Chennai / Madra

Chennai Tour

History of Chennai

The vibrant history of the city of Chennai which was previously named as Madras, traces back to 368 years and Chennai was originally a tiny fishing village. The region surrounding Chennai has served as a significant administrative, military, and economic centre dating back to the 1st century. It has been ruled by renowned South Indian kingdoms like the Pallava, the Chola, the Pandya, and Vijaynagar empires.

On 22 August 1639, Francis Day of the British East India Company acquired a small strip of land in the Coromandel Coast from the Vijayanagara King, Peda Venkata Raya (a.k.a. Venkata III) in Chandragiri. The region was under by the Damerla Venkatapathy, Nayak of Vandavasi.The permission was granted to build a factory and warehouse for their trading activities. A year later, Fort StGeorge was built, which gradually became the nucleus around which the colonial city grew. In 1746, Fort St George and Madras were captured by the French under General La Bourdonnais, the Governor of Mauritius, who ransacked the town and its outlying villages.

The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1749 ensured the reacquiring of British regained control over the town and consequently equipped the base to endure further attacks from the French and Hyder Ali, the powerful Sultan of Mysore. By the late 18th century, the British had occupied most of the region around Tamil Nadu and the northern modern-day states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to establish the Madras Presidency, whose capital was Madras and under the British patronage only the city of Madras or contemporary Chennai evolved as a major urban centre and naval base.

Chennai is the only Indian city to be attacked by the Central Powers during World War I, when an oil depot was shelled by the German light cruiser SMS Emden. After independence in 1947, the city attained the status of the capital of Madras State, which was renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969. From 1965 to 1967, Chennai was an important base for the Tamil agitation against the imposition of Hindi and in the recent past in 2004, the city of Chennai was lashed the shores of the city causing death to thousands of lives.

Chennai Overview

Chennai previously known as Madras is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is ranked as India's fourth largest metropolitan city and 34th largest metropolitan area in the world. It is situated on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the third largest commercial and industrial centre in India, and is known for its cultural heritage and temple architecture.

Chennai has a rich colorful history traces back to 368 years and region surrounding Chennai has served as an important administrative, military, and economic centre dating back to the 1st century. Chennai has been predominantly ruled by South Indian kingdoms remarkably the Pallava, the Chola, the Pandya, and Vijaynagar empires. The town of Mylapore which presently forms a part of the metropolis was once a major port of the Pallava kingdom.

Chennai is situated at 13.04 N 80.17 E on the southeast coast of India and in the northeast corner of Tamil Nadu. It is located on a flat coastal plain known as the Eastern Coastal Plains. The city possesses an average elevation of 6 meters (20 feet), its highest point being 60 m (200 ft). Two rivers amble through Chennai, the Cooum River (or Koovam) in the central region and the Adyar River in the southern region. Chennai lies on the thermal equator and it primarily comprised of coastal region which prevents extreme variation in seasonal temperature. For most part of the year, the weather is hot and humid and the hottest part of the year is late May and early June.

Chennai is the abode of various nearby tourist destinations and it is also the hub for south Indian classical music and dance performances it is a favorite for those who are keen on experience the true flavor of south Indian culture. For the shopping freaks, Chennai also offers a host of choices and excellent quality of silk saris are the specialty in Chennai. For its wide spread popularity as a tourist destination, Chennai has evolved as a city with various ranges of tourist accommodations catering to the varying requirements and budgets of visitors.

Festivals in Chennai

Just like the other Indian places, Chennai also celebrates a number of festivals. The festivals are mainly based on the agricultural activities and according to the position of the stars and planets. Pongal is one of the famous festivals celebrated in the month of January. It is celebrated to mark the harvesting of crops by farmers. The other festivals include:

- Arubathimoovar Festival: - Chithirai Festival:
- Dance Festival - Mamallapuram:
- Kanthuri Festival:
- Kavadi Festival:
- Music Festival:
- Mahamagam Festival: - Natyanjali Dance Festival:
- Summer Festival:
- Tourist Fair
- Tayagaraja Festival:
- Velankanni Festival:
- Karthigai Deepam:
- Navratri:
- Saral-Vizha:

Sightseeing in Chennai

Sightseeing in Chennai remains incomplete without a visit to Fort St. George, founded by the British administration and now hosting the offices of the Tamil Nadu Secretariat and the Legislative Assembly.

