Tamil Nadu is the southernmost state of India located on south-eastern coast of the Indian peninsula. The state is straddled by Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats to the west and north and the waters of Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea on the other two sides. It is the home of the Tamil people, who speak Tamil language, one of the oldest surviving languages. The capital and largest city is Chennai which is known as the "Gateway to South India". As of 2021[update], the state is the most visited and has received the most number of tourists amongst all states of India.
Archaeological evidence points to Tamil Nadu being inhabited for more than 400 millennia and has more than 5,500 years of continuous cultural history. The Tamilakam region has been ruled over by many kingdoms, major of which are the Sangam era (300 BC–300 CE) rulers of the Cheras, Cholas, and Pandyas, the Pallava dynasty (3rd–9th century CE), and the later Vijayanagara Empire (14th–17th century CE) followed by European colonization from the 17th century till the Indian Independence in 1947. Hence, culture, cuisine and architecture have seen multiple influences over the years and have developed diversely. With its diverse culture and architecture, long coastline with beaches, dense forests and mountains of Western and Eastern ghats, Tamil Nadu has a robust tourism industry which contributes significantly to the GDP of the state.
Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation was established by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1971 and is the nodal agency responsible for the promotion of tourism and development of tourist related infrastructure in the state. The tag line "Enchanting Tamil Nadu" is used in the tourism promotions by Government of Tamil Nadu.
Historically, Tamil Nadu had been inhabited by hominids more than 400 millennia ago and has more than 5,500 years of continuous cultural history.[1][2] Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, who speak Tamil language, one of the oldest surviving languages.[3] The Tamilakam region has been ruled over by many kingdoms, major of which are the Sangam era (300 BC–AD 300) rulers of the Chera, Chola, and Pandya clans, the Pallava dynasty (3rd–9th century), and the later Vijayanagara Empire (14th–17th century).[4]European colonization began with establishing trade ports in the 17th century, with the British controlling much of the territory for two centuries before the Indian Independence in 1947.[5][6] When India became independent in 1947, erstwhile Madras presidency became Madras State, comprising present-day Tamil Nadu and parts of other states which was subsequently split up along linguistic lines. In 1969, Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu, meaning "Tamil country".[7]
After independence, the economy of Tamil Nadu conformed to a socialist framework, with strict governmental control over private sector participation, foreign trade, and foreign direct investment. In the 1970s while the economy of Tamil Nadu consistently exceeded national average growth rates, due to reform-oriented economic policies and the tourism industry started to develop subsequently.[8] In 1971, Government of Tamil Nadu established the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, which is the nodal agency responsible for the promotion of tourism and development of tourist related infrastructure in the state.[9] It is managed by the Tourism,Culture and Religious Endowments Department.[10] The tag line "Enchanting Tamil Nadu" was adopted in the tourism promotions.[11][12] In the 21st century, the state has been amongst the top destinations for domestic and international tourists.[12][13] As of 2021[update], Tamil Nadu recorded the most tourist foot-falls.[14]
Tamil women traditionally wear a sari, a garment that consists of a drape varying from 5 yards (4.6 m) to 9 yards (8.2 m) in length and 2 feet (0.61 m) to 4 feet (1.2 m) in breadth that is typically wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, baring the midriff, as according to Indian philosophy, the navel is considered as the source of life and creativity.[15][16] Ancient Tamil poetry such as the Silappadhikaram, describes women in exquisite drapery or sari.[17] Women wear colourful silk sarees on special occasions such as marriages.[18] The men wear a dhoti, a 4.5 metres (15 ft) long, white rectangular piece of non-stitched cloth often bordered in brightly coloured stripes. It is usually wrapped around the waist and the legs and knotted at the waist.[19] A colourful lungi with typical batik patterns is the most common form of male attire in the countryside.[20] People in urban areas generally wear tailored clothing, and western dress is popular. Western-style school uniforms are worn by both boys and girls in schools, even in rural areas.[20]
Cuisine
