Tamil Nadu – The Land of Multiple Hues

Tamil Nadu, often referred to as the ‘Land of Tamils’ is a favourite haunt for domestic and global tourists. Set in South India, Tamil Nadu shares boundaries with states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. One of the most picturesque coastal states of India, Tamil Nadu is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu, other important places are Madurai, Ooty, Kodaikanal, Coimbatore, Kanyakumari, Thanjavur, Trichy and Rameshwaram.

Tamil Nadu is a historic place, boasts of rich cultural heritage and traditions. Monolithic chariots, peculiar styles to build temples, mosques and churches and the depiction of numerous deities are the hallmark of Tamil Nadu’s legacy. Besides, the ornate temples and massive forts & monuments present a perfect example of the Dravidian culture, art and architecture. You will find a great diversity in the state, people of many beliefs live together, worship and respect all other religions.

Boasts of 900 kms long coastline, Tamil Nadu is home to a number of fine beaches, including the Chennai’s Marina Beach, the world’s second largest beach. Rich and varied wildlife, dry and evergreen forests, charming mountains, meandering lakes and shimmering waterfalls, add more to the beauty of Tamil Nadu. On the whole, a trip to Tamil Nadu is once in a lifetime experience and you should plan your next vacation to this charming state.

World Heritage Sites in Tamil Nadu : Tamil Nadu has five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Mamallapuram is perhaps the most important of the five Heritage Sites. Situated between a beach and lagoon, Mamallapuram is easily reachable from Chennai within an hour by car. Mamallapuram is famous for its five exquisite rathas (chariots) and the elegantly carved bas relief depicting Arjuna’s Penance. Among the temples, the 17th century Shore Temple, constructed by King Rajasimha is unique as it has both Shiva and Vishnu Shrines.

Pilgrimage in Tamil Nadu : Tamil Nadu is popular known as the land of temples. In Tamil Nadu the temples are more than a thousand years old and they were built in the Dravidian style of architecture with huge gateways (gopurams) and towering vimanas. You can travel from Chennai down to coastal town of Kannyakumari to see hundreds of places of worship, each having its own interesting legend. Chidambaram Temple and Kannyakumari Temple are important temples of the town. One of the five holiest Shiva temples, Chidambaram temple is abundantly decorated with sculptures and different postures of Bharatanatyam are pictures on its walls.

Meenakshi Temple in Madurai is famous for its sheer size and it has 12 magnificent gopurams which are elaborately sculptured and painted. Ramanathswamy Temple in Rameshwaram is one of the most sacred shrines of Hindus. Just 45 kms from Chennai, the Tirupporur Temple is an ancient Pallava temple. For those who believe in astrology, Navagraha temples are an important pilgrimage. Sri Ranganathaswami Temple (Srirangam) is most important shrine for Vaishnavas and houses a reclining form of Lord Vishnu.

Tamil Nadu was also an important place for Christians and it is home to a number of churches. San Thome Basilica in Chennai and Velankanni Church at Nagapatinam (350 km from Chennai) are prominent churches of the state. The Nagore Dargah of Meeran Sahib is a famous pilgrimage centre for Muslims. Set 4 km north of Nagapattinam, the dargah is visited by Muslims and people from other religions as well.

People and Culture of Tamil Nadu : Tamil Nadu has a very hoary history and its culture is rich in its diversity. Folk dances, way of dressing, rituals and behaviors and a sumptuous platter provide a rich texture to the state. Every household begins the day with the ritual cleaning of the front threshold and the ground is decorated with intricate rangoli and kolam patterns.

Dressing of the state people is unique, the men wear the dhothi (unstitched cloth), a shirt is worn on the upper part and an angavastram (upper cloth) slung over the shoulders. Muslims wear lungi as formal wear, while the women wear traditional nine yards sari. As People of Tamil Nadu celebrate a number of festival all through the year. Despite the religious differences, people celebrate each others festivals with great pomp and gaiety. Pongal is the most important festival of Tamil Nadu, which marks the beginning of Utharaayanm, when the Sun enters the sign of Makaram or Capricorn on January 13. Food also form an important part of the state’s culture that include a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Art and Craft : Tamil Nadu is the place where various vibrant and creative art forms existed over the centuries. Tamil Nadu’s range of handicraft is endless, in fact, every region produces a unique product of its own. From exquisite silk sarees and metalware lamps to terracotta horses and stone-encrusted jewellery, Tamil Nadu’s treasure include a wealth of handicraft. Tamil Nadu is also famous for leather craft, jewellery, pottery, metal ware, Tanjore paintings and Sarees. Kanchipuram, Kumbakonam, Coimbatore, Madurai and Arani are famous for its exquisite sarees in silk and cotton. Sandalwood carvings and sculptures, bronze statuses and highly popular amongst the travellers. Tanjore paintings which originated in the 10th century depict images of Hindu gods and goddesses embossed with plaster and covered with gold foil and precious stones.