Doveton House, once used as the residence of the English officials, reflects the grandeur of the colonial regime as well as the beauty of the Romantic period. This house got its name from Lt. General John Doveton who was the soldier-in-charge who supervised Tippu Sultan's sons when they were kept as hostages in Madras.

Sightseeing in Chennai also includes St. Thomas Mount where St. Thomas, the apostle of Jesus Christ, is said to have been martyred. St. Thomas Mount also has a Church built by the Portuguese in 1523.

For Sightseeing in Chennai, also visit Thousand Lights Mosque, which radiates architectural splendor and is a famous pilgrimage site for the Shia community in the country.

Snake Park is a central location for breeding of endangered pythons in the country, which was founded by the wildlife conservationist Romulus Whitaker. This park, another site for Sightseeing in Chennai promotes propagation of information about the reptiles, which are otherwise perceived with fear and myths.

Things to Do in Chennai

Among the various things to do in Chennai, shopping can be an intriguing experience for the tourist because Chennai is one of the major trade centers of south India. Chennai is a fantastic place to shop for an interesting variety of items which primarily includes traditional bell metal items, bronze icons, and stone sculpture, as well as other crafts of the southern region. The city of Chennai is particularly noted for the beautiful Kancheepuram hand woven silk sarees. These sarees are legendary for their temple borders and rich zari (gold thread) pallavas. Intricate traditional motifs and vibrant colors with contrasting borders make these sarees an irresistible combination to most of the Indian women. One can also try out shopping some of the exquisite souvenirs for their near and dear ones in silver, copper, bronzed and wood available in numerous government emporia and private stores. Even the jewelry made from uncut precious stones makes exclusive gift items.

While shopping takes care of the daytime, the sparkling night out destinations comprising of discoth?es ,bars , pool parlors, lounges and nightclubs in Chennai promises of constant recreations to brighten up the entire night. The fascinating display of lights and colors and the full blast of the music is enough to make one feel relaxed after a long hard day. HFO (Hell Freezes Over) is the most happening discotheque in Chennai.Zara?s at 74 Radhakrishnan Salai is considered one of the popular places which remains stuffed with younger generations particularly during the weekend. It is a tapas bar which is very famous for its 'Spanish short eats', great cocktails and funky music.

Features of Museums and Art Galleries in Chennai:

- The museums enclose galleries of Archaeology, Anthropology, Art, Numismatics, Botany, Zoology, Geology, Children's Museum and Chemical Conservation.

- The archaeology section provides exquisite collections of sculptures, architectural pieces and bronze figures.

- The other exhibits in the museums are Hindu Sculptures, Buddhist Sculptures, Jain Sculptures, Hero Stones, Memorial Stones and Sati Stone, Inscriptions, Hindu, Buddhist and Jain bronzes, Industrial Art and Copper Plate Grants.

- The pre-historic antiquities are displayed in the anthropology gallery. The anthropology gallery features Musical Instruments, Ethnology, Physical Anthropology, Arms, Folk Arts and Indus Valley Materials.

- The numismatics gallery in the museums delves into some facts of ancient history. - The numismatics gallery showcases ancient coins, medals and stamps.
Botany galleries have sections on Systematic Botany and Economic Botany.

- The zoological galleries exhibit spectacular and outstanding displays. The zoological galleries enclose Foreign Animals Gallery, Flight in Animals Gallery, General Zoology Gallery, Reptile Gallery, Bird Gallery, Mammal Gallery, Coral Gallery, Invertebrate Gallery, Fish Gallery and Amphibian Gallery.

- Chennai is also dotted by several art galleries. The art galleries have an exquisite collection of traditional and modern paintings and sculptures. The traditional paintings of Tanjore, Rajput, Moghul, Kangra, Deccani schools and modern paintings in Oil, Tempera, Water Colour, Graphics and Acrylic mediums are the special features.

- The art galleries also feature Indian Traditional Paintings, Indian Miniature Paintings, Tanjore Paintings, British Portraits, Contemporary Indian Paintings, Ravi varma Paintings, Modern Paintings and Modern Sculptures.

- Art camps are arranged t provide a platform for the artists to interact.

- The art galleries provide an opportunity to the artists to exhibit their works at international shows.

