6 Places to Visit in Tamil Nadu

www.ticketgoose.com

New York Times ranks Tamil Nadu on 24, in its 52 places to visit list 2016. The state has been chosen for its rich cultural heritage, huge temple complexes and beautiful Chettinad mansions. Here is a quick list of 6 must visit places.

Mahabalipuram A UNESCO world heritage site,

Mahabalipuram was the stronghold of the Pallava dynasty and an important sea-port.

The town boasts of sanctuaries like the Rathas dedicated to the Pandavas, the mandapas (cave sanctuaries) and the open-air  reliefs, especially the giant “Descent of the Ganges”, all carved out of hard granite rock.  

Mahabalipuram Tourist Plaves

Pancha Rathas

Shore Temple

Descent of Ganges

Madurai Madurai is an ancient city mentioned in

many early texts. It is the cultural capital of the state and is most famous for its Meenakshi Amman Temple, a huge temple-complex with 27 temples, all boasting the stunning Dravidian architecture.

The various halls and mandapams showcase beautiful sculptures and are testimony to perfect engineering skills, especially the Hall of Thousand Pillars.

Tourists and pilgrims throng in lakhs during the annual Meenakshi-Thirukalyanam-festival, celebrating the marriage of the presiding deities Meenakshi and Sundereshwar.

Kanyakumari Located at the southernmost tip of the

Indian peninsula, Kanya Kumari attracts tourists and pilgrims. The confluence of the three seas, the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean is a sight to behold.

The Para Shakti Temple, facing it is the only temple where the deity is a young girl. Kanya Kumari boasts of unique beaches with colorful sands.

Kodaikanal Kodaikanal, a beautiful hill station, is

known as “Princess of Hill Stations”. The cascading waterfalls, serene lakes, granite cliffs, thick forest covers and rolling valleys make it the perfect getaway spot during the balmy south summers.

It is here that one sees, the blooming of the Kurunji Flowers, that cover the entire hill slopes in blue once every 12 years. The next bloom is scheduled for 2018.

Tourist Places in Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal Lake Pillar Rocks

Vellore Also known as the Fort City, Vellore has

played a pivotal role in Dravidian history. It has been a battlefield of importance during the rules of the Pallavas, Cholas, Carnatic kingdom and even the British. 

The grand golden Mahalakshmi temple is also a major attraction.

Kanchipuram The perfect destination to combine

history, culture, religion, nature and entertainment, Kanchipuram is located on the Vegavathy river and home to the world famous Kanchipuram Silk Sarees.

The Vedathangal Bird Sanctuary, is a must visit for bird lovers. Those looking for a quite getaway will enjoy the backwaters and beaches here.