Wildlife of Tamil Nadu : Of the total area of Tamil Nadu, about 18 percent is covered with rich and varied flora and fauna. Tamil Nadu has 17 wildlife sanctuaries and 5 national parks, that house a variety of wildanimals including tigers, elephants and many other wild animals. Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalakadu Wildlife Sanctuary, Mundanthurai Tiger Sanctuary, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Snake Park and Crocodile Bank are the prominent wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of the state.

Beaches of Tamil Nadu : Tamil Nadu’s Coromandel coast has some of the finest beaches of world. Chennai’s Marina Beach is the second longest beach of the world. Mahabalipuram Beach, Rameshwaram Beach, Kanyakumari Beach and Covelong Beach are other important beaches of Tamil Nadu.

Hill Stations of Tamil Nadu : India’s famous mountain ranges, western ghats and eastern ghat meet in the Nilgiri ranges of the state. You will find a number of picturesque hill stations on these mountain ranges. Ooty or Udhagamandalam), Kodaikanal, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Yercaud and Velliangiri are the famous hill stations of Tamil Nadu

Hill Stations of India

Topographically India is varied land comprises of mountains and plains. Out of India’s total land area, a fair portion is occupied by the mountains and hills. Great Indian Himalayas runs almost all through the northern part of the country. However, the western ghat range runs from Maharashtra to Kerala, Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India. The British East India Company developed a number of hill stations in these mountain ranges, which still flourish.

Far from the hustle and bustle of the cities, the hill stations of India provide a welcome break and take one close to mother nature. Hill Stations of India are famous worldover for their cool salubrious climate and their spectacular scenery. Every year thousands of tourists from all over the world visit the hill stations to enjoy the pleasant climate and getting rejuvenated by the rolling meadows and serene ambience. India is home to more or less around fifty hill stations, some of the popular hill stations are :

Darjeeling : Situated in the Indian state of West Bengal, Darjeeling is often referred to as the 'Queen of all hill stations.'Darjeeling is known for its pristine natural beauty, clean fresh air and year round present weather. Above all, you will be certainly pleased by the warm hospitality of smiling and welcoming local people. World's third highest pick mount Kanchenjunga lies very close to Darjeeling and provides clearest view. The toy train running between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling is a major attraction and you should not miss the adventurous journey. A World Heritage Site, the Darjeeling toy train takes you through the winding railway tracks,flanked by the lofty mountains all across. Other popular destinations in and around Darjeeling include Ghoom, Kalimpong and Mirik.


Shimla : Once the capital of British India, Shimla is now the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Set at an altitude of 2,196 mts above sea level, Shimla is one of the most popular hill stations of India. Of course, the British are no more here, but even today you can experience the bygone era in colonial structures here. With lofty snow-covered peaks all around flanked by pine, cedar, oak and rhododendron forests, the hill station makes a prefect base for a leisurely holiday. Shimla is easily accessible from India’s capital Delhi (343 km). Trains, Buses and Air services are available to Shimla from Delhi. Ridge, Lakkad Bazaar, St Michael's Cathedral, Institute of Advanced Studies and Tara Devi Temple are the main attractions of Shimla. Don’t forget to enjoy the toy train journey between Kalka and Shimla.

Manali : An important hill station of northern India, Manali is situated in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Literally meaning the abode of Manu or "Home of Manu", Manali boasts of cool atmosphere. Dotted with a number of temples, Manali is also treated as an important pilgrimage destination. If you are an adventure seeker, then Manali is a perfect place for you. Situated at an altitude of 2050 meters above sea level, along the banks of the river Beas provides excellent opportunities for a variety of adventure sports. Here you may enjoy the adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, para gliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and mountain biking. Some of the attractions of Manali include Arjun Gufa,Hadimba Temple,Jagatsuhk, Kothi, Manu Temple, Monasteries, Rahala waterfalls, Rohtang Pass (3979 m), Solang Valley, Vashist Hot Water Springs and Temple.