* Birla Planetarium in Chennai
* Government Museum in Chennai
* National Art Gallery in Chennai
* Tamilnadu Science and Technology Centre in Chennai

How to Reach Chennai

By Air: Chennai is served by the Chennai International Airport which consists of the Anna international Airport and the Kamaraj Domestic Airport. The airports are situated at Tirusulam which is 7kms south of Chennai. On the international level, Chennai is linked with cities in South Asia, Middle East, South East Asia, Europe and North America. More than 30 international flights operate from Chennai to destinations like London and New York. Airlines to International destinations include Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways. The domestic destinations like Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi are linked by airlines like Air India, Sahara, Indian Airlines and Jet Airways from Chennai.
By Rail: Getting to Chennai by train is a breath taking experience as one gets to enjoy the scenic beauty on the way. Chennai enjoys the services of two railway terminals. The Chennai Central Station handles most of the traffic from the neighboring states like Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Coimbatore. The Indian Railways takes care of the train network to Chennai.
By Road: Getting to Chennai by Road is more fun and convenient primarily due to the five major national highways that branches out to cities like Bangalore, Trichy, Kolkata and Pondicherry. The main hub of road traffic to Chennai operates from the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus. The bus terminus is the hub for inter state buses. Government and private bus operators operate from Chennai to all the major places within and outside the city boundary.

Ooty - hillstation

Ooty Tour

Area : 30.67 sq km

Altitude :  2286 m above sea level

Annual Rainfall : 991 mm Max

Climate : Temperature 24.3�C MiniTemperature 4.8�C

Languages : Tamil, English

STD Code :  0423

History Of Ooty

The earliest that is known of the history of Ooty, is that it was ruled by Vishnu Vardhana, the Hoysala King, from 1104 to 1141 AD. Later, after many years, it came under the rule of the British East India Company, after the company signed a treaty with the brave Tipu Sultan in 1799. This is when John Sullivan started the development of the hill station and promoted it as an ideal summer retreat. Lots of cottages, clubs and other buildings were built to house and provide recreational facilities to the British officials. Soon enough, the hill station was growing tea for its inhabitants, who considered high tea to be an integral part of their day. Now, these tea estates not only produce the favorite drink of millions of Indians but also add to the charm and the beauty of the hill resort of Ooty India. 

Over view of Ooty

The summer getaway of Britishers, Ooty is presently one of the most popular hill stations in South India. For all those who want to beat the heat, this Queen of Hill Stations stands with extended arms to gift all with a very memorable vacation. A trip to Ooty is coveted not just by mountain lovers but all those who seek few moments of solitude away from the hustle and bustle of city life in the lap of mesmerizing nature. In addition to the impressive mountain range of the Nilgiris, the lush green grasslands, the tea gardens, there are several other Tourist Places in Ooty that are all well worth a visit when on a tour to Ooty.

One of the major tourist attractions is the Botanical Gardens in Ooty. Covering an extensive area of 50 acres, the Botanical Garden lies at the lower slopes of the Dodabetta Peak in Ooty and is home to an amazing variety of flora. Bird lovers will also love visiting the gardens because there are several resident as well as migratory birds in it. Incidentally the Dodabetta Peak is the highest point in Ooty and commands an absolutely spell binding view of the surrounding landscape. If you can make it to the top, you are sure to be impressed by the beautiful views. The serene stretch of the Ooty Lake has a very tranquilizing effect on the minds of the visitors. Built by John Sullivan, this artificial lake is a must see when on a tour to Ooty. Engage yourself in the fun filled activities of Boating and Fishing at this lake. Ooty Boat House

When you are on a holiday in Ooty, you can easily plan a picnic at Lamb's Rock in Ooty. This picturesque spot also offers great views of the plains of Coimbatore and the tea estates on the mountain slopes. Take a camera to capture nature at its charming best.

When on a sight seeing trip in Ooty, make sure to visit the Kodanadu's View Point in Ooty. It is one of the most impressive of all the Tourist Places in Ooty. Positioned at the eastern range of the Nilgiri Mountains, it offers a view of the River Moyar. An added attraction is the watch tower from where one can also see the Rangaswamy Peak. All the Tourist Places in Ooty are worth seeing and any tourist is sure to regret missing out on any. So make it a point to visit all the Tourist Places in Ooty.

