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Tamilnadu Tourism >
About Tamilnadu
Tamil Nadu, the heart of the Dravidian culture and tradition, has for
time immemorial, been a pioneer of peace and knowledge, and the visual
legacy of the culture of the state, is among the most satisfying spectacles
in India. Sharing boundaries with the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Kerala, Tamil Nadu has an unbroken coast line, edging the Bay of Bengal.
Densely forested uplands which abound in wildlife, intensively cultivated
farmlands interspersed with rocky wastes, mountain chains of the Western
Ghats, which give way to fertile coastal plains and plateaus form the
geographical features of Tamil Nadu.
Tamilians learn to appreciate culture, from a very young age, and have a
deep interest in music, dance and literature. Classical dancing in the form
of Bharatnatyam, has its origin in the temples of the South East, and
continues to be followed with a lot of fervour and dedication in Tamil Nadu.
Carnatic music is another art form, that has flourished over the ages,
producing artists of great repute. Festivals are a daily feature in this
region. Navaratri or Dussehra (September/October), Diwali (October/
November), Karthika (November/December) and Pongal (January) are the major
occasions, celebrated with great enthusiasm. A unique festival of Carnatic
music, the Thyagaraja festival, is held annually in January at Thiruvariyar,
the birth place of famous singer poet Thyagaraja, where one can witness the
amazing spectacle of mass performance, in total harmony and rhythm.
The places of tourist interest in the state are Chennai, the
beautiful capital city; Mamallapuram, the beach resort;
Kanchipuram, the land of 1000 temples; Madurai, famous for the
Meenakshi temple; Rameswaram, Tiruchirapalli and Thanjavur,
the temple trio; the charming hill resorts of Yercaud, Ootacamund
and Kodaikanal and Kanyakumari, the southern tip of India,
renowned for its sunrise and sunset.
TEMPLES AND GODS
There are more than 30,000 temples in Tamil Nadu, which has given the state
the distinctive title of 'A Land of Temples'. Built by various dynasties
these temples bear a superficial resemblance to each other in that they
share the same physical features - the gopuram or the imposing tower over
the entrance, from all four directions the vimanam which is the tower over
the sanctum and the spacious halls and corridors. The temple was also much
more than a place of worship. It was a place for social gathering, for
education, for celebration - not just of the king's victories in battles but
also of local functions and ceremonies such as marriages. The temple was
also used as a store house of sorts for emergencies and, many a temple also
maintained hospitals. The temple was a place where art, in all its forms
i.e. music, dance, drama and handicrafts received encouragement and
flourished.
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