INDIA

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu

Ancient Temples, Hill Station, Offbeat Travel, Last Point of India, India-Sri Lanka Border, A Unique City

My trip to Tamil Nadu was mostly about my volunteer experiences but I did manage to explore tourist places in Tamil Nadu periodically. I started my journey in Tamil Nadu in Madurai and ended in Chennai. During my 70-day long trip to Tamil Nadu, I had diverse experiences in Tamil Nadu from visiting a hill station, beautiful ancient temples, the southernmost point of India, the capital city, an offbeat small town, the India-Sri Lanka border, a unique city, largest temple compound in India. This is My Journey Down South exploring enchanting Tamil Nadu. Below are the tourist places in Tamil Nadu. Read on!

Welcome to Madurai
Famous “Jigarthanda” drink from Madurai
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Madurai
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Thirumalai Nayak Palace

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Madurai
Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Madurai food
Mutton Chukka and Parotta

MADURAI: FOOD AND CULTURE

I was volunteering at an organic farm near Madurai. During a weekend, I explored Madurai City. I started with the famous Meenakshi Amman Temple. It took me a couple of hours to explore the temple. Such beautiful architecture! It was my first time visiting a temple in Tamil Nadu and I was truly mesmerized. The temple is dedicated to Meenakshi (a form of goddess Parvati). It is an ancient temple built by the Pandya dynasty. You have to try the Prasadam(sweets) in the temple! My next stop was Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace. It was built in the 17th century by the Nayaka dynasty. This beautiful palace was once known to be one of the wonders of South India. In the end, I visited the Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam Temple famous for the Float festival which takes place from Jan to Feb. No visit to Madurai can be complete without trying local delicacies. To beat the heat, Try Jigarthanda: This milk-based cold beverage is a must! Non-vegetarians can’t miss Mutton Chukka with Bun Parotta. Other dishes to try are Kothu Parotta, Three-tiered dosa, Non-vegetarian Meals at Amma Mess, Idiyappam, Madurai Halwa etc.

 

 

Welcome to Kodaikanal
Tamil meals at Kamaraj Mess
On the way to Dolphin’s nose and Echo point
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Kodaikanal
Dolphin’s Nose
Echo point
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Kodaikanal
View from the Echo point
Local organic fruits
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Kodaikanal
Coaker’s Walk
Kodaikanal tourist spots

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Kodaikanal

KODAIKANAL: PRINCESS OF HILLS

After Madurai, I volunteered in a forest near Kodaikanal. During a weekend, I spent a day exploring Kodaikanal. Kodaikanal is a famous hill station in Tamil Nadu located at an elevation of 2100 m. I begin my afternoon by having lunch at Kamaraj Mess. By skipping the usual places, I went straight to hike to Dolphin’s Nose and Echo Point (It is exactly as the name suggests). The hike starts from Vattakanal. The views are amazing from these points. It took me half an hour or so for one-way. I totally enjoyed the hike. One can also hike all the way to Kumbakkarai Falls following the same route. Do try the local fruits i.e. Starfruit and Rosehip. Afterwards, I went to Byrant park to relax for a while followed by an evening stroll at Coaker’s walk to witness the beautiful sunset. Other places to visit in/around Kodaikanal are Pillar Rocks, Guna Cave, Solar Observatory, Velappar temple, Kodaikanal Lake, Berijam Lake, Chettiar Park etc.

 

The first thing we did wasDosa
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu offbeat
On the way to Manjolai

Tea plantations of Manjolai

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu offbeat

On the way to river
Ambai river
Pumpkin juice
Kothu parotta
Idiyappam with sweet milk
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu offbeat
Local tradition
Agasthiyar falls
Local fruits
Remote Temple

On the way to something nice

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu offbeat
Thalaiyanai dam
Sri Rajagopalaswami Temple

OFFBEAT TRAVEL: EXPLORING A SMALL TAMIL TOWN

During my stay at a Yoga Ashram near Madurai, I became friends with a Tamil guy. Later, he invited me to his hometown. Together, we explored the non-touristic small town called Ambai over the span of a couple of days. In the morning, I was served the delicious Idiyappam with sweet Milk. Later, we traveled to a tea village called Manjolai located a couple of hours from the Ambai town. It is a beautiful sleepy village that reminds me of a Himalayan village. We had a nice time. Later, we went to the river at Ambai town for a pre-sunset bath. I was totally digging the small-town vibes. We end our day by feasting on Kothu parotta with Pumpkin juice. The next day, we traveled to a remote temple famous among surrounding villages. The temple is known to fulfil the wish of fertility. Later we traveled to a water reservoir-cum-mini waterfall. We took a dip there followed by lunch along the water stream. It was as soothing as it gets. To end our day, we visited a beautiful ancient temple in Ambai town where I learnt the significance of Dhwaja Stambha (flagpole) in South Indian temples is to arrest the lightning. I had an enriching two days exploring Ambai while experiencing true Tamil hospitality. It may not be a great touristic place but my belief that “People make places” was fully realized during my stay in Ambai.