Ooty : Ooty also called Udhagamandalam is one of the most popular hill stations of South India. Nestled amidst the lush green hills of the Nilgiris, Ooty was developed as a hill station by the British in the early 19 th century. Bestowed with a landscape perpetually enveloped in mist, Ooty’s beauty has a timeless appeal. Peaches and plum orchards, terraced tea plantations, and eucalyptus, pine and wattle lining the landscape, add more to the beauty of Ooty. Government Botanical Garden (2 Kms), Artificial Lake, Mini Garden, Doddabetta, Hindustan Photo Films, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Deer Park are some of the attractions of Ooty.

Nainital : Nainital, literally meaning the ‘city of lake’ is the gateway of Kumaon region of Uttarakhand state. A beautiful hill resort, Nainital is visited by thousands of domestic and foreign tourists. Flanked by the lofty peaks, Nainital provides a heaven like feel. Enjoy the boating in Naini lake, horse safari or reach to snow-view by ropeway. From the snow-view enjoy the spectacular view of the snow-covered Himalayan ranges. Some of the popular attractions around Nainital are Bhimtal (22 km), Khurpatal (12 km), Nakuchiyatal, Sattal, Kainchi, Kilbury (12 km), Ranikhet (63 km) and Kausani (120 km).

Mount Abu : Mount Abu, the only hill station of Rajasthan, is just like a green oasis in the barren desert scape. Set at the southern tip of the Aravali range, Mount Abu is covered with varied floral species that include coniferous trees and flowering shrubs. Gaumukh Temple, Dilwara Jain Temple, Adhar Devi Temple, Sunset Point, Honeymoon Point, Shri Raghunathji Temple,Museum and Art Gallery, Guru Shikhar(Highest peak), Nakkilake etc. are famous attractions of Mount Abu.

Kodaikanal : Kodaikanal lies 120 kms away from Madurai on the southern crest of the Palani hills. Set at an elevation of altitude of 2100 mt, Kodaikanal is surrounded by wooded slopes, waterfalls and precipitous rocky outcrops. Established by American missionaries in 1845, Kodaikanal is steeped in history. Even today you can see the relics and artifacts of the Paliyans who once lived in these hills in the Shenbaganur Museum. You can also see a few Paliyans near Kukal Cave.

Other Popular Hill Stations of India : Mussoorie (Himachal Pradesh), Almora (Uttarakhand), Khandala (Maharashtra), Lonavala (Maharashtra), Gangtok (Sikkim), Gulmarg (Jammu and Kashmir), Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir), Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) Panchgani (Maharashtra), Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra), Patnitop, Munnar, Dalhousie and Kufri.

Famous Tours of India

India is a big country, spreading over thousands square kms from north to south and east to west. All over India there are thousands of tourist destinations, each known for its distinct charm. Covering all the destinations at a single stretch in not possible, better first-timer should opt some tour packages before visiting the particular state or city. For global as well as domestic tourists I have compiled a list of India’s popular tour packages. Hope the information will help you to plan a trip and create your itinerary.

Golden Triangle Tour : Golden triangle tour is one of India’s most popular tour package. Golden triangle circuit includes the Indian capital, New Delhi, city of Taj – Agra and pink city – Jaipur. Usually a week long tour package, Golden triangle tour provides you a wonderful opportunity to visit the historic and cultural sites of these cities. Your tour begins from Delhi which is home to magnificent Red Fort. Built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in 1638, it has been declared a World Heritage Site this year. Qutab Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Old Fort, Jama Masjid, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, Lotus Temple, Akshradham Temple, Laxmi Narayan Temple and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib are other attractions of Delhi. After sightseeing tour of Delhi, you proceed towards Agra to see Taj Mahal the beauty in white marble, massive Agra Fort, Itmad-ud-Daulah’s tomb. You may also take a short excursion to Akber’s Tomb at Sikandra and deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri. Head next to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Popularly known as pink city, Jaipur is home to attraction like Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Museum, Amber Fort. Apart from sightseeing you will also get plenty of time for leisure or recreational activities on this tour package.

