Top 10 must-visit holiday places in Tamil Nadu

Top 10 must-visit holiday places in Tamil Nadu.

In the southern part of India, Tamil Nadu is a treasure trove of tourist spots. The state has got everything from calming beaches, architectural marvels, and stunning temples to awe-inspiring natural beauty. It isn’t easy to select just ten places you cannot miss because the state has many things to see. Depending on your interests, you will be spoilt for choice!

In no particular order, let us look at some interesting places you can visit in Tamil Nadu.

1. Chennai

The capital city of Tamil Nadu is a blend of tradition and modernity. Situated on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, it has a variety of temples, places to see, art and cultural options, shopping arenas and malls and culinary delights. In addition, its proximity to other tourist centres like Kancheepuram, Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry is an advantage.

The beaches are vast, and there are many to choose from. The sunrises are captivating on the beaches, and evenings are breezy. Don’t miss the famous temples of Kapaleeshwarar, Parthasarathy temple in Triplicane, and Murugan temple in Vadapalani. The Government Museum in Egmore, Guindy National Park, Snake Park, and The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust are easily accessible and very interesting to visit.

Shopping is exciting in T. Nagar, where you can buy silk sarees and jewellery or just window shop in Pondy Bazaar or Sowcarpet. There is no shortage of good shopping malls, and the famous Express Avenue Mall, the Palladium, and the Phoenix Market City offer luxury brands and fashion clothing.

Food is exciting, and there is a wide range of South Indian food, including idli, dosa, sambar, vada, and the traditional South Indian filter coffee, available all over the city. Street food is also very common, as are eateries dotting the beaches of Chennai. Excellent cuisines like Chettinad, Kongunad, Andhra, North Indian, and Kerala food are available all over the city.

With a warm and humid climate, Chennai is an extremely well-connected city.

2. Madurai

Mostly known for its famous temple dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi, Madurai is known as the “Athens of the East”. The beautiful gopurams or towers in the temple offer a spiritual experience, and the temple has a rich history. Temples, churches, and palaces adorn the streets of Madurai. The ancient structures speak volumes of the Dravidian architectural brilliance. The city is bustling and has old-style fabric stores, markets selling fresh produce and aromatic spice shops. Madurai is famous for jasmine flowers. They are called “Madurai Malli” and also have a GI tag. Anklets made in Madurai are very famous and are even exported. Madurai is also known for tradition and bravery. During the festival of Pongal, people indulge in the game of taming ferocious bulls in a game called “Jallikattu”. Jallikattu is a traditional bull-taming sport where participants attempt to grab a bull’s hump and hold on while it tries to escape. The earliest evidence of Jallikattu dates back to 2,500 years ago, and it was also mentioned in the Tamil epic Silappadikaram. People in Madurai worship and revere the river Vaigai that flows through the city. Sangam literature (circa 300 BCE to 300 CE) has paid many tributes to Vaigai, extolling it as ‘the river that brings water when one touches it’.

3. Thanjavur

Thanjavur, also known as Tanjore, is a historic city with ancient temples and lush and verdant paddy fields surrounding it. The town rose in prominence in history when it was the capital city of the Chola dynasty. The Brahadeeshwara temple (dedicated to Lord Shiva) at Thanjavur is a UNESCO World Heritage monument. The Chola King Rajaraja-I built it in the 11th century, and it is an architectural marvel. The temple tower is one of the tallest towers designed so that the Vimana (pyramidal tower) never casts a shadow, even at noon throughout the year. The Thanjavur Palace and Museum, built by the Nayaks and Marathas, also houses an art gallery, library, and music hall. Thanjavur’s cuisine is a mix of traditional Brahmin, Mukkulathor, and Maratha cuisines. The food has a heavy Maratha influence because of the kings that ruled here. Vegetarian, sattvic and non-vegetarian food are attractions here. Thanjavur has a wealthy patronage of paintings, dance and music and is a destination for these arts.

4. Ooty

Originally called Ootacamund, Ooty is a favourite hill station in Tamil Nadu. Famous for its mountains, lakes, waterfalls and gardens, it is a hot pick for Bollywood directors and honeymooners. It was called the “Switzerland of India” or the “Queen of hill stations”. Ooty is also sometimes referred to as the “blue mountains”.  There is lots to see: the botanical gardens, the Pykara Falls, Doddabetta Peak, Ooty Lake, Elk Hill Murugan temple and Fernhills Palace. The Ooty Lake and boathouse are huge attractions that offer boating. Boat races and boat pageantry are also conducted as part of the summer festival conducted here in May.  Do not miss a quick trip to Mudumalai National Park, home to various endangered wildlife species. The peak season to visit Ooty is April to June when the weather is pleasant.

5. Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal is another beautiful hill station in Tamil Nadu with wooded slopes and misty green meadows. Kodaikanal translates to “The Gift of the Forest” in Tamil.  Attractions in Kodaikanal are the Kodai Lake, Devil’s Kitchen (deep caves or caverns made famous by a Tamil movie that was shot there called Guna), Bryant Park, Bear Shola Falls, and Pillar Rocks. Coaker’s Walk has a lovely walkway that offers beautiful views of the valley. Do not miss the Silver Cascade Falls and the Kurinji temple dedicated to Lord Murugan. If you want to shop in Kodaikanal, you can buy cheese, chocolate, handicrafts, fresh produce, woollens, and oils and spices. Kodaikanal can be visited year-round, but the ideal time is between October and March in the winter.

6. Coimbatore

Coimbatore is referred to as Kovai and is also called the “Manchester of the south” because of its famous textile industry. Coimbatore is home to various industries, businesses, and botanical gardens. It is both cosmopolitan and has traditional vibes. If you are visiting, you must see the Marudhamalai temple, the GD Naidu Museum (which has unique vintage cars collected from all over the world), the Siruvani Falls, the Isha Yoga Center and the Sidhapur Sree Ayyappan temple. Coimbatore is known as the “Pump City” because it supplies nearly half India’s motors and pumps. If you want to shop in Coimbatore, it is a haven for textiles, and you can choose from regular shops to branded ones in big malls. Town Hall Market is a shopping destination on Oppanakara Street and Cross Cut Road. Foodies must not miss the Annapoorna hotels here.

7. Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram is a historical place made famous by the Hindu epic Ramayana. It is a quaint beach town and a popular Hindu pilgrimage destination. The Ramanathswamy temple is the most revered location and has a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples in India. The legend goes that Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva here at Rameshwaram after he defeated Ravana in Sri Lanka. Rameshwaram is also famous for India’s President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. You could visit the Kalam National Memorial, the Gandamadana Parvatham (a hill that has views of the town: legend has it that Lord Rama climbed this hill while looking for Sita Devi), the Pamban bridge which is an old railway bridge connecting the Pamban Island to the mainland, the Agnitheertham beach which is considered sacred, the Ram Sethu (bridge believed to have been built by Lord Rama). Dhanushkodi is nearby and has spectacular views of the ocean. Once a thriving village, it was abandoned after the cyclone hit the town in 1964, eradicating it.

8. Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari is situated on the southernmost tip of India. The most famous place here is the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. It is said that Swami Vivekananda swam to the rock and meditated there. Close to it is also the Tiruvalluvar statue of the famous Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar, who composed the renowned Tirukkural treatise. The Kumari Amman temple is also famous for the Goddess Devi Kanya Kumari and is one of the 108  Shakti Peethas. Kanyakumari is also famous as a sunset point with fabulous sunset views. It is also the confluence point of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. The Sanguthurai beach and the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial are also worth a visit.

9. Kanchipuram

Situated near Chennai, Kanchipuram is famous for its temples. It is famously called “The City of a Thousand Temples”. It is difficult to point out temples from so many, but the most important one is the Kanchi Kamakshi temple. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi and is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths. It features an idol of Kamakshi Amman sitting in a yogic pose of Padmasana. Also famous is the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, which was established by Sri Adi Sankara in the year 482 BC. It is a Hindu religious centre for Vedic learning and is located just next to the Kamakshi temple. Also famous are the Varadaraja Perumal temple (Lord Vishnu), the Kailasanathar temple (Lord Shiva), and Sri Ekambareshwar temple (Lord Vishnu).  Kanchipuram is also where the famous South Indian Kanchi Silk and cotton sarees originate. The town has many weavers and shops bustling with people buying sarees wholesale to sell them in other parts of the country.

10. Thiruchirapalli or Trichy

Trichy is located on the banks of the Kaveri River. There are many historical monuments here. The city was the capital of the Early Cholas and was ruled by the Pallavas, Pandyas, Vijayanagar Empire, Nayak Dynasty, the Carnatic state, and the British. Most famous is the Rockfort (also called Malakottai), a temple complex built on a high rock (272 ft). It has two temples: Ucchi Pilliyar (Lord Ganesha) and Thayumanaswami temple (Lord Shiva). Not to be missed is also the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple (Lord Vishnu is a lying down posture). You could also visit the Kallanai Dam and the Railway Museum. Food is generally traditional South Indian food, with plenty of restaurants all over the town.

Summary

Depending on whether you want to go to a place on the seaside or the quiet hills, Tamil Nadu has enough options for you to choose from. Most places are well connected by road, rail, and air. Excellent food options are an added attraction, as are the variety of shopping options that one can indulge in. Tamil Nadu has all the options that you may be looking for.