December 2, 2024

Why you should visit Tamil Nadu in 2016

Mahabs

My home state of Tamil Nadu has found a place in the NY Times’ list of must-do destinations for 2016 – rightly described as a gateway to India’s cultural core. From the temples of Rameshwaram to the hills of Ooty, the music concerts of Chennai to the jallikattu of Madurai, the spicy kaara kuzhambu of Chettinadu to the fragrant filter kapi of Kumbakonam, the silks of Kanjeevaram to the bobble-head dolls of Thanjavur, there is something for everyone in the state.

See which of these reasons will compel you to pack your bags and head down south right away (and remember, this is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg)…

History

If there is one immediate association with the state, then it is the magnificent temples that have withstood the test of time for several centuries – there are the blockbuster deities like Brihadeeswara at Thanjavur, Meenakshi at Madurai, Nataraja at Chidambaram and then the dozens and dozens of smaller temples, each with an interesting story and history. Then there are the palaces and mansions, like the magnificent ones at Chettinadu, with Burma teak, Italian marble and Belgian chandeliers; the shore temples and rock-cut caves of Mahabalipuram; the Danish fort at Tranquebar and the 16th century Gingee fort; the art gallery at Thanjavur palace with its hundreds of Chola age bronze statues…

Thanjavur

Night falls on the Brihadeeswara temple at Thanjavur

Madurai

The magic of sunlight inside the Madurai Meenakshi temple

Chettinadu

Outside the magnificent Kanadukathan Palace

Culture

Tamil Nadu is the cradle of classical dance and music in the country; think Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music. Drop by at the wonderful Kalakshetra Foundation for a whiff of the state’s most popular dance form or base yourself in Chennai during the famous “kutcheri” (concert) season every December – January, where hundreds of free music and dance performances take place at venues across the city, attracting both locals and NRI aficionados. Folk art forms also live on across the state, with forms like poi-kaal kudirai, kolattam and karagam still performed on festivals and occasions.

Bharatnatyam

If music be the food of love…

Arts and crafts

The Thanjavur painting style has flourished for over three centuries now, still finding admirers as far away as Australia and the USA – walk into any artist’s home in the town to see this art form come to life. Or very simply, walk through the streets of any town early in the morning to watch women draw intricate kolam patterns freehand, the designs elegant and sophisticated enough to beat any complex painting style. Head to Kanjeevaram (also known as Kanchipuram) to see weaving at its best, where rich colours play with striking patterns to create mini masterpieces in silk.

Dolls

Keep nodding, thalai aati bommai

Painting

Thanjavur paintings usually carry images of gods and goddesses

Food

A tumbler of degree kapi anyone? Or, what about a tall glass of jil jil jigarthanda? It is now time for you to think beyond – way beyond dosa and idli – when it comes to Tamil Nadu food. Every region has its own specialties, from the well known piquant meats of Chettinadu to the lesser known and more subtle flavours of Thanjavur vegetarian cooking. You will also have several pleasant discoveries like the melt-in-the-mouth macaroons of Tuticorin and the gooey Thirunelveli halwa. Go ahead, chart out a culinary exploration course for yourself – and believe me, you will not be disappointed.

Food

A traditional Tamil vegetarian meal

Nature

Living in Bangalore, I find myself heading for the gorgeous hills of Ooty ever so often, or the verdant tea plantations of Coonoor – and for those looking for quieter options, there is Kodaikanal (esp offseason), Yercaud, Pollachi. Walk on the world’s second longest beach at Marina and see the confluence of three seas at Kanyakumari. Get drenched under the Kutralam waterfalls to beat the heat or take a coracle ride in Hogenakkal. Go wildlife spotting in the forests of Mudumalai or bird-watching in the marshes of Vedanthangal. And above all don’t miss the fascinating mangroves at Pichavaram, a complex network of canals and inlets, counted among the largest in the world.

Ooty

The hills of Ooty seen through the train window

Hogenakkal

Hogenakkal, or smoking rocks

Pichavaram

The green-blue mangroves of Pichavaram

So, have you travelled in Tamil Nadu at all? Do drop a comment on your experience…

11 thoughts on “Why you should visit Tamil Nadu in 2016

  1. Food, architecture, clothing definitely! Way back in 2008. I was touring TN for work and I thoroughly devoured the food there and also enjoyed buying sarees.

    1. Kanadukathan is in Chettinadu – and Pichavaram close to Pondy. I hope the NYT mention brings in lots more visitors to TN. And thanks for dropping by – do keep visiting!

  2. Beautiful post! 🙂
    I have travelled in Tamil Nadu only a wee bit. My experiences with Tamil Nadu are limited to a bit of Chennai (my mama’s house mostly 😛 ), Pondicherry, Ooty, a couple of temples at Trichy. I have lately been thinking about the whole lot of things to see, feel, eat and drink, and buy in Tamil Nadu – I haven’t even touched the tip of the ice berg yet. I hope to do at least a bit more exploring of the state this year. 🙂

    1. Thanks! Long time, no see 🙂
      You should absolutely explore more of TN – so much to see and do – I have yet to go deep down south myself. But wait for the cooler months!

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