Rajashtan Tour: Rajasthan, often referred to as the land of kings is one of India’s most visited state. India’s leading tour operators offer a number of short and long duration tour packages for Rajathan. On Rajasthan Tour you get a chance to visit popular cities namely Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Mount Abu, Bharatpur, Alwar, Bundi and several other destinations. Rajasthan was ruled by Rajputs for centuries, who built several forts and palaces across the state. Today those rulers are no more, but yet you can get a glimpse of the bygone era in the forts and monuments of Rajasthan. Almost all the cities of Rajasthan are home to a number of picturesque forts and monuments. In addition to exploring cities, towns and villages of Rajasthan, you get a chance to enjoy adventure sports in Rajasthan. Camel Safari, Horse Safari and Jeep Safari are some of the thrilling adventure options in Rajasthan. Although most of Rajasthan’s area is covered with Thar desert, but it is home rich and varied wildlife. Rajasthan’s Ranthambore National Park, Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary and Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary are world famous national parks.

Some of Rajasthan’s Popular tour packages are :
Camel Safari Tour to Rajasthan
Safari Tour to Rajasthan
Forts and Monuments Tour to Rajasthan
Desert Safari Tour to Rajasthan
Adventure Tour to Rajasthan
Wildlife Tour to Rajasthan

Kerala Tour : Kerala often referred to as God’s Own Country, is bestowed with natural gifts like beaches, wildlife, backwaters, hills and beautiful cities and towns. Kerala Tour takes you to the famous destinations of Kerala. You can cover the major attractions of Kerala in a single tour, or in separate tour packages of small duration.

For Kerala some of the famous tour packages include :
Kerala Backwater Tour
Kerala Beaches Tour
Best of Kerala
Kerala Vacation Package
Kerala Spice Trail
Kerala and Tropical India
Captivating Kerala

India Luxury Train Tour: World’s second biggest railways, Indian Railways has offered a number of luxury trains for tourists. Palace on Wheels, Heritage on Wheels and Deccan Odyssey are the trains run by India railways for tourism purpose. Luxury Train Tour provides you a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a luxurious holiday on train. During your tour you will be provided all the facilities of five-star hotels on board and you will find yourself as a king.

India Pilgrimage Tour : India is an ancient land having a 5,000 years old history. Since time immemorial Pilgrimage has a close link with India. All over the country there are hundreds of religious sites which are visited by pilgrims as well as common travellers every year. By visiting the pilgrimage destinations you can feel the divine peace and your mind, body and soul will be clean. India Pilgrimage Tour takes you to the popular pilgrimage destinations such as Chardham (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath), Varanasi, Amarnath, Kailash Mansarovar etc.

Some of the famous India Pilgrimage tour are :
Amarnath Yatra Tour
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Tour
Uttaranchal Packages Tour
Char Dham Yatra Tour
Do Dham Yatra Tour

India Wildlife Tour: Wildlife fascinates everyone and it forms an important part of ecosystem. India is a geographically diversified land and it is home to rich and varied wildlife. In order to stop poaching of animals and encroachment, the wildlife areas in India has been designated as wildlife parks and sanctuary. You can spot the wildanimals, reptiles and a variety of birds in these wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. India Wildlife Tour takes you to noted wildlife sanctuary namely Ranthambore National Park, Kazinaranga National Park, Manas National Park, Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandhavgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Corbett National Park, Valley of Flowers and many more other sanctuaries.

India Ayurveda and Spa Tour : Ayurveda is an ancient system, but still it is practiced in some parts of India. Kerala is one such destination which is home to dozens of Ayurveda and Spa treatment centres. You can also get Ayurveda and Spa treatment at various hotels and resorts in Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal and other parts of India. Visit India on Ayurveda and Spa tour and rejuvenate yourself. You may also get treatment of some of body’s ailments by Ayurveda and Spa.

India Hills Tour: Mountains and hills have always lured the people living in the plains. With its soothing environment, mountains and hills provide a welcome break to those living in the plains. India is home to some of world’s most famous hill stations namely Darjeeling, Shimla, Manali, Kullu, Ooty, Mount Abu, Ladakh, Kashmir etc. India Hills Tour takes you the beautiful hill stations of India situated thousands feet above the sea level.

Other popular tours : In addition to above mentioned a number of India related tours are offered by tour operators.

Some of the famous tour packages are :
Family Vacations in India
India Adventure Tour
India History & Culture Tours
Tribal Tours in India
Festival Vacations in India
Romantic Vacations in India
Yoga and Meditation Tour

India – A Land of Wonders

India, a land of wonders is often mistaken as a continent because of its varied characteristics. A vast country, India boasts of an old history that goes back to five thousand years. India’s huge geographical diversity, rich cultural heritage, colourful fairs and festivals, forts and monumental attractions, lofty hills and serene beaches, small and big rivers enhance its beauty many folds. Above all, India shows a unique feature of UNITY IN DIVERSITY. All over India you find people of different caste and creed, but they are unified with each other with a string of brotherhood. In fact, each and every part of India has its own distinct charm and offers a lot of things for visitors. Below I am providing a glimpse of India, hope after going through it you could better understand the country.

