Hogenakkal

Hogenakkal Falls or Hogenakal Falls is a waterfall in South India on the river Kaveri. It is located in the Dharmapuri district of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu about 180 km (110 mi) from Bangalore and 46 km (29 mi) from Dharmapuri town. It is sometimes referred to as the "Niagara of India". With its fame for medicinal baths and hide boat rides, it is a major tourist attraction. Carbonatite rocks in this site are considered to be the oldest of its kind in South Asia and one of the oldest in the world. This is also the site of a proposed project to generate drinking water.

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park is situated at the tri-junction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka on the North Eastern Slopes of the Nilgiris part of Western Ghats descending to the Mysore Plateau. An erstwhile game reserve, Mudumalai was declared a wildlife sanctuary with a 62 sq KM area in the early 1940 by the then Madras Presidency. With Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) in the north, and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) in the west the region forms a single, continuous viable habitat for a varied range of wildlife and is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. While Mudumalai’s western half receives the southwest monsoon, the eastern tracts receive the relatively gentler north-east monsoon which results in a diversity of vegetation types and typical migration of herbivores.

Velankanni

Velankanni, is a panchayat town in Nagapattinam district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It lies on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, 350 km south of Chennai and 12 km south of Nagapattinam.

Thanjavur

Interesting Facts About the Brihadeeshwara Temple of Tanjore

A study in Oriental architecture or history is certainly incomplete without a mention of the Tanjore Brihadeeshwara Temple or the Tanjore Periya Kovil (Big Temple). This imposing structure was built by Raja Raja Cholan and his sister Kundavai, both ardent devotees of Lord Shiva. It was constructed by the King at the height of the Chola reign to signify his power and strength. Here are a few facts not known about this Chola temple of Thanjavur:

a) The original name of the deity was Rajarajeshwar. It was the Marathas who gave it the name Brihadeeshwara or the Great Ishwara.

b) The main temple is entirely built of granite. More than 130,000 tons of granite is said to have been used to build it.

c) A long associated myth with this temple temple is that the shadow of the main structure does not fall on the ground. However, this has been proven wrong by scientists.

d) The statue of Nandi at the entrance of the temple is carved out of a single stone.

e) The main Vimanam, which is at about 200 feet is often called Dakshin Meru or Southern Meru.

f) The inspiration to build the temple came to Raja Raja Cholan during his visit to Sri Lanka and is a result of a dream he had.

g) The temple has a portrait of Raja Raja Cholan paying obeisance to Lord Natarajar. This is undoubtedly, the first ever instance of a royal portrait.

h) Inscriptions in the temple point towards Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan as the chief architect of the temple. His successors survive to this day and practice the art of Vastu or Vastu Shastra.

i) Depictions of nartakis or dancers showing eighty one of hundred and eight karanas (synchronised movements of hands and feet) in Bharata Natyam are carved here. These karanas are a part of karanas mentioned in the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni or Sage Bharata. There is also evidence that the temple was a platform for talented dancers to showcase their talent. These depictions are first of their kind.

j) The inscriptions also mention the different kinds of jewels used in the period. Each of these jewels are mentioned in detail. A total of twenty three different types of pearls, eleven varieties of diamonds and rubies are mentioned in these inscriptions.

Kanchipuram

The city of Kanchipuram is located on the shores of the Vegavathy River. The city has seen a number of ruling dynasties and monarchies such as the Pandya, Cholas, the Vijaynagar Empire, the Carnatic kingdom and the British monarchy. Kanchipuram since medieval times has been significant as the educational center and was known as the place for learning. The city is also famous for its various temples that are built in the Dravidian style of architecture and display amazing stone carvings. Kanchipuram has been an important city and has been mentioned in texts dating back to the Maurya Period (325-185 BC) and has been constantly mentioned as a city like no other in the Dravidian Kingdom.

Kanchipuram apart from its various temples is also known for its medicinal herbs, this fact has been vouched for by the ancient texts as well. One of the major products of Kanchipuram is its specialized silk and more than 5000 families residing here are involved in silk weaving and famous for the “Kanchipuram silk Saris”. The place is rich in both natural and manmade attractions and has a distinct culture that one must experience. With its various Temples, bird Sanctuary, beaches, backwaters etc. makes the city a must visit.

Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal Lake, a man-made lake, is located in the Kodaikanal city of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu. Considered as one of the most popular geographic landmarks and tourist attractions, this lake is located at a distance of 3 km from the bus stand. Perched at an elevation of 2,285 m above sea level, this lake is star shaped.

Enclosing an area of around 60 acres, the lake has an average depth of 3 m. The lake was created in 1863 by Sir Vere Hentry Levinge, who was the collector of Madurai. He came to this place after his retirement and converted this marshy land with several streams of lake.

Tourists visiting this artificial lake can take a walk around this lake or can enjoy several activities such as cycle rides and horse rides. In addition, fishing can also be done at this lake; however tourists need to obtain permission from Inspector of Fisheries. Boating can also be enjoyed on this lake, for which boats are provided by Tamil Nadu Tourist Development Corporation and Kodaikanal Boat & Rowing Club.

Madurai

The 3rd largest city in Tamil Nadu, Madurai is also one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. The place has been mentioned by many such as Kautilya and Megasthenes. The city has been ruled by both the Pandya and the Chola dynasties. The city houses a number of important and magnificent temples that it is built around. Geographically the city of Madurai lies on the fertile plains near the river Vaigai which divides the city in two parts. The land is thus mainly used for agriculture and the major supplier for paddy crops such as rice in India.

The majority of tourists who come to Madurai come to visit the various temples that enshrine this ancient city. The Meenakshi Ammam Temple is of prime importance here as it has been mentioned in almost all the ancient texts and is considered as the prime pilgrim spot for the Tamil people. The Temple complex consists of 27 different temples and the highest tower with the height of 51.9 meters high crowns the place. Many different monuments and temples are also a must visit along with the various festivals celebrated here. The town of Madurai is a spiritual experience in itself.

Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari Beach is a beach destination as well as religious spot located towards the southern-most tip of peninsular India. The sun set and sun rise at Kanyakumari Beach, especially during Chaitrapurnima (full moon days in April), are highly popular among visitors. During Chaitrapurnima, visitors can watch both sunset and moon rise simultaneously at Kanyakumari Beach.

Kanyakumari Beach has rocky shores and the sea is rough due to the confluence of the three waters – Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean. The sand of Kanyakumari Beach is famous for its softness and various hues.

There is a light house at Kanyakumari Beach from where panoramic views of the sea are available.

Mahabalipuram

Also known as Mamallapuram, the city of Mahabalipuram is famous for its ancient and cultural heritage. The city of Mahabalipuram was a prominent sea port dating back to 7th century AD and was ruled by the Pallava Dynasty. The place is famous for its monuments and is classified among the UNESCO world heritage sites. Almost all of the monuments are carved out of Granite and display the brilliance of Dravidian style architecture.

The town is otherwise a small one and the best way to get around it either by foot or bike rental. The attractions in the whole town can be covered in a day or two. The city is bustling with tourists most times of the year except monsoons. The amazing location of this place adds to the charm of the monuments and the intricate carvings. The temples here are a marvel to behold and with the aid of a knowledgeable tour guide one can totally get lost in the ancient stories behind each of the monuments.

Chennai

Chennai is the Capital City of Tamil Nadu. The city has been surrounded by the South Indian Kingdoms since ages, thus it has always been the forefront of all cultural, economical, social, commercial and industrial development in the south of India. Chennai is the short form of the actual name Chennapatnam. It’s often nicknamed as the Detroit of India, due to Chennai housing the majority of India’s Automobile industries. Not only industries, the city is famous for its distinctive culture and heritage as well and you might need to take around 2-3 days to properly explore this city alone.

The city houses more than 20 heritage structures including railway stations, Museums, Book Shops, Cinema halls and many more. Chennai is also famous for its clean sandy beaches, parks, temples and cultural centers. There are various shopping attractions here and most sorts for Modern Day Activities one can name. With a big list of tourist attractions, Chennai is aptly the 3rd most visited City by tourists after Delhi and Mumbai.