Tamil
Nadu has a great tradition of history and culture. In ancient, early
medieval and medieval period, a number of dynasties ruled over the Tamil
land. Many of those rulers were very fond of art and architecture and
gave generous patronage to men of letters, sculptors, architects and
artists. This saw the Tamil land becoming a hub of many beautiful and
amazing monuments, which attract tourists from all over the world to
this day. These monuments speak volumes about the artistic skills and
excellence of the sculptors and architects of that period. The temples
with their towering gopurams and the rock cut temples leave the
connoisseurs speechless. As a result of such great cultural achievements, the state of Tamil Nadu is referred to as the cradle of Dravidian culture, an ancient culture distinguished by unique languages and customs. Many towns and cities of Tamilnadu are associated with beautiful monuments. Mahabalipuram is one of those places, which boast of numerous architectural wonders. The famous Arjuna's Penance is one such monument at Mahabalipuram. Chennai, the capital city, is home to may monuments such as the Kamaraj Memorial House, Bharathiyar Illam, Madras War Cemetery, Rippon Building, Vivekananda Illam and the Valluvar Kottam while Madurai boasts of Thirumalai Nayak Mahal, a classic example of Indo-Saracenic style. The Rock Fort temple is a prominent landmark in Tiruchirappalli.
Fort St. George
Fort St. George was the first British fortress in India. The construction of the fort at Chennai saw a spurt in settlements and construction activity around the place. The later day Madras/Chennai city evolved around the same fort.
Kailasanath Temple
Kanchipuram is a pilgrimage city. A former Pallava capital (7th - 9th century), Kanchipuram is filled with temples dating from the 8th - 17th centuries. These temples are the perfect study of the evolutionary changes that the South Indian architecture underwent while different reigns made their impressions on them.
Padmanabhapuram Palace
The Padmanabhapuram Palace is one of the most magnificent monuments of Tamilnadu. It is situated in Kanyakumari district, 15 km from Nagercoil and 55 km South-West of Thiruvananthapuram.
Meenakshi Temple
The Meenakshi temple complex is one of the largest in India. The presiding deity at the Meenakshi temple at Madurai, the Athens of South India, is Goddess Meenakshi. The nucleus of the temple is older than the Madurai city.
Mahabalipuram Rathas
Mahabalipuram is a temple town that is situated along the Coromandel Coast 55 kilometers off Chennai, the capital of Tamilnadu. The place is famous for its Ratha temples that are a part of the famous shore temple complex.
Vivekananda Rock
Vivekananda Rock Memorial is built on the legendary Vivekanad Rock that juts out of the convergence of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
Brihadeswara Temple
The Brihadeswara temple is one of the most ancient and the most celebrated Hindu temple in the world. The temple is located in the city of Thanjavur that is also known as Tanjore, in the Indian province of Tamilnadu.