 

Ferry to Swami Vivekananda Rock memorial
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Kanyakumari
Swami Vivekananda Rock memorial
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Kanyakumari
Swami Vivekananda Rock memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue
Kanyakumari beach
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Kanyakumari
Bharat Mata Temple
Mahatma Gandhi Mandapam
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Kanyakumari
Walking on the pier for best sunrise view

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Kanyakumari
Triveni Sangamam

KANYAKUMARI: SOUTHERNMOST POINT OF INDIA

From Kanyakumari, I took multiple buses to reach Rameswaram. One of the holiest places of pilgrimage in India. One of the “Char Dhams (Four Abodes)” is Rameshwaram. As per Hinduism, visiting all the Char Dhams helps achieve Moksha (Salvation). The temple in Rameshwaram is known as Ramanathaswamy Temple. There are more than 1000 pillars inside the temple forming several corridors. It took me good 3-4 hours to explore the temple. After visiting the temple, my next stop was Dhanushkodi. A ghost town that was destroyed by a cyclone back in the 60s. There are some shops and restaurants in Dhanushkodi that remain during the day to cater to the tourists. Ruins of the railway lines, church, post office, and homes can be seen in Dhanushkodi today. One can see Sri Lanka from Dhanushkodi with the help of Binoculars that is available at the site. Sri Lanka is around 25 kms away from Dhanushkodi but one cannot visit Sri Lanka via Sea. The only way to reach Sri Lanka is via Air. Dhanushkodi is also known for the Ram Setu bridge (As mentioned in the Indian Epic Ramayana).

 

 

On the way to Rameshwaram
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Rameshwaram
The house where Legendary Dr. Kalam used to live
Ramanathaswamy temple
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Rameshwaram
Shops inside the Temple premises

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Rameshwaram
Beautiful corridor of the temple

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Rameshwaram

Hitchhiking to Dhanushkodi
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Dhanushkodi
Here’s looking at you, Sri Lanka
Somewhere behind me is Sri Lanka!
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Dhanushkodi
Ruins of Dhanushkodi
Seashell artefacts
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam National Memorial

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Rameshwaram
Rameshwaram beach

RAMESHWARAM & DHANUSHKODI: INDIA-SRI LANKA BORDER

From Kanyakumari, I again took multiple buses to reach Rameswaram. One of the holiest places of pilgrimage in India. One of the “Char Dhams (Four Abodes)” is Rameshwaram. As per Hinduism, visiting all the Char Dhams helps achieve Moksha (Salvation). The temple in Rameshwaram is known as Ramanathaswamy Temple. There are more than 1000 pillars inside the temple forming several corridors. It took me good 3-4 hours to explore the temple. After visiting the temple, my next stop was Dhanushkodi. A ghost town that was destroyed by a cyclone back in the 60s. There are some shops and restaurants in Dhanushkodi that remain open during the day to cater to the tourists. Ruins of the railway lines, church, post office, and homes can be seen in Dhanushkodi today. One can see Sri Lanka from Dhanushkodi with the help of Binoculars that is available at the site. Sri Lanka is around 25 km away from Dhanushkodi but one cannot visit Sri Lanka via Sea. The only way to reach Sri Lanka is via Air. Dhanushkodi is also known for the Ram Setu bridge (As mentioned in the Indian Epic Ramayana).

 

Srirangam temple

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Srirangam

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Srirangam
Ancient paintings on walls
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Srirangam
Beautiful artwork

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Srirangam
Prasadam

SRIRANGAM TEMPLE: LARGEST TEMPLE COMPOUND IN INDIA 

I took a late-night train from Rameshwaram to reach the city of Trichy. From Trichy, I took another short distance train to reach Srirangam Island. Srirangam Island is known for the Srirangam Temple (Also known as Ranganathaswamy Temple). It is the largest temple compound in India. The temple is dedicated to Ranganatha (A Form of Lord Vishnu). One of the most beautiful temples I have been to. Such beautiful architecture! There are many mandapams (halls) in the Srirangam Temple including a thousand pillars hall. I was in the awe of the Sesharayar Mandapam artwork. It is an ancient temple that dates back to the 3rd century B.C. You can find several ancient inscriptions and paintings on the walls of the temple. Do not miss buying the delicious Prasadam (sacred food) at the temple.