Rice is the diet staple and is served with sambar, rasam, and poriyal as a part of a Tamil meal.[21]Coconut and spices are used extensively in South Indian cuisine. The region has a rich cuisine involving both traditional non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes comprising rice, legumes, and lentils. Its distinct aroma and flavour is achieved by the blending of flavourings and spices.[22][23] The traditional way of eating a meal involves being seated on the floor, having the food served on a banana leaf,[24] and using clean fingers of the right hand to take the food into the mouth.[25]Idli, dosa, uthappam, Pesarattu, appam, pongal, and paniyaram are popular breakfast dishes in Tamil Nadu.[26]
Tamil Nadu has an independent literary tradition dating back over 2500 years from the sangam era. Tamil literature was composed in three successive poetic assemblies known as Tamil Sangams, the earliest of which, according to ancient tradition, were held on a now vanished continent far to the south of India.[38] This Tamil literature includes the oldest grammatical treatise, Tholkappiyam, and the epics Silappatikaram and Manimekalai.[39]
Architecture
Dravidian architecture is the distinct style of rock architecture in Tamil Nadu.[40] In Dravidian architecture, the temples considered of porches or Mantapas preceding the door leading to the sanctum, Gate-pyramids or Gopurams in quadrangular enclosures that surround the temple and Pillared halls used for many purposes and are the invariable accompaniments of these temples. Besides these, a South Indian temple usually has a tank called the Kalyani or Pushkarni.[41] The Gopuram is a monumental tower, usually ornate at the entrance of the temple forms a prominent feature of Koils and Hindu temples of the Dravidian style.[42] They are topped by the kalasam, a bulbous stone finial and function as gateways through the walls that surround the temple complex.[43] The gopuram's origins can be traced back to the Pallavas who built the group of monuments in Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram.[44] The Cholas later expanded the same and by the Pandya rule in twelfth century, these gateways became a dominant feature of a temple's outer appearance.[45][46]Vimanam are similar structures built over the garbhagriha or inner sanctum of the temple but are usually smaller than the gopurams in the Dravidian architecture with a few exceptions including the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur.[47][48]
With the Mugal influence in medieval times and the British later, a rise in the blend of Hindu, Islamic and Gothic revival styles, resulting in the distinct Indo-Saracenic architecture with several institutions during the British era following the style.[49][50] By the early 20th century, the art deco made its entry upon in the urban landscape.[51] After Independence, the architecture witnessed a rise in the Modernism with the transition from lime-and-brick construction to concrete columns.[52]
Festivals
Pongal is a major and multi-day harvest festival celebrated by Tamils.[53] It is observed in the month of Thai according to the Tamil solar calendar and usually falls on 14 or 15 January.[54] It is dedicated to the Surya, the Sun God and the festival is named after the ceremonial "Pongal", which means "to boil, overflow" and refers to the traditional dish prepared from the new harvest of rice boiled in milk with jaggery offered to Surya.[55][56][57] Mattu Pongal is meant for celebration of cattle when the cattle are bathed, their horns polished and painted in bright colors, garlands of flowers placed around their necks and processions.[58]Jallikattu is a traditional event held during the period attracting huge crowds in which a bull is released into a crowd of people, and multiple human participants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull's back with both arms and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape.[59]
Puthandu is known as Tamil New Year which marks the first day of year on the Tamil calendar. The festival date is set with the solar cycle of the solar Hindu calendar, as the first day of the Tamil month Chithirai and falls on or about 14 April every year on the Gregorian calendar.[61]Karthikai Deepam is a festival of lights that is observed on the full moon day of the Kartika month, called the Kartika Pournami, falling on the Gregorian months of November or December.[62][63]Thaipusam is a Tamil festival celebrated on the first full moon day of the Tamil month of Thai coinciding with Pusam star and dedicated to lord Murugan. Kavadi Aattam is a ceremonial act of sacrifice and offering practiced by devotees which is a central part of Thaipusam and emphasizes debt bondage.[64][65]Aadi Perukku is a Tamil cultural festival celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month of Adi which pays tribute to water's life-sustaining properties. The worship of Amman and Ayyanar deities are organized during the month in temples across Tamil Nadu with much fanfare.[36]Panguni Uthiram is marked on the purnima (full moon) of the month of Panguni and celebrates the wedding of various Hindu gods.[66]
