Tamil Nadu, State in southern India
The territory covers more than 130,000 square miles with coastal plains along the Coromandel Coast, hill stations in the Nilgiri Mountains and agricultural valleys irrigated by rivers including Kaveri and Vaigai.
Ancient Tamil kingdoms ruled the territory for two millennia before it became the center of the British Madras Presidency in 1639 and was reorganized as a separate state in 1956 following independence.
Dravidian culture shapes daily life through classical Bharatanatyam dance traditions, temple festivals and vegetarian cuisine centered on rice, lentils and fermented preparations like idli and dosa.
Chennai has an international airport with connections to major Asian and Middle Eastern hubs, while trains and buses reach smaller cities like Thanjavur and Kanyakumari, often multiple times daily during peak season.
More than 30,000 Hindu temples dot the landscape, including the major complexes at Madurai and Thanjavur where daily rituals have continued uninterrupted for over 1,000 years.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