 

 

Thanjavur Royal Palace

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu thanjavur

The seat of the king
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu thanjavur
Famous Thanjavur dolls
Brihadeeshwara Temple

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu thanjavur

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu thanjavur

THANJAVUR: ANCIENT TEMPLE & MARATHA EMPIRE

My next destination was Thanjavur. An hour or so long bus ride from Trichy will take you to Thanjavur. My first stop was Thanjavur Royal Palace. It was an official residence of the Bhosle Family. Thanjavur was once under the rule of the Maratha Empire. The reason most people visit Thanjavur is not for the palace though. Thanjavur is famous for the ancient Brihadisvara Temple (Also known as Rajarajeshwaram). It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is recognized as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It was built by the Chola dynasty between 1003 to 1010 AD. A true example of Tamil architecture. Stunning! I visited the temple during the night. It looked majestic under the moonlight. My decision to spend a day in Thanjavur was totally worth it.

 

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Auroville
Red earth roads of Auroville
Banyan Tree
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Auroville
Matrimandir
Lotus fields
Auroville beach
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Auroville
Different communities of Auroville. This one is Sacred groves
Sadhana Forest
Meal at Sadhana Forest
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Auroville
Movie theatre
Auditorium 
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Auroville
Theatre play

Bamboo centre
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Auroville
Svaram: Musical Centre
Vegan food at Solitude farm
AuroYali
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Auroville
Musical Night
Siddhartha Forest Guest House

AUROVILLE 

It took me 4 hours and so to reach Auroville from Thanjavur. I volunteered in Auroville at an ecologically sustainable construction site. During my free time, I explored Auroville. Auroville is an experimental township founded in the late 60s by Mirra Alfassa (known as The Mother) based on the teachings of Sri Aurobindo. This is how she described Auroville: “Auroville wants to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity.” I had a love-hate relationship with Auroville. While I really appreciate that there’s a place like Auroville that exists in the World but it is no longer what it set out to be. Like any other city, Auroville has its only Movie Theatre, Transport system, Hospital, Community Kitchen, School, Playground, Town Hall etc. The most famous attraction in Auroville has to be the Matrimandir. This Golden plated geodesic dome is an architectural marvel. One needs to pre-register to enter the Matrimandir for Concentration (Meditation). There are many communities inside Auroville like Organic farms, Earth-based Architecture firms, Restaurants, Guest houses, Theatre groups, Music based organizations, Art centres, Healing centres, and Wellness centres where one can volunteer, intern, and attend workshops. Auroville can be a great place to acquire new skills. There’s a process by which one can become an Aurovilian. You can check the details here. I stayed at Siddhartha Forest Guest House in Auroville and It is a great place for budget travelers.

 

 

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Pondicherry
Big sized Idli at Pondicherry
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
White Town

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Pondicherry

Bharathi Park
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Pondicherry
Our lady of Agnes church
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Pondicherry
Puducherry beach

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Pondicherry
Immaculate Conception church
Botanical garden

PONDICHERRY/PUDUCHERRY

Pondicherry (Now known as Puducherry) city is around 15 kms away from Auroville. During a weekend, I explored the Puducherry city. Pondicherry was colonized by the French Empire before it was liberated in 1954.  The French architecture can still be seen in the White town neighbourhood of Puducherry city. Places of interest in the city can be Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Promenade beach, Rock beach, Bharathi Park, Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Botanical Garden, Puducherry museum etc. I find Pondicherry a bit overrated. Pondicherry attracts a lot of partygoers thanks to relatively cheaper alcohol than other States/UTs of India.

 

 

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Chennai
Kasi Vinayaga Mess
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Chennai
Government museum
Idols dating back to ancient times
Ancient Brahmi script
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Chennai
Skeleton of an Indian elephant
Different types of snakes
Rickshaw from old times
Swords

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Chennai

Raja Ravi Varma painting
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Chennai
Dr. MGR Memorial
Marina beach

Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Chennai

Shopping district of T. Nagar
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Chennai
Kanchipuram Silk Saree
Anna Centenary Library
Rippon building
Tourist Places In Tamil Nadu Chennai
Chennai central railway station
Time to head back!

CHENNAI

After volunteering at a special school that empowers persons with intellectual disabilities, I traveled to the capital city of Tamil Nadu i.e. Chennai. It was the last stop of my 70-day long Tamil Nadu trip. Chennai is one of the four major metropolitan cities in India. During my short stay, I try to explore different aspects of the city. I kinda liked the vibe of the city. I begin my exploration with the food. I went straight to Kasi Vinayaga Mess where one can eat unlimited typical Tamil Veg thali for less than INR 100. The price does not deteriorate the quality. I quite liked the food. My next stop was the Government museum. A must-visit place when in Chennai. This expansive museum has a lot to offer. It is the oldest museum in India after Kolkata Indian Museum. It houses diverse and vast collections in the field of Anthropology, Archaeology, Art, Botany, Numismatics, Geology, Zoology, Education etc. A day can be insufficient to fully explore it. During sunset, I visited Marina beach. It is the busiest beach I have ever visited. It was also my first time witnessing the sunset behind my back while sitting on the beach since I was on the east coast of India. This sandy beach is the longest natural urban beach in India. A short walk from the beach will take you to the Arulmigu Thelliyasinga Perumal temple and Dr. MGR Memorial (Former chief minister of Tamil Nadu). The next day, I visited the shopping district of Chennai i.e. T. Nagar to buy the famous Kanchipuram silk sari for my mother. Later, I went to the largest library in South Asia i.e. Anna Centenary Library for some much-needed break from the hustle-bustle of the shopping district. This seven-storey building is a must-visit for Bibliophiles. With this, my visit to Chennai comes to an end. While walking toward Chennai Central railway station, I witnessed the beautiful Municipal corporation of Chennai building known as the Ripon Building. My trip to Tamil Nadu was truly a fulfilling one.