Tamil Nadu has a developed, dense, and modern transportation infrastructure, encompassing both public and private transport. Chennai is well-connected by land, sea, and air and serves as a major hub for entry into South India.[71] Tamil Nadu has an extensive road network covering about 2.71 lakh km connecting all cities, towns and major villages.[72]Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) run by Government of Tamil Nadu is the primary public transport bus operator in the state.[73] Tamil Nadu has a rail network of 5,601 km (3,480 mi) and forms a part of Southern Railway of Indian Railways, headquartered in Chennai.[74][75] There are 532 railway stations in the state connecting all major cities and towns with Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Coimbatore Junction and Madurai Junction amongst the major stations.[76]Chennai suburban, MRTS and Metro form a well-established suburban railway network in Chennai.[77] There are three international, one limited international and six domestic or private airports in Tamil Nadu.[78][79]Chennai airport, which is the fourth busiest airport by passenger traffic in India is a major international airport and the main gateway to the state.[80] Tamil Nadu has three major ports Chennai, Ennore and Thoothukudi, intermediate port at Nagapattinam and sixteen other minor ports.[81][82]
Major attractions
Beaches
Tamil Nadu has 1,076 kilometres (669 mi) long coastline with many beaches dotting the coast.[81][83]Marina Beach spanning 13 km (8.1 mi), the second-longest urban beach in the world and Elliot's Beach south of the Adyar river delta are the major beaches in Chennai.[84][85]Kovalam beach, located 40 km (25 mi) away from Chennai offers adventure sports such as windsurfing.[86]Mamallapuram, known for its Pallava architecture, has a beach spanning a distance of over 20 km (12 mi).[87]Dhanushkodi is an abandoned town at the south-eastern tip of Pamban Island in Gulf of Mannar with large beaches.[88]Kanyakumari beach forms the southernmost tip of mainland India, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet.[89] Ariyaman Beach is located about 21 km (13 mi) from Rameswaram featuring large casuarina trees and is a center for water sports.[90]Poompuhar was once the capital of Chola empire and a bustling port city that witnessed many historic events and the ancient beach is dotted with ruins and boulders.[91]
There are a number of rock-cut cave-temples established by the ancient Tamil kings and later by Pandyas and Pallavas.[110] The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, built by the Pallavas in the 7th and 8th centuries has more than forty rock-cut temples and monoliths including one of the largest open-air rock reliefs in the world.[111][112]Sittanavasal is a rock-cut monastery and temple attributed to Pandyas and Pallavas which consist of frescoes and murals from the 7th century, painted with vegetable and mineral dyes in over a thin wet surface of lime plaster.[113][114][115]Kalugumalai consist of three rock-cut temples–Kalugumalai Jain Beds, Vettuvan Koil and Kalugasalamoorthy Temple, with rock relief sculptures dating back to Pandya period of 8th to 9th century.[116]Chitharal monuments situated on the Thiruchanattu malai consist of monuments from two distinct periods: rock-cut structure of beads with inscriptions and drip-ledges from first century BC to sixth century AD and temple monuments likely built by Digambara Jains in the ninth century.[117]Samanar hills is a hill rock complex located in Keelakuyilkudi, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Madurai consisting of several Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions, stone beds and sculptures from more than 2,200 years ago.[118]
The Christian apostle, St. Thomas, is believed to have preached in the area around Chennai between 52 and 70 CE and the Santhome Church, which was originally built by the Portuguese in 1523, is believed to house the remains of St. Thomas, was rebuilt in 1893 in neo-Gothic style.[139] The 16th-century Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health is located at Velankanni, about 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Nagapattinam on the Eastern coast. The town declared as a holy city by the pope is known as the 'Lourdes of the East'.[140]
There are three biosphere reserves in Tamil Nadu–Gulf of Mannar, Nilgiris and Agasthyamalai.[157]Pichavaram consists of a number of islands interspersing the Vellar estuary in the north and Coleroon estuary in the south with mangrove forests. The Pichavaram mangrove forests is one of the largest mangrove forests in India covering 45 km2 (17 sq mi) and supports the existence of rare varieties of economically important shells, fishes and migrant birds.[158][159] The state has five National Parks covering 307.84 km2 (118.86 sq mi)–Anamalai, Mudumalai, Mukurthi, Gulf of Mannar, a marine national park and Guindy, an urban national park within Chennai.[157] Tamil Nadu has 18 wildlife sanctuaries.[157][160]
Tamil Nadu is a major center for medical tourism and Chennai is termed as "India's health capital".[167]Medical tourism forms an important part of the economy with more than 40% of total medical tourists visiting India making it to Tamil Nadu.[168]
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