Sightseeing in Ooty

Botanical Garden - Ooty

Located inside the limits of Ooty, it is the most famous tourist attraction in Ooty. This garden was laid out in 1848 and is currently maintained by the Horticulture department of Tamil Nadu. There is a beautiful green lawn where one can realx with friends and family. There are trees collected from different parts of the world. Shrubs and hedges are cut to resemble animals and look really beautiful. During the month of May, there is an annual summer festival inside the Garden where there are flower shows and various cultural programs that showcase the talent of the locals people. I have been to this place during summer and winter and I found the place beautiful in both the seasons but it was very crowded during summers and there was too much of noise inside the garden, which you hardly expect in such a place.

The garden is divided into six different sections:

1. Lower Garden

2. New Garden

3. Italian Garden

4. Conservatory

5. Fountain Terrace 6. Nurseries  

Ooty Lake

This 2 KMs long OOty lake has become another major tourist attraction. One can go for boat riding, both pedal and motor boats and it starts from morning 8 and is there till 6 in the evening. During the month of May there are boat races that have become a major crowd puller. Adjacent to lake there are a lot of the other places of interest for tourist that have come up. To mention few - Toy train ride, 3-D shows, Tora-tora ride, Car rides (something similar to go-carting). Outside lake there are ponnies available for rides. The Ooty Lake is located behind the railway station ( 1-2KMs from the station). Best thing to do would be park the car in the railway station, though parking is available near the lake) and walk to the lake ( along the lake) and enjoy the view and on the way back take a ponny ride till the parking. DeshStar- Ooty India

Centenary Rose Garden

2KMs from the main crossing of the Ooty, the Charring Cross, is this 10acres of land on the hill slop that has been converted into Rose garden. It has more than 1000 varieties of roses ranging from Yellow to Pink to Red. Locals say that they have seen black rose also but I could not find one. May be because I went there during the off-season ( December).

The Pykara is the largest river in the District. It is considered very sacred by the Todas. The Pykara river rises at Mukurthi peak. It passes through hilly tract, generally keeping to North and turns to West after reaching the Plateau's edge. It gets down majestically in a series of cascades; and the last two falls of 55 meters and 61 meters are known as Pykara falls. They are about 20 kms from Ooty.
The Pykara Lake is about 21 kms from Ooty on the Ooty-Mysore road. Boating on the Pykara lake is enjoyable. A restaurant is also available. Wenlock Downs, a vast Expanse of grassy meadow on way to Pykara, is a favorite picnic location and is very popular with the movie makers of this country.

Avalanche Valley

Travel 28 kms from Ooty town past the Emerald Lake surrounded by undisturbed forest and you have reached Avalanche. It is on the way to Upper-Bhavani from Ooty via Emerald Camp. The gorgeous scenery at every turn is an experience of wonder and delight. The views from the top of the hill at Avalanche give a magnificent sight of the Avalanche Valley and reservoir In many places here, the shoals are so thick that even sunlight cannot penetrate. Avalanche is home to a wide variety of birds in great abundance. Spotting and identifying them can be a very rewarding experience for bird lovers. It is also popular with angling enthusiasts for trouts. The shoals here are a heaven for rare temperate Orchids.

The Honey & Bee Museum

"The Honey & Bee Museum" is a novel project at Ooty by the NGO, Keystone Foundation. It depicts information on indigenous honey bees and traditional indigenous tribal people who harvest them. It also has a children’s activity room and a small knowledge resource unit on bees, environment and people. The Bee Museum is first of its kind focusing on traditional knowledge and practices. The museum aims to be a vibrant space with live demonstration units of bees, specimens and tools – both traditional and modern used in beekeeping and honey gathering.

Doddabetta

At 2,623 mts above MSL, Doddabetta is the highest Peak in the Tamil Nadu and is about 10 kms. from Ooty bus stand. The name Doddabetta literally means 'Big mountain' in the Badugu Language, which is so in reality. It is at the junction of Western and Eastern Ghats and offer beautiful vistas of Nilgiri Hills range. It is surrounded by dense Sholas. One can have a magnificent panoramic view of landscape and the whole of the District and even beyond through the Telescope House run by T.T.D.C., which is an added attraction . The Sunset is spectacular from this view point.

