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Tourism and Culture

UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
• Airavateswara Temple
• Brihadeeswarar Temple
• Gangaikonda Cholapuram
• Monuments at Mahabalipuram
• Nilgiri Mountain Rail
Highest amongst Indian States

Cuisine: The State is considered the epicenter of South Indian cuisines comprising of
pre-dominantly rice oriented dishes. Locally available grains, lentils, vegetables and a variety of
aromatic spices add flavor, taste and aroma to the recipes of the land.
Religious Tourism: Meenakshi Temple, Ramanathan Temple, Nagore Dargah, Velankanni &
Rameshwaram Temple.
Leisure Tourism: Ooty, Kodaikanal, Yelagiri, Valparai and Yerkuad.

Wildlife Tourism: Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Top Slip, Gulf of Mannar Marine National
Park and Kalakaddu Sanctuary.
Beach Tourism: Mamallapuram & Kanyakumari.

Fine Arts & Culture Tourism: Bharatanatyam, Thyagaraja Music Festival & Folk Dance.
The Chennai Music Festival, or the Margazhi Festival held mid-December hosts over 10000
concerts across the city making it one of the largest cultural events in the world.

The state ranks number 1 in Domestic and International Tourist arrivals from around the world.

Tamil: The language is one of the oldest and longest surviving classical languages which is still in
use in its original form. It is an official language in Singapore, Sri Lanka and a minority language in
South Africa & Mauritius.

Eye Catchers:
• Chennai’s Marina is the second longest urban beach in the world.
• Tamil Nadu has around 33,000 ancient temples, some even 1400 years old.
• The Brihadeswara Temple at Tanjavur is the world’s first granite Temple.