of rush.

Best time to Tamil Nadu

The winter season, from November to February, is the best time to visit Tamil Nadu. Due to the low temperature, the weather remains pleasant throughout the state. The summer season is also perfect as the hill stations offer relief from the scorching heat of other parts of the country. Monsoon is definitely not the best season to visit Tamil Nadu as the heavy downpour from June to September makes it hard to travel.

Since Tamil Nadu is a large state, there's a vast range of places to go and things to do. You should choose a time as per the length of your trip and the places you are planning to visit.

How to reach Tamil Nadu

With the help of this Tamil Nadu tour guide, you don’t need to worry about how to reach Tamil Nadu. There are three ways to reach Tamil Nadu: by airways, by railway, and by roadways.

By Airways: There are flights to and from many domestic airports and international airports in Tamil Nadu. You can easily board a flight to Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli international airports to reach Tamil Nadu from all around the world.

By Roadways: Tamil Nadu is well connected with the rest of the country by road. There are a total of 25 National Highways passing through Tamil Nadu. You can take a private or public bus service to get there.

By Railways: Indian Railways connects Tamil Nadu to the rest of the country. The major junctions in Tamil Nadu are Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Salem, and Coimbatore.