How to Reach Ooty

The hill station of Ooty, is a very popular hill station, so getting there is no problem. You can either travel by road, air or rail.

By Air : The nearest airport to Ooty is at a distance of about 88kms and is located in Coimbatore. There one can take Indian Airline flights to Coimbatore, Bangalore, Cochin and Chennai.

By Rail : The Ooty railway station is merely 2kms from the City Center and the other railway station is 46km away at Mettupalayam. There is also a toy train that connects Ooty with Mettupalayam and Coonoor, another famous hill station. Though it is not really the fastest way to get there, but the guests can enjoy scenic beauty all along the way.

By Road : Traveling by road is a not a bad idea either, since Tamil Nadu has a very good road network. The state has many highways that connect distant places and make traveling much easier.

Rameswaram

Rameswaram Tour

State:Tamil Nadu
Area:51.8 sq.kms
Altitude:2.74 metres above sea level
Rainfall(annual): 50 cms
Temperature:Summer: 37 Degree C to 30 Degree C, Winter: 30 Degree C to 25 Degree C
Language(s):Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and English
Best Time to visit:Throughout the year
STD Code:04573

Overview

Rameshwaram is one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimage centres in India.It is situated in the Ramanathapuram District of Tamilnadu State.It is an island of 31 miles length and 7 miles width in the shape of Vishnups Conch. It is a pilgrimage center of nationwide importance.It also known as the 'Varanasi of the south'. The city is a major pilgrimage center for Hindus, both Shaivites and Vaishnavaites. It is here Lord Rama offered thanks to Siva. The main attraction of the town is the Ramanathaswamy Temple,which is one of the most important temples in southern India. The temple happens to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. It is also connected by one of India's engineering wonders, the Indira Gandhi Bridge. It took 14 years to build and was opened by Rajiv Gandhi late in 1988.

Rameshwaram has become a great tourist destination due to the presence of few of the most known architectural wonders of South India.The tourist attraction is Ramnath swamy temple Kothandaraswamy Temple. Another place that attracts tourist is the Adam's bridge that is said to be created by Lord Rama and his Army to cross to Lanka. Its a chain of small islands that almost connect India to Sri Lanka.

History

History of Rameshwaram dates back to several centuries. The region has witnessed the rise and fall of several dynasties that ruled this region of South India. The Pandya Dynasty reigned in this region till the 15th century. The Nayak kings of Vijayanagar Empire ruled in the region till the end of the 17th century. The Sethupathis gained power after the fall of the Nayaks. The Sethupathis were the earlier chieftains of the region. They were connoisseurs of art and architecture. During this time, art and architecture flourished in the region under the patronage of the Sethupathis chieftains. Some of the prominent chieftains of the region were Muthuramalinga Sethupathy, Udayan Sethupathy, Raghunatha Sethupathy and Thirumalai Sethupathy. The statues of the chieftains are placed in the temple of the region.

Sightseeing in Rameshwaram

This place is located at the eastern part of the island.It is at a distance of 8km from Rameshwaram.It is named after Lord Rama's Bow.It is believed that the boulders around the sea between Srilanka and this place known as Adamps bridge were used by Hanuman to reach across Srilanka. Dhanushkodi was completely destroyed by the cyclones of 1964 but Kothandaramaswamy temple remained intact.

Ramnathswamy temple was built in the 17th century.It is the place where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva after he slayed the Lankan King Ravana.The main attraction of the temple is the huge twenty-two wells. It is said that the water in these twenty-two wells all have different taste and even have curative properties. Here festivals like Maha Shivarathri, Thirukalyanam, Mahalaya Amavasai and Thai Amavasai all are celebrated with great energy and enthusiasm.

Kothandaraswamy Temple is around 12 km away from town. The temple is dedicated to Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman and Vibhishna. This is the only structure that withstood the cyclone of 1964. It is said that it was here that the brother of King Ravana surrendered to Lord Rama.

At a distance of 24 km from Rameshwaram, Erwadi is an important Muslim pilgrim spot. It is famous for the tomb of Ibrahim Sahid Auliya, which is located at Erwadi. Muslims from across the globe visit Erwadi, especially during the month of December to participate in the annual festival held to pay tribute to this saint.