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An Indian Traveler

Hello! My name is Saurabh and I am the voice behind the “An Indian Traveler” blog. I'm a cinephile, travel writer, an avid traveler with a song stuck in my head which I keep humming till ad nauseam :)

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21 Comments

  1. Wow that was quite a tour of all the spectacular scenic places to visit around Tamil Nadu. I love all the food forays on each visit also, it all looks delicious

  2. Wow, what an inspirational article! I love pictures, and the food looks so tasty. I hope I`ll visit India one day.

  3. The mutton curry looks fabulous. I love trying the local cuisine when I travel.

  4. The temples are magnificent and so culture-rich, and the food, fascinating. I have to admit, I haven’t thought of visiting India until now. There seems to be so much to learn. I would love to travel there some time.

  5. It was great that you got see some sites when you were volunteering in Tamil Nadu. And such a great variety of sites too. It looks like a lovely part of the country to visit. I too love small town vibes and engaging like a local. A mid-day waterfall dip would be a great treat.

  6. I haven’t been to any part of India and it really seems pretty interesting. I will definitely be adding this to my bucket list.I hope I can explore these places in the future.

  7. the place looks fun to explore and travel to. I would really like to go there as well. wonderful photos too, each made me feel curious

  8. There’s no doubt that Tamil Nadu has its own distinct cultural identity and legacy in India. Meenakshi Amman Temple is a must-see destination in South India, with very beautiful temple architecture. There are many amazing tourist destinations here, but my top picks are Srirangam Temple and Brihadeeswara Temple. I realized I adored temples after reading this article; they all seemed awesome! I’m looking forward to exploring Tamil Nadu soon and sampling some of the local cuisine.

  9. Wow! This is awesome! You’ve nailed it! I’m from Chennai and these are indeed the top tourist places here. Awesome that you started your journey in Madurai, one of my fav. towns. Of course, Madurai is synonymous with Jigathanda. Trying out meals in a typical mess is just perfect. It is so authentic! I’ve traveled to very many little villages in Tamil Nadu and Ambai reminds me of those trips. Ambai is so charming.

  10. I loved this blog. I can see how much effort you put to curate this amazing photo blog and the details of Tamil Nadu. I never been to Tamil Nadu but after seeing the pictures now I really like to explore these places. Saving it.

  11. “People make places.” I like that statement, because it is so true. Sometimes the people you meet along your travels really do make the journey memorable. I loved reading about this trip, especially the different foods you ate along the way. It looks like you had a great time exploring some neat places and meeting new people.

  12. I am amazed at the abundance of things to do and see (and eat!) In Tamil Nadu. I’m also very interested in the volunteer opportunities you enjoyed. How did you learn of the volunteer work? What kind of assignments did you have?

  13. I’ve been to India three times so far, but there is still a long list of places to see. I haven’t been to Tamil Nadu yet, but I visited neighboring Kerala. I visited the Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue. The south delighted me, and I want to go back there very much. I would especially like to see Meenakshi Amman Temple. I haven’t heard of Dolphin’s Nose before. The view is excellent. I would love to go on this hike. The view from the Echo point is breathtaking. As a fan and foodie of tea, I would like to see the Tea plantations of Manjolai. Great tips on what to do in Tamil Nadu!

  14. When most people talk about visiting South India, the first states that come to mind are Kerala and Karnataka. Therefore this post of yours is such a welcome change for sure. And open out the traveler’s eye to these beautiful options in Tamil Nadu. While I have been lucky to visit Chennai, Pondicherry, Madurai, Kanyakumari and Rameshwaram although mostly on work except Kanyakumari, have also visited most of the attractions in these places. Would certainly love to visit Thanjavur, Dhanushkodi and Kodaikanal next as a tourist. Must say your photographs are outstanding.

  15. I know this blog is about the tourist places in Tamil Nadu and I really appreciate you for listing out the amazing places to visit in that state. But you got me at the varieties of food pictures you posted. I mean, come on, South Indian food does not mean idli, dosa, vada, sambar. It’s so so so much beyond that and thanks for that amazing varieties you showed here.

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