Geography :

World’s seventh largest country, India has a total land area of 3,287,263 square kms. India lies in South Asia and shares boundaries with countries namely Pakistan, China, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh. To the north, the Great Himalayan range stands as an impregnable wall, whereas its foothill valleys cover the northernmost part of the country. Further in the south, plateaus, tropical rain forests and sandy deserts are flanked by palm fringed beaches. Cape Cormin constitutes the southern tip of the mainland Indian peninsula, which narrows before ending in the Indian Ocean. The southernmost part of India is Indira point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal.

Climate :

India has a sub-tropical climate, that varies from one region to another region. As the Tropic of Cancer passes through this country, the country is basically hot and humid. Summer, Monsoon, Winter and Spring are four main seasons of India. November to February is winter season, February – March is Spring season, April to June is Summer season, July to October is rainy season.

Popular States and Cities :

Politically India has been divided into 28 states and 7 union territories. India has five metropolitan cities namely - Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore. Apart from these, India has several big cities such as Hydearbad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Agra, Jaipur, Patna, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Pune, Thiruvananathapuram, Ahmedabad and many more. All the major cities and small towns of India are home to a number of attractions which attract tourists from far and wide.

People and Culture :

Noted as home to the famous Indus Valley civilization and many other civilizations, India has a population of over 1 billion. People of India follow varied religion and their local traditions vary as well. Majority of the India people follow Hinduism, other major religions followed by Indians are Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity etc. Hindi is the national language of India, people also speak Urdu, English and regional languages like Bengali, Matathi, Gujarati, Punjabi etc. Indian culture has been marked by a high degree of cultural pluralism. From time immemorial, India has managed to preserve its established traditions while absorbing new customs, traditions, and ideas from invaders and immigrants. Even today, Indian cultural practices, languages, customs, traditions, forts and monuments are examples of this co-mingling over centuries.

Fairs and Festivals :

India is home to various religious sects, who celebrate various festivals throughout the year. Fairs and festivals of India provide a glimpse of country’s centuries old culture and traditions. Most remarkable feature of the India festivals is that all people irrespective of their caste and creed, take part in almost all festivals. Some of the popular festivals are Holi, Eid, Baisakhi, Desert Festival, Onam, Pongal, Buddha Purnima, Dusshera, Diwali and Christmas.

Pilgrimage :

Pilgrimage is one of the most important aspect of Indian people’s life. As India is home to people of various religions, so they have their own pilgrimage destinations. For Hindus Chardham is the most sacred place, which include Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri. Muslims go to Dargah of the sufi saints, some noted dargahs of safi saints are Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti Dargah (Ajmer), Nizamuddin Auliya (New Delhi) and Qutubuddin Kaki (New Delhi). Golden temple is the pilgrimage site for Sikhs which Christians have a number of churches all over the country. Buddhism is another major religion of India, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Sanchi are important pilgrimage destinations of Buddhists.

Hill Stations :

A land of huge geographical diversity, India is bestowed with several lovely hill stations. Hill stations of India offer a cool and chilly retreat far from the hot and humid climate of the plains. Most popular hill stations of India include Ooty, Nainital, Darjeeling, Panchgani, Kulu and Manali, Gulmarg, Ladakh etc.

Beaches :

As India is bordered by the Bay of Bengal, the Indian ocean and the Arabian sea in its three sides, so it is cradled with several serene beaches. Most of the southern and western states of India house a number of picturesque beaches. Some of the famous Indian beaches are Anjuna Beach (Goa), Colva Beach (Goa), Dona Paula Beach (Goa), Juhu Beach (Mumbai), Kovalam Beach (Kerala) and Alleppey Beach (Kerala).

Wildlife :

Situated within the Indomalaya ecozone, India hosts significant biodiversity in its flora and fauna. Due to threat of poaching and other intervention of human, majority of the wildlife areas of India has been designated as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. You can see a huge variety of floral and faunal species in wildlife sanctuaries of India. Some most popular national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of India include Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Sunderban Tiger Reserve, Kanha National park , Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Corbett National park and Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.