Fairs and Festivals

The Rameshwaram Festivals reveal the true culture of Rameshwaram. The festivals of Rameshwaram reflect the religious and friendly nature of the citizens of Rameshwaram.

Almost all the important festivals of Tamil Nadu are celebrated in Rameshwaram. However, some festivals are observed with greater glory and pomp in Rameshwaram.

These festivals include:

Masi Sivaratri - This festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva

Mahalaya Amavasai - Last day of Mahalaya Paksham

Thirukalyanam -

How to Reach Rameswaram

Rameshwaram is connected by rail directly to Chennai, Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore. The passenger trains run at regular intervals from Madurai.

Nearest Airport is the Madurai Airport (167 kilometres). Almost all the major airlines have their services for Madurai.

Rameshwaram is directly connected by road directly to Chennai,Madurai,Trichy and Coimbatore.

Kancheepuram - famous for sarees

Kancheepuram Tour

Madurai - famous for temples

Madurai Tour

India is a secular country and is famous for its diverse culture and religious heritage. Every Indian has some innate traditional, cultural and religious values. All the borders of India east, west, north and south are famous for their own traditions and culture. The temples in the South India add more attraction in the religious values.

The temples of Madurai occupy the prime position in the religious map of India and are recognized as the City of Temples. Madurai located on shores of river Vaigai, is blessed with rich cultural heritage. It is an important cultural and commercial centre since very early. Capital of the great Pandya kings is adorned with many great temples.

The Pandyan King Kulasekarar built a great temple and created a lotus shaped city around the temple. The city was originally named Madhurapuri behind the fact that Lord shiva blessed the land and its people and showered divine nectar (Madhu) on them.

The climate is dry and hot. The maximum temperatures during summer ranges from 26.3�C to 40�C, while in winters temperatures range between 29.6 and 18 �C.

Major attractions in Madurai

Madurai is famous for Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or we can say that it is because of this temple Madurai is known for. The 2000 years old temple is one of the largest of its kind in India. The campus sprawls into a whopping area of 65000 sq m. Each dynasty contributed to the growth of this temple dedicated to Parvati. Thirupparankundram Temple

The rock cut shrine of Lord Subramanya is one among six abodes of God Subramanya.

Alagar koil in North East of Madurai is a temple dedicated to Lord Alagar, an embodiment of Vishnu. The temple is situated on a hill known as Solaimalai. The panoramic view from temple enchants everyone. Another abode of Lord Subramaniya-Palamudirsolai is located atop the Hill.

Thiruparankundram is a Muslim site of worship called Durgah. People from every religion came to the grave of an Islamic saint Hazrat Sultan Sikandhar Badushah Shaheed Radiyallah Ta'al anhu.

The grave of Hazrat Sulthan Alauddin Badusha (Radiyallah) and Hazrat Sulthan Shamsuddin Badhusha (Radiyallah) are located here. The beautiful green coloured tomb of Gorippalayam Dargah can be distincted from far. The Dargah is located on the banks of vaigai River.

Thirumalai Nayak built this palace in 1636. "Stuccowork" on the domes and arches boasts about the beauty of the palace. The large pavilion Sorgavilasam stands without a single girder. It is indeed an amazing piece of Indo-Saracenic architectural style. The massive white and polished black stone pillars, high decorated arches are the highlights of this palace.

Other attractions

Beautiful square tank Mariamman Teppakulam and Gandhi Museum might also be worth visiting. Besides these some spots are heaven in weekends. Athisayam water theme park, Eco park, Hava valley, Rajaji children park and MGR Race Course Stadium are the entertainment centres for all the ages. The games, fountains and lighting in the backdrop of nature's beauty and rocky hills are worth pleasurable.

Coimbatore

Coimbatore � The Manchester of South India

History

Coimbatore is the second largest city of Tamil Nadu state in India. It is situated on the banks of river Noyyal. Being one of the blooming textiles and engineering core of south India it is also known as �The Manchester of South India�. This area is heavily industrialized with textile factories, automobile parts, engineering firms, manufacturers and so on. There are also many hill stations close to the city which are one of the best tourist�s destinations of South India. About the history it came into existence even prior to 2nd century AD. Coimbatore has been ruled by many great rulers such as Cholas, Rastrakutas, Chalukyas, Pandya, Hoysalas etc. There many spiritual places and interesting spots which attracts the tourists.

How to Reach

Coimbatore has an airport in Peelamedu about 11 km from the heart of the city it caters to domestic flights to all major cities in India and also international flights to Sharjah and Singapore.

Coimbatore junction is well connected to all major cities of India. It is second highest revenue yielding station in Southern Railway Division of Indian Railways.

Coimbatore has six major arterial roads and three highways connecting to major cities. Gandhipuram Bus Stand operates the town buses across the city. There are another five inter-city bus stands which connects Coimbatore with major cities.

Places to see;

In Tamil Nadu there are four Agricultural Universities; one in Coimbatore is the finest in the South Asia and head of remaining three universities.

Forest College is one of the oldest in the country. In the campus of college there is a wonderful museum which is a must visit.

VOC Park is a children park having a Zoo, Toy Train and many more exiting swings and rides. This park is named after a freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram.

Education; Coimbatore is a mainstay of education and has around 70 Arts & Science Colleges, 54 Engineering Colleges, 18 Polytechnics and 2 Medical Colleges

Temples; Coimbatore has many ancient temples such as Perur Temple, Karamadai Ranganath Temple, Marudhamalai Temple, Velliyangiri Andavar Temple, Eachanari Vinayakar Temple, Kongunata Tirupati etc.

There are many more places in and around Coimbatore such as Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Amaravathy Reservoir, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Mettupalayam, Monkey falls, Palani, Parambikulam-Aliyar, Pollachi, Sengupathi Waterfalls, Tiruppur, Thirumoorthy Temple, Top slip, Udagamandalam, Ooty Lake, Stone House, Vaideki Waterfalls, Valparai and so on.

Thanjavur

Thanjavur Tour

The Cholas Capital city, Granary of South India, and the rice bowl Of Tamil Nadu are few though incomplete ways of introducing the terrific city of Thanjavur. Even today in the era of technology Thanjavur remains a center for classical arts and music. Then there is the Tanjore style of painting! The Big Temple and the other famous temples in the district are known all over the world. The cultural, the architectural and the scholarly pursuits of these rulers are reflected in the great monuments like:

Places of interest in Thanjavur

The temple dedicated to Nandi, the Bull is a magnum opus of the appealing Cholas architecture. The mount of Lord Shiva i.e. Nandi has been made from a single granite rock. The Brahadeeswarar temple stands 216 ft. tall but it has been built in such a manner that throughout the day its shadow never falls on the ground! Its architecture is simple but beautiful.

This library has one of the most important oriental manuscripts and references collections, in India. Established around 1700 AD, the library contains a collection of over 44,000 palm leaf, and paper manuscripts in Indian and European languages. Over eighty per cent of its manuscripts are in Sanskrit, many on palm leaves, some very rare or even distinctive. This library is the endeavor of the three hundred years of collections by the Nayak and Maratha kings.

It is a magnificent palace, surrounded by huge fort walls. A large quadrangular courtyard leads into the palace complex. Outside the palace there is a seven-storied observation tower meant for the royal families. The Palace is home to the Mannar Saroboji Saraswathi Mahal Library, Art Gallery and Sangeetha Mahal.

The Royal Museum too is located in the Thanjavur Palace complex only. This museum houses mixed collections of manuscripts, weapons, utensils, stone sculpture, musical instruments and clothing that were used by the Royal Family of Thanjavur (Serfoji II).

Sivagangai Garden:A very beautiful park, located north of the big temple. It has a good collection of beautiful flower plants and birds and animals. There are children playing area at the heart of the park and also has a cute little train and a pond with Boating facility.

Established in 1981, the university is affianced in research and advanced study in Tamil. Tamil University Museum has a collection coins and musical instruments.

The 18th century Schwartz Church is a bequest of Thanjavur's colonial past, standing to the east of the Shivaganga Tank.

The fort contains the great Brahadeeshwara Temple, Schwartz Church, and Shivaganga Garden. The Shivaganga Tank in the fort was excavated by Rajaraja I and later renovated to provide drinking water for the City.

This is huge cannon, called 'Beerangi Medu'. The Cannon is amazing in size and the quality speaks of the metallurgical knowledge of the people of those times. The Beerangi is the biggest in India.

This is actually a Square that encloses a tower. The tower offers a panoramic view of the bustling Thanjavur Town.